Battle of Manassas Gap

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Battle of Manassas Gap
Part of American Civil War
Date July 23, 1863 Location Warren County, Virginia Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders
William H. French	Richard H. Anderson
Strength
Divisions	Divisions
Casualties and losses
440 total (US and CS)	440 total (US and CS)

v • d • e Gettysburg Campaign Brandy Station – 2nd Winchester – Aldie – Middleburg – Upperville – Sporting Hill – Hanover – Gettysburg – Carlisle – Hunterstown – Fairfield – Williamsport – Boonsboro – Manassas Gap

The Battle of Manassas Gap, also known as the Battle of Wapping Heights, took place on July 23, 1863, in Warren County, Virginia as part of General Robert E. Lee's retreat back to Virginia in the final days of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War.

After retreating across the Potomac River at Williamsport, Maryland, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac crossed the river east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and followed Lee into Virginia. On July 23, Meade ordered the III Corps, under Maj. Gen. William H. French, to cut off the retreating Confederate columns at Front Royal, Virginia, by forcing passage through Manassas Gap. At first light, French began slowly pushing Brig. Gen. James A. Walker's Confederate brigade (the Stonewall Brigade, part of Maj. Gen. Richard H. Anderson's division) back into the gap. About 4:30 p.m., a strong Union attack drove Walker's men until they were reinforced by Robert E. Rodes's division and artillery. By dusk, the poorly coordinated Union attacks were abandoned. During the night, Confederate forces withdrew into the Luray Valley. On July 24, the Union army occupied Front Royal, but Lee's army was safely beyond pursuit.