The Great Invasion of 1863; or, General Lee in Pennsylvania, etc

Front matter

c (2)he GEE AT INVASION OF1863; OR. General liee iip Y eipipsvjIVaipia. EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF The Strength and Organization of the ArmieB of the Potomac and Northern Virginia; Their Daily Marches with the Routes of Travel, and General Orders Issued ; The Three Dave of Battle ; The Retreat of the Confederates and Pursuit by the Federals ; Analytical Index, Maps, Portraits, and a large number of Illustrations of the Battle-field. fflTttlj an Appmbte Containing an Account of the Burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, A Statement ot the General Sickles Controversy, and other Valuable Historic Papers. Ii V JACOB HOKE. DAYTON, OHIO: W. J. SHUEY, PUBLISHER. 1887. Copyright, 1887, BY W. J. SHUEY. TO THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, AND TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE DEPARTED, AS WELL AS TO ALL THE HEROIC MEN, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, WHO HASTENED TO THE RESCUE OF THEIR IMPERILED COUNTRY IN THE HOUR OF HER NEED, THIS VOLUME, WHICH RECORDS THE EVENTS OF ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST DECISIVE CAMPAIGNS OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.

PUBLISHER'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Publisher wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Brigadier-Gen eral M. R. Patrick, Provost-Marshal-General of the Army of the Potomac, and at present Governor of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Dayton, Ohio, who kindly loaned the originals from which the "gravures" of Generals Meade, Hancock, and Lee were made. The kindness is all the more appreciated from the fact that the originals are souvenirs, presented to General Patrick by the distinguished personages themselves, and have never before been given to the public. The pen and ink sketch of General Meade, on page 241, was made by Colonel C. H. T. Collis, just before the Wilderness campaign, and was pronounced by General Meade the best likeness of himself yet made. W. J. SHUEY. i Page. I 33 CONTENTS.

Chapter I

The Armies of the Potomac, and of Northern Virginia. Number ofthe Army of the Potomac — Testimony of General George G. Meade — Strength of the Army of Northern Virginia — Statement of Hon. Edward Everett, General James Longstreet, Colonel W. H. Taylor, and the Count of Paris — Confirmatory Testimony of Eye -Witnesses — Organization of the Army of the Potomac — Of the Army of Northern Virginia — Purposes and Objects ofthe Invasion — Statement of Generals A. L- Long, James Longstreet, and Abner Doubleday — Jefferson Davis' Confidence in Lee's success in Pennsylvania — Hon. A. H. Stephens sent to Washington to propose Peace upon the Recognition of the Southern Confederacy — Copy of Davis' Letter of Instructions to Stephens — Turned back at Fortress Monroe — The Victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg Interfere with Davis' Plans — Lee's Strategical Plans and Purposes — Arrival of Longstreet's Scout and Change of Plan and Purposes — Harmonizing the Contradictory Statements as to the Time of this Scout's Arrival — Confidence of the Confederates — Lee's Plans and Strategy Foiled by General Hooker — Stuart's Forced March around the Federal Army — Lee's Ignorance of Hooker's Movements — Departure of the Confederate Commmander from a "Strategical Offensive but Tactical Defensive " — Longstreet's Objections to this Change — Opposed to an Attack upon the Federal Position at Gettysburg — Counsels a Flank Movement — Remarks of the Count of Paris upon Lee's alternatives

Chapter II

The Armies in Motion; Rout of General Mi/roy al Winchester. Positions Occupied by the Federal and Confederate Armies — Indications of an Aggressive Movement. by the Confederates — General Hooker wide awake to the Emergency — Informs the Government of the Threatened Invasion — Withdrawal of Lee's Army from CONTENTS. XIV I Page. Fredericksburg and Concentration at Culpeper — Reconnoissance in force by the Federal Cavalry under General Pleasanton — Desper ate Engagement at Beverly Ford or Brandy Station — Capture of General Stuart's Head -quarters' Chest containing Lee's Plans- Prompt Measures by General Hooker to Defeat Lee's Purposes — Lee Forced to the Shenandoah Valley instead of moving North ward and East of the Mountain as he Intended— Daily Marches of the Two Armies — Exposed Condition of General Milroy at Win chester—Warned of his Danger he Declares his Ability to Main tain his Position — Reconnoissances made and Skirmishes with the Advancing Enemy — Arrival of Early's and Johnson's Divisions before Winchester— Rodes' Division drives Colonel McReynolds from Berryville — His Wagon -train Flees to the Potomac at Wil liamsport—Pursued by Jenkins' Cavalry — Capture of Martinsburg by General Rodes — Severe Fighting at Winchester — Milroy abandons Winchester in the night and flees toward Harper's Ferry — Intercepted by the Confederates— His Forces Defeated and many Slain and Captured — Escape of part of his Force to Maryland Heights, and others to Everett or Bloody Run in Southern Pennsyl vania — Jenkins crosses the Potomac at Williamsport 66

