USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Gettysburg > Notes on the Rebel invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania and the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1st, 2d and 3d, 1863. > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
121
THE
REBEL INVASION
OF
MARYLAND & PENNSYLVANIA
AND
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
L
E
250
The distinguished author of this book. Rev. de. Michael Jacobs, was the husband of Julianne Syster 1 eldest sister of my husband. David a. S. Eyster. He was the founder of Pennsylvania College . Gettysburg, Van, and one of the noblest as well as one of the most- learned men of his day. 7. 18-2.
Jan. 99.
To Hectic Blessing Syster. Wick love of The author.
Sergiburg 1864
-
Union forces
Rebel
NOTES
ON THE
REBEL INVASION
OF
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA
AND THE
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
JULY 1ST, 2D AND 3D, 1863.
ACCOMPANIED BY AN
EXPLANATORY MAP.
BY M. JACOBS,
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY IN PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, GETTYSBURG.
PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1864.
MAP of the BATTLE FIELD OF GETTYSBURG. July 11. 22 & 3 1863.
Seminary Huge
lo Carliste
a Benner
M
JULY TOT A
VST . P
JULY
JULY
E WELL
R
A
z
Almus House
0
M .
P
HEATH
3
S
Dr Baugher
CORP
Rock
Reynolds fell
*
C. Sheads
De frauth
DT Schmucker
RHODES
DIVISION
4
Schult
DOLES
EWELLS
to Bonaughtown
DIVISION
SMITH
DH.culp
EARLY'S
DIVISION
M' Miller
HEATHS
culp's
CHIT HOWARD
147 WADSWORTH
G E.AR
DIV *
ARMISTED
-Bryan
Kranglers
WILLIA!
P.Smaylers Spring
2º HANG
4
MAHONE
POSEY
ANDERSONS
PERRY
Federal Cavalry
BUFORD
WOLFORD
I. Sherfy
JULY 29
BARKSDALE
Heckert
to Taneytown
CORPS
OFVISION 1+++
Rosé
YKES
S
Little: Round Top
HOOD'S
Stider
Current 1
Round Top
SCALE .. .. .. .. ..
Federal Cavalry KILPATRICK
LONGSTREETS
-
M'S LAW SHI DIVISION'
3! SICKLES
×
Mende's Head Quarter's
KEMPER
5
Walf
ta Emmutshuy
SEDGWICK
M: Alister's Mill
S.Codore
WRIGHT
PICKETT'S DIVISION
JULY
ETTIGAU
ROBINSON
AMES
++1
.
SNOLSNHO.T
Willoughby
Pilzer
GARNETT
Bliss
$17 DOUBLEDAY
Guinn
STEWART
PENDERS DIVISION
A P. HILLS
CORPS
/Relat pickels. July 23 & 33
GORDON
CORPS
to Hmpersonn
HAYES
Stevens Run
E Pa College
Head Quarter's
M. Pherson
F
CORPS. REYNOLDS
HOWARD'S
Road
to York
Rail
to (humberyburg.
CORPS.
H-FJU LIY, 2 º/ 9
RHODE 6
ON
ULI
-
. ..
M
. ..
SEMMES
Sherry's
· Much Orchart
Federal Cavalry
Schninary
GETTYSBURG
PENDER
" Ceginetá
SCHURZ
LONGSTREET
WILCOX
.
NOTES
ON THE
REBEL INVASION
OF
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA
AND THE
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
JULY 1ST, 2D AND 3D, 1863.
ACCOMPANIED BY AN
EXPLANATORY MAP.
BY M. JACOBS,
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY IN PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, GETTYSBURG.
PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1864. ?
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
INTRODUCTION.
THE account of the battles at Gettysburg, pre- pared by the Rev. Dr. Jacobs, Professor of Mathe- matics in Pennsylvania College, will take a place among historical documents of high permanent value. It is the record of an eye-witness, made, in large part, while the scenes he describes were passing before him. The author is distinguished as an acute observer, as a man of clear judgment and of great conscientiousness, who is not only scrupulous as to the substance of his statements, but cautious in their tone and coloring. His
chronicle will be found a chronicle of facts. What he knows is carefully sifted from what he conjec- tures : of the former we have much, of the latter almost nothing. The sequence of parts, and the internal relations of the terrible struggle at Get- tysburg, are presented by Professor Jacobs with
(iii )
iv
INTRODUCTION.
a fidelity and simplicity which render his narra- tive pre-eminent among the very many accounts of the battles which have been written. The chart, formed upon actual measurements, is of great value; and it will be found that the his- torical notes, to which it is a companion, are marked like it by that spirit of mathematical pre- cision which is indispensable in military history. The pilgrims who, with this little volume in their hands, shall visit the memorable fields whose undying story it tells, the thousands who eagerly read all that bears upon the grandest and most critical struggle of the most momentous war in the annals of our race, will gratefully feel, in common with the laborious searcher for truth, the rare and true student of history, that Pro- fessor Jacobs has rendered an invaluable service in his unpretending and excellent work.
