On reaching the Potomac, they found that a sudden rise had rendered the fords impassable.

Intrenchments and batteries were thrown up, and for a week the Confederate army held the lines, expecting an attack from the enemy, who had approached within two miles; but the Federal generals were too well satisfied with having gained a success, when acting on the defensive in a strong position, to risk a defeat in attacking the position of the Confederates, and their forces remained impassive until pontoon bridges were thrown across the river, and the Confederate army, with their vast baggage train, had again crossed into Virginia.

The campaign had cost the Northern army 23,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, besides a considerable number of guns.

The Confederates lost only two guns, left behind in the mud, and 1500 prisoners, but their loss in killed and wounded at Gettysburg exceeded 10,000 men.

Even the most sanguine among the ranks of the Confederacy were now conscious that the position was a desperate one.