Meade's Pipe Creek Plan

Anyone who has spent time studying the Battle Of Gettysburg, is well aware of the Pipe Creek Circular. This was the plan that George G. Meade had for the Union army. In essence, he planned to have the AoP fall make to the Pipe Creek (which is about 10 miles south of Gettysburg) and to use the natural defenses in the area for the battle. Unfortunately, for Meade, the plan never came into play.

I was in Middleburg, MD the other day and saw a wayside marker (so I had to stop and take some pictures of it). I transcribed what the marker said and thought I would share it here:

Meade's Pipe Creek Plan

On June 29, 1863, Union General George G. Meade ordered the Army of the Potomac to Pipe Creek to counter any move toward Washington or Baltimore by General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and to engage it in battle. Meade was uncertain of Lee's strength or location.

The Federal left flank rested here at Middleburg, the center at Union Mills and the right at Manchester. From Westminster, located 6 miles south of Pipe Creek, roads fanned out to every important point along Meade's line: through Middleburg; through Frizzellburg and Taneytown; through Union Mills and then forking with one leading to Littlestown and Gettysburg and the other to Hanover and to Manchester. Although Meade had studied the area on maps, on the ground he had only examined the western portion from Taneytown to Middleburg.

On July 1, General Henry J. Hunt, Meade's Chief of Artillery, reconnoitered the entire line, the only general officer to do so. He was very favorably impressed with its possibilities as an "offensive-defensive" position. Events that day at Gettysburg, however, would preclude it ever being used.

One thing that I noticed in this was that Westminster almost sounds like Gettysburg. The road network that led into Westminster is almost like the 11 major roads that led into Gettysburg. I thought that was an interesting point. I'm not a huge fan of Gen. Hunt's, but I did find that his being impressed with the line meant something to Meade and it sort of means something to me. Meade used his men for guidance and it seems that he was making some good decisions....too bad that circumstances seemed to get in his way. Well....that's what makes a good general....adjusting plans according to the circumstances.

Middleburg is a nice little town. I also drove quickly through New Windsor, MD that day. They have a little park in the center of town that had a wayside marker....but absolutely no parking. One of these days, I'm going to get back down there and read that marker. I would love to know what New Windsor had to do with the Civil War!