Figure 1. Position of Lee and Grant’s Armys in relation to Montpelier camps.
in reaction to Confederate losses at Gettysburg and the appointment of a new Union
Commander, U.S. Grant, whose aggressive strategy was in complete contrast with his
predecessor’s (Union General Meade) more cautious maneuvering. The Montpelier camps were
the western-most portion of this 20-mile shield that stretched from the area of Liberty Mills (just
to the west of Montpelier) through Orange and towards Germanna Ford—the locale where Grant
would pierce this shield in the Spring of 1864 and bring his forces head to head with Lee’s at the
Wilderness.
As part of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, General Wilcox’s Division occupied the
area of Montpelier and one of his brigades under the command of General McGowan of South