CHARLES P. KRAUTH.
PHILADELPHIA, September 23d, 1863.
THE REBEL INVASION
OF
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
SHORTLY after the battle of Chancellorville, which, although not a defeat of the Union army, neverthe- less resulted, on account of several uncontrollable causes, in the necessary withdrawal of our forces to their former position on the left bank of the Rappa- hannock, General Lee, of the Rebel army, determined to invade the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania. He seems to have been induced to enter upon this perilous undertaking by several considerations. First, he felt the increasing deficiency of cavalry and ar- tillery horses, and of the means of subsisting his army in an almost desolate territory from which he had hitherto drawn his supplies; secondly, there was the alleged demoralization of General Hooker's army after that battle ; thirdly, there was the evident fact of the depletion of the Union army, by the return to their homes of a number of regiments whose term of service had expired ; and fourthly, there was the apparent division of sentiment in the loyal States, in regard to the conduct and continuance of the war, and the strong undercurrent of sympathy manifested
(5)
6
THE REBEL INVASION OF
for the success of the rebellion, engendered by an intense partisan feeling, and the desire of office. Of this division of sentiment he now determined to take advantage, for he hoped to find us as incoherent as a rope of sand, and utterly unable to resist his pro- gress as he swept over the land. And, unquestion- ably, for some time it did appear as if his cherished hopes would be realized ; for, when he was about to cross the Potomac, evidently endeavoring to feel his way, such was the apparent apathy that prevailed amongst the people who were most in danger, that it was almost impossible to arouse them to realize their true situation, and to organize in the defence of their homes.
So hopeful were the leaders of the rebellion in the success of this, their project, that they did not deem it necessary to keep their intentions a secret. Many weeks before their attempted invasion, their news- papers freely referred to it as an event that would surely happen, and boasted loudly of the manner in which they would fatten on the spoils they would take from the rich farmers and well-filled storehouses of the North.
At an early day, Lee began to arrange and perfect his plans, and to remodel and strengthen his army ; so that, when his preparations were completed, he found himself at the head of one of the best dis- ciplined and most reliable armies the world ever saw. With this he hoped to sweep, like a whirlwind, over the fairest portions of our noble State.
Unmistakable signs of the coming storm began to accumulate. Suspecting that an advance move-
.
7
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
ment was about to be made, General Hooker directed that a cavalry attack should be made by General Pleasanton against General Stuart, at Beverly Ford. This attack, which was made June 9th, resulted advantageously to the Federal arms; and especially in the capture of Stuart's private papers, amongst which were found orders for an immediate advance into Pennsylvania. This was a fortunate event, since it enabled Hooker immediately to put his army in motion, so as to prevent Lee, who had already several days' start, from flanking him, and coming in between him and Washington or Baltimore. By hard marches, the Union army advanced so rapidly as always to be on the flanks of Lee, and to prevent him, eventually, from carrying out his purposes.
Forewarned of the approach of the invading army, the War Department, on the 11th of June, assigned Major-General D. N. Couch to the Department of the Susquehanna, with his head-quarters at Harrisburg; and Major-General W. T. H. Brooks to the Depart- ment of the Monongahela, with his head-quarters at Pittsburg. On the next day were issued a procla- mation of Governor Curtin, and a call of General Couch, addressed to the people of Pennsylvania, urging them to organize and to hasten to the defence of the State, and, if possible, to drive back the in- vader before he should touch our soil.
On the 13th of June, the Rebels reached Winchester, Virginia, and gave battle to General Milroy, who oc- cupied that post with a force of 8,000 or 9,000 men. On that day the Rebels were repulsed ; but on the next
8
THE REBEL INVASION OF
day they renewed the attack, in which they were feebly resisted by our forces, and which resulted in the hasty flight of Milroy and his whole command. He lost nearly all his ammunition and artillery, and a small portion of his men. He succeeded in taking several hundred with him to Harper's Ferry, and in running his baggage train, by Hagerstown and Cham- bersburg, to Harrisburg. About 2,000 infantry strag- glers and cavalry succeeded in breaking through, and effecting their escape to Bloody Run, Pennsyl- vania, where they were reorganized and joined by recruits from the Pennsylvania militia.