Chapter III

Preparations for the Reception ofthe Enemy. Advance of General Jenkins. Description of Southern Pennsylvania — Preparations made to Repel the Threatened Invasion — Departments of the Monongahela and Susquehanna ordered — The Militia called out — Intense Excitement along the Southern Border — Graphic Description by Rev. Dr. Philip Schaff — Excitement in Chambersburg, and the contents of the Bank, stores, and Court House secreted or sent away — Flight ofthe Farmers with their Horses and Cattle — McReynolds' Wagon-train Flees down the Valley— Tremendous Panic of the Teamsters — Dashes through Chambersburg — Jenkins' Cavalry in Pursuit enters Chambersburg — Capture of Lieutenant Smith and George Hawkins in the Public Square — Perilous Escape of their Captors — Desperate Strait of Mr. J. S. Brand — Reprisals made upon the Town for Captured Horses and Accouterments — Shirk's Hill occupied — Scouring the Country for Plunder — Horses and Negroes taken — Narrow Escape of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens — Jenkins orders the Stores and Shops to be Opened —Alarm of the Confederates and Hasty Falling Back — Jenkins Plunders the Southern part of Franklin County — Fulton and Adams County Visited and Plundered. CONTENTS. XV Page.

CHAPTER IV. The Invasion

Stuart's Cavalry leaves its Encampment on the South bank of the Rappahannock and moves Northward — Precautionary Movements of the Federal Army — The Safety of the National Capital, General Hooker's Paramount Object — Magnificent Strategy, and the Approaches to Washington all Covered — Cavalry Engagement at Aldie and Upperville — General Stuart Sealed Up in the Valley — Advance of General Knipe from Harrisburg — General Lee issues a General Order at Berryville Relating to the Conduct of his Troops, and the taking of Supplies — New York Militia in Camp a mile South of Chambersburg — A Suspicious Person visits the Camp — Rodes' Division Advances from Williamsport — Jenkins' cavalry Advance to Marion — Surprised and Fall Back, Pursued by a Company of Federal Cavalry — First Battle of the War upon Pennsylvania Soil — Observations from a Tree Top, and the Confederate Advance Reported to General Knipe — Panic Among the New York Militia-men — Cowardly Flight — A Federal Officer Shoots his Horse — Slanderous Stories told by these Panic-stricken Men — General Order issued by Lieutenant General Ewell — Johnson and Early cross the Potomac and Advance to Hagerstown — Early Deflects to the East and passes down the Valley by way of Waynesborough, Quincy, and Funkstown to Greenwood — Jenkins Re-enters Chambersburg — Requisition made for Supplies — Requisitions upon Greencastle by General Ewell — Rodes' Division Enters and Passes Through Chambersburg — Arrival of General Ewell — General Order Relating to the Disposition of Liquor — Requisition upon Chambersburg for Supplies — Examination of Stores — Immense Losses of the Citizens of Chambersburg — Printing done for the Confederates — Shrewd Financiering — Occupation of Shirk's Hill and Cannon Planted — Stewart's Brigade of Infantry marches from Greencastle to McConnellsburg — Battle of North Mountain — Undue Importance Attached to this Affair — Hill's and Longstreet's Corps cross the Potomac and Advance down the Valley — Confederate Court-Martial — Additional Requisitions for Supplies — Passage of Johnson's Division — General Early visits Ewell near Chambersburg — Method of Sending Information to the Authorities at Harrisburg — Perilous Escape of some of our Dispatch Bearers — Arrival of Hill's Corps — Description of General Hill — Lee and his Staff in the Public Square — Council between Lee and Hill — Immense Importance of this Council — A Historic Scene — Eagerness to see which way the Confederate Commander and his Staff would take — Turns Eastward — CONTENTS.

Page.

