Battle of Morton's Ford

Battle of Morton's Ford
Part of the American Civil War

Sketch by Lt. Roebling
DateFebruary 6, 1864 (1864-02-06) – February 7, 1864 (1864-02-07)
Location
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
John C. Caldwell Richard S. Ewell
Strength
Corps Corps
Casualties and losses
262[1] 60[2]

The Battle of Morton's Ford was a battle of the American Civil War, fought February 6–7, 1864.

To distract attention from a planned cavalry-infantry raid up the Virginia Peninsula on Richmond, the Union Army of the Potomac forced several crossings of the Rapidan River on February 6, 1864. Units of the II Corps under Maj. Gen. John C. Caldwell crossed at Morton's Ford, the I Corps at Raccoon Ford, and Union cavalry at Robertson's Ford. Confederate Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia resisted the crossings, with sporadic fighting and the most severe fighting at Morton's Ford. By February 7, 1864, the attacks had stalled, and the Union army withdrew during the night, with the results of the battle inconclusive.

  1. ^ Trinque, pp. 45, 88.
  2. ^ Trinque, p. 88.