The Rebel cavalry, 1500 in number, under the no- torious General Jenkins, entered Hagerstown on the 15th of June, at 10} A. M., in pursuit of Milroy's wagon train, and, moving onward rapidly, they reached Chambersburg at 8} P. M. Having thus advanced far into an enemy's country without a support sufficiently near, and -fearing an attack by our men, who were beginning to organize in obedience to the Gover- nor's call, they deemed it prudent to make a retro- grade movement. Accordingly they evacuated Cham- bersburg on the 17th of June; and as they had already gathered a large number of horses and cattle, which they had taken violently and without compensation from the farmers, it was vainly supposed, by many of our people, that they now intended to withdraw with their booty across the Potomac. They, how- ever, retired only to the vicinity of Hagerstown, there to await the arrival of Lee's army.
Previous to Saturday, the 20th of June, portions of Jenkins' party had advanced as far as Waynesboro',
9
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, robbing the inhabi- tants of horses, and of whatsoever else they saw fit to take or to destroy. These, and other acts, some of which consisted in a most wanton destruction of articles of no value whatsoever to them, they per- petrated in the face of their oft-repeated assurance, that private property would be respected, that pri- vate citizens should not be molested, and that they would show themselves not to be such barbarians as the Yankees had done whilst in their country. They must have supposed us to be exceedingly stupid, if they thought that our people could not penetrate the shallow hypocrisy of these honeyed words. After they had overrun and robbed the country west of the South Mountain, and thoroughly searched its numerous valleys for horses, which, they had been informed by disloyal citizens, had been secreted there, they came down the southeastern flanks of the mountain in search of booty.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20.
On the morning of this day, Major Haller, of the United States Infantry, who, having been sent by General Couch, arrived at Gettysburg on the previous evening, addressed a public meeting at the Court- house, advising all able-bodied male citizens to arm themselves and to be ready, at a moment's warning, for the defence of their homes and of the State. On that day, a beginning was made in the formation of a cavalry company, under Captain R. Bell, and there was some reconnoitring by scouts and a few of our citizens. An effort to form an infantry company, 2
10
THE REBEL INVASION OF
and to arouse the people generally, did not provo successful. This failure was owing, at least, on the part of the great majority, not so much to an un- willingness to engage in the efforts to resist the progress of the enemy, as to a reluctance to desert their homes and their families in the hour of danger, whilst they went to defend the less exposed parts of the State ; for it was soon apparent that the military authorities at Harrisburg, losing sight of the particu- lar, and looking to the good of the whole, intended, in the beginning at least, to make the Susquehanna the base of defence against the invaders, whilst, for the border towns and country, no immediate ade- quate protection could be provided. Forthis seeming neglect, there were not wanting some who soundly abused the Government. And then, too, some were unwilling, from political motives, either to go them- selves, or to suffer their friends to go into an organi- zation which might seem to be a support of the Administration, or which might, perhaps, cause their absence from home at the time of the Fall election. Some also, who were brave and patriotic in words, could not make up their minds to expose themselves to the hardships of camp-life, and to the perils of the battle-field. On the Wednesday preceding (June 17), however, a company of infantry, consisting of 60 students of Pennsylvania College, together with seve- ral from the Theological Seminary, and a few citizens, under Captain F. Klinefelter, a theological student, left for Harrisburg, in obedience to the urgent call of the Governor, and were the first to be mustered into the service "for the emergency." In fact, pre-
11
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
vious to this date very little progress had been made in the needful preparations for the defences even of the Capital. A beginning had indeed been made, as early as the 15th of June, in the construction of breastworks and the digging of rifle-pits along the river front, and on the opposite bank; but the work went on slowly, and it is questionable whether, when the Rebels approached nearest the river, on Sunday, June 28th, Harrisburg might not have been easily taken. It was difficult to move the people,-for al- though many companies and regiments, amongst whom were several from New York and New Jersey, reported themselves at the seat of government, it was not until the enemy was at our very doors, and three days before the battle of Gettysburg was begun, that the people began to realize the magnitude of their danger, and Philadelphia, which was a most tempting bait for the invaders, began to pour forth her men and treasures in real earnest.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21.
