ROBERT E. LEE



position on the heights above Mine Run, where
he awaited Aieade's attack for several days. But
although Meade brought up his army, and ap-
parently made every preparation for a general
battle, on the morning of the 2d of December
he had drawn back beyond the Rappahaimock.
Warren, to whom the conduct of the assault
had been confided, had found Lee's position too
strong to give promise of its being successfully
assaulted, and the expected battle never came
off. Two days later Lee wrote his wife as fol-
lows: "You will probably have seen that General
MAeade has retired to his old position on the Rap-
pahannock without giving us battle. I had ex-
pected, from his movements and all that I had
heard, that it was his intention to do so, and after
the first day, when I thought it necessary to
skirmish pretty sharply with him on both flanks
to ascertain his views, I waited patiently his
attack. On Tuesday, however, I thought he
had changed his mind, and that night made prep-
arations to move around his left next morning
and attack him. But when day dawned he was
nowhere to be seen. He had commenced to with-
draw at dark Tuesday evening. We pursued
to the Rapidan, but he was over. Owing to the
nature of the ground, it was to our advantage to
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