Immediate Dispatch of this Fact to Harrisburg — Benjamin S. Huber, the Heroic Dispatch Bearer — Interesting Account of his Trip — Closeted with the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Mili tary Authorities— Lee's whereabouts known at Washington early in the day following his Entrance into Chambersburg — Descrip tion of General Lee and his Brilliant Staff— British Officers with the Grand Cavalcade — Lee makes his Head-Quarters upon the Eastern Outskirts of Chambersburg — Destruction of Hon. Thad deus Stevens' Iron Works by General Early — Early crosses the South Mountain and marches upon Gettysburg — Requisitions upon Gettysburg — General Imboden crosses the Potomac and Enters Pennsylvania — Plundering by the Way— Jenkins' Cavalry pass through Carlisle — Falling Back of the Federal Troops under Gen eral Knipe — Arrival of Longstreet's Corps — General Order by Lee — Humanity ofthe Confederate Chieftain — Commendable Behavior of the Confederates — Lee's Orders generally Observed — A few Outrages only by Stragglers — Citizens Caught in out of the way places Robbed — Hats, Boots, and Watches taken — Mr. Strite Mur dered and his body Secreted — Scouring the Country for Supplies — Precautionary Measures in some Localities — Mountain Passes Fortified by the Farmers to Secure their Horses — Brilliant Dash by Captain Dahlgreen upon the Confederate Communications at Greencastle — Prisoners and Confederate Mail Captured and Hur ried Across the Mountain to the Union Head-Quarters — Rodes' In fantry passes through Carlisle — Requisitions upon Mechanicsburg by General Jenkins — Early's Division Enters York — Requisitions made upon the Town — A ransom of One Hundred Thousand Dol lars Demanded — Part of this Amount Paid Over — Insolent Order, or Address to the People — General Gordon with his Brigade Ad vances to Wrightsville on the Susquehanna — Object of this Move ment — Immense Importance of Preventing the Confederates from Seizing the Columbia Bridge crossing the River at that place — Hurried Concentration of Militia under Colonel Frick — Breast works thrown up on the Western Bank of the River — Resistance made at this Place — Threatened to be out-flanked, the small Federal force Recrosses the River to Columbia — Order from General Couch to Destroy the Bridge when it could no longer be held — The Torch Applied — Official Account by Colonel Frick — An Unusual Sun day's Occurrence in Chambersburg — Breaking Open of Stores and Cellars — Colonel Freemantle's Account of this Day's Work — Disposition of Confederate Scrip — Another Clerical Financier — Visit to General Lee in his Camp by Mrs. Ellen McClellan — Inter esting Account of the Interview — Skirmish at Oyster's Point — CONTENTS.

XVII Page.

Collision between Federal Cavalry and part of Imboden's force upon the North Mountain — Defeat of Confederate Cavalry in Mc- Connellsburg by Captain Jones — Ignominious Flight of Pennsylvania Militia — Heth's Division of Hill's Corps crosses the South Mountain and Encamps about Cashtown — Advance of the Divisions of Generals Hood and McLaws — Pickett's Division Remains near Chambersburg and Destroys the Railroad — Visit of Dr. J. L- Suesserott to General Lee's Head-Quarters — Lee's Nervousness — Description of the Confederate Army — Manner of Marching — Perfect Discipline — Behavior of the Men — Laughable Occurrences — Depression and Discouragement of Some — Cases of Desertion — Surprise at our Magnificent Country — Ignorance of what was going on while under Confederate Rule — Richmond Papers our only Source of Information — Depressing Stories of Confederate Victories told us — Patriotic Feelings and Expressions of our People — Immenseness of Lee's Army — Its Probable Length — Observations from a Church Steeple — Return of Ewell's Great Wagon Train and its Rapid Passage Eastward — Significance of this Movement and Report ofthe same sent to Harrisburg — Perilous Adventures of Rev. S. W. Pomeroy while bearing this Dispatch — Information of this Concentration Forwarded to the Head-Quarters of the Army of the Potomac, and General Meade put in Possession of it Before Daylight — Cause of this Concentration — Arrival of General Longstreet's Scout — The Federal Array heard from — The Order to Attack Harrisburg Countermanded, and a Concentration about Cashtown Ordered — Places Occupied by the Different Corps and Divisions of Lee's Army when this Order for Concentration was issued — Routes taken by each — Early marches from York by way of East Berlin, and passes the night near Heidlersburg — Rodes marches from the Vicinity of Carlisle, and crosses the South Mountain by Mt. Holly Gap, and unites with Early — Longstreet and Lee ride together from the vicinity of Chambersburg and Encamp together over night at Greenwood — Pender's and Anderson's Divisions of Hill's Corps march from Fayetteville and Greenwood and join Heth at Cashtown — Johnson's Division of Ewell's Corps Retraces its Steps from the Vicinity of Shippensburg to Greenvillage, and passes directly across to Greenwood by way of Scotland, where it remains over night — Jenkins' Cavalry crosses the South Mountain by Mt. Holly Gap, and enters into and Plunders Petersburg — Re ceives Dispatches and hurries on to Gettysburg — The Cavalry Bri gades of Generals Beverly Robertson and William E. Jones cover the Withdrawal of Rodes from the Valley — Imboden's Cavalry Occupies Chambersburg — Ordered by Lee they Advance to Green- CONTENTS.

