Confederate infantry beat back a Union reconnaissance-in-force across the Rapidan at Morton's Ford

To draw atttention away from a possible Union winter attack on Richmond, elements of the Federal II and III Corps sortied across the Rapidan at several points, including Morton's Ford.  The ford area was held by troops of Confederate General Edward Johnson and although Union troops crossed the river successfully, after a day of heavy fighting, withdrew after dark with the loss of around  two hundred killed and wounded.  (By John Osborne)