After a naval bombardment, a Union infantry brigade under General George C. Strong made a landing on Morris Island situated just south of the entrance to Charleston Bay in South Carolina.  Much of the island was quickly occupied but the ramparts at the northern end, named Fort Wagner after a deceased Confederate artillery officer, held a garrison of more than 1,500 defenders and proved much more difficult to take. A ground attack at dusk on July 15, 1863 was beaten back and reinforcements began a siege of the fort.  (By John Osborne)

The retreating Confederates had reached the Potomac the week before and found it flooded and impassable. They took up powerful positions between Williamsport and Falling Waters, Maryland on the northern side. Union General Meade's pursuing Army of the Potomac did not attack hastily but gathered forces, including a powerful flanking movement, The floods, however, abated enough for General Lee's troops to slip away across the Potomac during the night of July 13-14, 1863, ending the Confederate campaign into Pennsylvania.  (By John Osborne). 

The advance units of General R.E. Lee's retreating Army of Northern Virginia reached the banks of the Potomac and found the river in full flood, trapping him on the northern side.  The remainder of his forces arrived the next day and Lee troops took up strong defensive positions between the washed away fords at Williamsport and Falling Waters against the pursuing Army of the Potomac. General Meade did not immediately attack, however, and Lee was able to slip away across the Potomac on the evening of July 13-14, 1863 when the floods had abated.  (By  John Osborne)   

Heavy rain fell over the Gettysburg battlefield during the previous night and continued all through the next day as the Armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia faced each other.  In the evening, General Lee's troops began a withdrawal from Pennsylvania, his trains of wounded and artillery moving first and then his main force.  The retreat continued for several days, reaching Hagerstown and then the crossing point of the Potomac at Williamsburg on the evening of July 6, 1863.  (By John Osborne)