Early on this morning, the Philadelphia City Troop, consisting of about 40. members, arrived at Gettysburg, affording us evidence that the border was not entirely forgotten. These, together with Bell's cavalry and some citizens, made a reconnois- ance in the South Mountain as far as Monterey. They there came up to the Rebel pickets, with whom they exchanged some shots. At 6 P. M., about 120 Rebel cavalry entered Fairfield, and retired again by the Furnace road at 8 P. M., taking with them all the good horses they could find.
12
THE REBEL INVASION OF
MONDAY, JUNE 22.
Ewell's corps crossed the Potomac to-day, one por- tion crossing at Shepherdstown, and another at Williamsport. The whole met and united at Hagers- town, whence they again diverged in their progress up the valley, towards Chambersburg.
The Pennsylvania and the New York militia, as they reached Harrisburg, had been, as soon as prac- ticable, organized by General Couch in two divisions, one under General Smith, the other under General Dana. On Saturday, the 20th of June, previous to General Smith's being put in command, General Knipe was sent up the valley from Harrisburg, with two New York regiments, numbering about 800 men ; first to reconstruct the railroad bridge at Scotland, which the Rebels had burned, and then to occupy and defend Chambersburg. Having, however, been apprised of the approach of Rhodes' division of Ewell's corps, and being unprepared to meet the large force of the enemy which would soon be pre- cipitated upon him, he deemed it advisable, late in the evening of this day, to evacuate the town, and gradually to move down the valley again.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23.
During the forenoon of this day, General Rhodes' division entered and occupied Chambersburg. Du- ring this and the previous day, various reconnois- ances were also made from Gettysburg by Bell's cavalry and the City Troop, the former having now assumed an organized form. But although Major
13
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Haller, who was acting under instructions from General Couch, for the purpose of maturing the necessary preparations for the defence of this part of the border of the State, seemed to be active and industrious, very little of any value was actually accomplished in that respect. Whether it was be- cause of his incapacity for the position he held, or indifference as to the result, was a matter of conjecture. It is singular, however, that so soon after the utterance of the remark, that he would "first fight the Rebels, but, after the war, the Ad- ministration," should have followed his dismissal from the service "for disloyal conduct, and the utterance of disloyal sentiments." Thus the golden opportunity for efficient preparation passed away.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24.
On the evening of this day, the 26th regiment, P. V. M., numbering 735 men, of which company A was almost wholly composed of students from Pennsylvania College, were sent to Gettysburg for the purpose of helping to hold the enemy in check ; but as the cars in which they were coming were thrown from the track, at a point six miles below Gettysburg, they encamped, and remained there until Friday morning.
A. P. Hill's corps also crossed the Potomac to-day, at a point one mile above Shepherdstown, Anderson being in the advance.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25.
Late on Thursday evening, however, 100 picked
14
THE REBEL INVASION OF
men from the 26th regiment were ordered up from their encampment to Gettysburg, with the design of sending them to the mountain as sharpshooters or bushwhackers, in order to cut off the Rebel pickets, who, according to information then received, ex- tended down the southeastern flanks of the moun- tain, and were making gradual approaches towards our town. But the heavy rain of that night caused them to be detained until the balance of the regiment arrived, and thus they were saved from almost cer- tain capture or destruction.
The Rebels, under Rhodes, also to-day advanced as far as Carlisle, on their way to Harrisburg.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26.
The 26th regiment arrived at Gettysburg, from their camping-ground, at 9 A. M., and, by order of Major Haller, although contrary to the earnest re- monstrances of Jennings, Colonel of the regiment, was sent forward, at 10} A. M., on the Chambersburg turnpike. This was a suicidal movement of a hand- ful, chiefly of inexperienced men, in the face of a large body of experienced troops. The Rebels after- wards laughed at the folly of the order. But ad- vancing to the distance of about three miles west- ward, our little band encamped, and threw out their pickets. At about 3 P. M., the Rebels in force made their appearance, and captured nearly all their pickets, 40 in number. Colonel Jennings, who had, on seve- ral occasions, shown himself to be an officer as skilful as he is cool and brave, seeing the trap into which he had been led, immediately, upon sight of the
15
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
enemy, divided the regiment into three squads, in order to deceive them with the appearance of a large body of infantry. The deception proved so far successful that the Rebels did not press them, fearing that a direct attack might prove more serious than a mere skirmish. Jennings' band however, hastily retreated eastward over the fields, and by country roads, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry, which was sent in pursuit of them ; and after losing 120 more of their number near Hunterstown, and zigzagging very frequently, being often within hearing distance of their pursuers, they reached Harrisburg on Sunday, the 28th of June, much fatigued, having marched 54 out of 60 con- tinuous hours. Too much praise cannot be awarded Colonel Jennings, for the skilful manner in which he conducted this retreat, and saved the regiment from capture.
