Gettysburg July 14th - Lee Escapes

To General HUMPHREYS: July 14, 1863-6. 35 a. m
My brigade commander in Hagerstown reports the works in his front evacuated.

O. O. HOWARD.  Major-General.

To Major-General PLEASONTON:
I have advanced about a mile. See nothing. My information that the enemy commenced crossing last evening, and has succeeded, [was from] a citizen who has been detained in their camp. They have all crossed, excepting about a division.

J. BUFORD.

To CORPS COMMANDERS July 14, 1863-8. 30 a. m.
Information having been received that the enemy has fallen back from our right, the major-general commanding directs that, upon receiving similar intelligence from the reconnoitering force, each corps commander will move forward with his corps to support the reconnaissance, which will be pushed until the enemy is met; that the Third Corps will follow the Second Corps; that corps commanders will keep up their communication with the corps on their right and left, and be prepared to deploy in line of battle upon overtaking the enemy.

To General HUMPHREYS:
The rear of the enemy crossed the river two and a half hours ago, our artillery shelling them. This report is from my scouting officers.

O. O. HOWARD, Major-General.

Meade To Halleck, July 14, 1863—11 A. M.
On advancing my army this morning, with a view of ascertaining the exact position of the enemy, and attacking him if the result of the examination should justify me, I found on reaching his lines that they were evacuated. I immediately put my army in pursuit; the cavalry in advance at this period. My forces occupy Williamsport, but I have not yet heard from the advance on Falling Waters, where it is reported he crossed his infantry on a bridge. Your instructions, as to further movements in case the enemy is entirely across the river, are desired.

Halleck To Meade, Washington, D. C., July 14, 1863.
The enemy should be pursued and cut up wherever he may have gone.. I cannot advise details, as I do not know where Lee's army is, nor where are your pontoon bridges.

I need hardly say to you that the escape of Lee's army, without another battle, has created great dissatisfaction in the mind of the President, and it will require an active and energetic pursuit on your part to remove the impression that it has not been sufficiently active heretofore.

Meade To Halleck, July 14, 1863—2.30 P. M.
Having performed my duty conscientiously and to the best of my ability, the censure of the President (conveyed in your dispatch of 1 P. M. this day) is, in my judgment, so undeserved that I feel compelled most respectfully to ask to be immediately relieved from the command of this army.

Meade To Halleck, July 14, 1863—3 P. M.
My cavalry now occupy Falling Waters, having overtaken and captured a brigade of infantry, fifteen hundred (1500) strong, two (2) guns, two caissons, two battle-flags, and a large number of small arms. The enemy are all across the Potomac.

Halleck To Meade, Washington, D. C., July 14, 1863.
My telegram stating the disappointment of the President at the escape of Lee's army was not intended as a censure, but as a stimulus to an active pursuit. It is not deemed a sufficient cause for your application to be relieved.

Meade To Halleck, July 14, 1863—8.30 P. M.
My cavalry have captured five hundred prisoners, in addition to those previously reported. General Pettigrew, of the Confederate army, was killed this morning in the attack on the enemy's rear-guard. His body is in our hands.

To War Department, Washington, D. C.:
The Maryland campaign is ended. Have sent to me at Harper's Ferry, as soon as practicable, all the maps you can spare of the Shenandoah Valley and the routes east of the mountains to Gordonsville.

G. K. WARREN, Chief Engineer, Army of the Potomac.