The deliberate character of General Meade’s movements sufficiently indicates the disinclination he felt to place himself directly in his opponent’s front, and thus receive the full weight of his attack.  There is reason, indeed, to believe that nothing could better have suited the views of General Meade than for Lee to have passed the Potomac before his arrival—­which event would have signified the entire abandonment of the campaign of invasion, leaving victory on the side of the Federal army.  But the elements seemed to conspire to bring on a second struggle, despite the reluctance of both commanders.  The recent rains had swollen the Potomac to such a degree as to render it unfordable, and, as the pontoon near Williamsport had been destroyed by the Federal cavalry, Lee was brought to bay on the north bank of the river, where, on the 12th, as we have said, General Meade found him in line of battle.

Lee’s demeanor, at this critical moment, was perfectly undisturbed, and exhibited no traces whatever of anxiety, though he must have felt much.  In his rear was a swollen river, and in his front an adversary who had been reenforced with a considerable body of troops, and now largely outnumbered him.  In the event of battle and defeat, the situation of the Southern army must be perilous in the extreme.  Nothing would seem to be left it, in that event, but surrender, or dispersion among the western mountains, where the detached bodies would be hunted down in detail and destroyed or captured.  Confidence in himself and his men remained, however, with General Lee, and, with his line extending from near Hagerstown to a point east of Williamsport, he calmly awaited the falling of the river, resolved, doubtless, if in the mean time the enemy attacked him, to fight to the last gasp for the preservation of his army.

No attack was made by General Meade, who, arriving in front of Lee on the 12th, did no more, on that day, than feel along the Southern lines for a point to assault.  On the next day he assembled a council of war, and laid the question before them, whether or not it were advisable to make an assault.  The votes of the officers were almost unanimously against it, as Lee’s position seemed strong and the spirit of his army defiant; and the day passed without any attempt of the Federal army to dislodge its adversary.

While General Meade was thus hesitating, Lee was acting.  A portion of the pontoon destroyed by the enemy was recovered, new boats were built, and a practicable bridge was completed, near Falling Waters, by the evening of the 13th.  The river had also commenced falling, and by this time was fordable near Williamsport.  Toward dawn on the 14th the army commenced moving, in the midst of a violent rain-storm, across the river at both points, and Lee, sitting his horse upon the river’s bank, superintended the operation, as was his habit on occasions of emergency.  Loss of rest and fatigue, with that feeling of suspense