The advance guard of the enemy, consisting of 180 to 200 cavalry, rode into Gettysburg at 34 P. M., shouting and yelling like so many savages from the wilds of the Rocky Mountains ; firing their pistols, not caring whether they killed or maimed man, woman, or child; and rushing from stable to stable in search of horses, the most of which, however, had fortunately a few hours before been sent forward to Hanover and York.
This advance party was soon followed by 5,000 infantry, being General Gordon's brigade of Early's division of Ewell's corps. Most of the men were exceedingly dirty, some ragged, some without shoes, and some surmounted by the skeleton of what was
16
THE REBEL INVASION OF
once an entire hat, affording unmistakable evidence that they stood in great need of having their scanty wardrobe replenished; and hence the eagerness with which they inquired after shoe, hat, and clothing stores, and their disappointment when they were informed that goods of that description were not to be had in town; and it ought not to have surprised us that they actually took shoes and hats from the persons of some of our Franklin county cousins, whom they considered more able to endure the loss than we, whilst they permitted us to escape that infliction. Being wet from the rain which had fallen during the most of the day, and considerably heated by a long march, there was found, by a person near them as they passed, to have been more truth than fiction in the remark of a friend, that "the air was filled with the filthy exhalations from their bodies." Whether this was a judgment dictated by prejudice, or not, it was difficult for us to recognize, in the great body of them, the character previously heralded in our community by a lady sympathizer, of "chival- rous Southerners, all from the first families of the South." But we do not intend to reproach them for not presenting a better appearance; they doubt- less did the best they could, and had come a long journey for the express purpose of supplying their pressing wants.
General Early, who accompanied this brigade, and remained in town over Friday night, demanded of the authorities of our borough 1,200 pounds of sugar, 600 pounds of coffee, 60 barrels of flour, 1,000 pounds of salt, 7,000 pounds of bacon, 10 barrels of
17
MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.
whisky, 10 barrels of onions, 1,000 pairs of shoes, and 500 hats, amounting in value to $6,000; or, in lieu thereof, $5,000 cash. To this demand Messrs. D. Kendlehart and A. D. Buehler, as representatives of the town council, replied in substance, that it was impossible to comply with their demands; that the goods were not in town or within reach; that the borough had no funds, and the council had no au- thority to borrow either in the name of the borough or county ; and that, as we were at the mercy of the General and his men, they could search, and take from citizens and the empty stores whatsoever they might be able to find. No attempt was made to enforce the requisition, and but few of the houses of citizens were robbed. Whether this forbearance was owing to the evident fact that he was outwitted by our citizens, or from his generosity to our appa- rent poverty, we will permit our York friends to judge, to whom he is reported to have replied, when, as a reason why he should not insist on the enforce- ment of the large demand he had made of them, they reminded him of his leniency towards us, "Why, gentlemen, there was nothing there to take." Be it so: Gettysburg escaped; and York paid a premium of $28,000. During the evening of Friday, however, the Rebels burned the railroad bridge and a few cars, took from the few articles that our merchants had not sent away such as suited them, and divested the taverns and liquor stores of their liquors. Besides this, they did not do much damage in the town. In the country, however, they treated the farmers less gently. They there re-enacted
3
18
THE REBEL INVASION OF
their old farce of professing to pay for what they took, by offering freely their worthless "Confederate " scrip ; which, they said, would, in a few days, be better than our own currency. In the town they obtained but little booty, because all the valuables of the Bank, and nearly all those of the merchants, had been previously sent for safety to Philadelphia. This proved a great disappointment to them; and they acknowledged that, for this time, they had been too slow in their movements. They consequently hurried forward, that night and the next morning, towards Hanover and York. A portion of them passed through Hanover at 11 A. M., reaching the Northern Central Railroad at Hanover Junction, early in the afternoon, whilst another portion went to East Berlin, and on the next day, Sunday, reached York.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.