Page 114 wood to Prevent his Communications from being Interrupted by any Federal Advance by way of the Pine Grove Road — The Cav alry Brigades of Robertson and Jones Return from down the Valley and passing through Chambersburg go on to Gettysburg — Con federate Advance from Cashtown under General Pettigrew upon a Reconnoissance to near Gettysburg — They Fall Back to Marsh Creek, where they Remain over night — Arrival of the Divisions of Hood and McLaws at Marsh Creek — Location of each Corps and Division of the Confederate Army during the Night Before the First Day's Engagement

CHAPTER V. The Advance of the Federal Army

General Hooker, advised of the whereabouts of the Confederate Army, crosses the Potomac and marches Northward — Daily Movements of each Corps of the Federal Army — Left Wing thrown across the Potomac — Crampton's and Turner's Passes Covered — Thoroughfare Gap Uncovered and Stuart emerges from the Valley — Compelled to pass around to the East of the Federal Army — Right Wing crosses the Potomac — The Twelfth Corps moves to the Point of Rocks to unite with General French at Maryland Heights with the view to fall upon Lee's rear — Disagreement of General Halleck with this Plan — Correspondence between Generals Halleck and Hooker — Hooker Resigns the Command and General Meade put in his place — A Dark Sabbath-day in the Nation's History — Communications with Washington cut by Stuart — His Cavalry advance Creates Intense Excitement in Baltimore and Washington — Supreme Patriotism of the Army and Willing Acceptance of the Change of Commanders — Meade and Reynolds in Council — General Kilpatrick Supersedes General Stahl in Command of his Cavalry Division — Custer, Merritt, and Farnsworth made Brigadier Generals of Cavalry — The Army passes through Frederick City — That place its point of divergence — Erratic Movements of General Stuart — Intercepted by Kilpatrick at Hanover, a Severe Engagement is the Result— Ignorant of Early's Departure from York, Stuart continues on toward that place— Crosses Early's and White's routes, but ignorant of the course they went — Deceived by a False Report he crosses over to Carlisle — Steady and Cautious Advance of the Federal Army — Explorations of the Country made, and the Line of Pipe Creek chosen for the expected Battle — Instructions Issued to the Corps Commanders, and an Order or Address to the Army Reynolds sent by way of Emmittsburg toward Gettysburg — Buford's Cavalry passes through Gettysburg, and encamps over night tw» CONTENTS.

XIX Page. miles west of the town — Positions occupied by the various Corps of the Army during the night before the Opening Engagement— The Two Armies almost Face to Face — The Distance of each Corps and Division of each Army from the Field of Strife 234

CHAPTER VI. The First Day's Engagement

Buford's Cavalry engages Heth's Division of Hill's Corps — Buford sends word of the Presence of the Enemy to Reynolds — Reynolds leaves Doubleday to bring up the balance of his Corps and presses forward with Wadsworth's Division — Reynolds in advance of his men dashes into and through Gettysburg — Forms his Lines and is Killed by a Sharp-shooter — Desperate Fighting — Howard reaches the Field and takes Observations from the College Cupola — Cemetery Hill Chosen as the Place to make a Stand, and Steinwehr's Division Ordered into Position there — Contradictory Claims to the Discovery and Selection of Cemetery Hill — The Body of Reynolds borne from the Field and sent to Lancaster, Pennsylvania — Capture of Archer's Brigade — Arrival of Howard's Corps and the Federal Line extended to the Right — Arrival of Rodes' and Early's Divisions from Heidlersburg — Slocum, who was at Two Taverns, but Five Miles away, repeatedly Solicited to come to the Rescue, but Refuses — Meade's Order to Concentrate at Pipe Creek in the way — Sickles receives Howard's Dispatch, and with part of his Corps rushes to the Rescue — Buford's Dispatch to General Meade — General Hancock sent to take Command and report as to the Advisability of making a stand at Gettysburg — Reaches Cemetery Hill just as the Broken Ranks of the Federals reach it — Perceives the Value of the Position and Assists in Rallying and Placing the Troops — Arrival of Slocum and Sickles — Hancock leaves Slocum in Command and hurries to Taneytown to Report to General Meade — The order to concentrate at Pipe Creek rescinded, and instructions sent to all the Corps Commanders to move to Gettysburg — Arrival of the Commander-in-Chief — The night spent in Preparations for a Renewal of the Battle — Failure of the Confederates to follow up the advantages of the First Day's Engagement by seizing Cemetery Hill — Reasons assigned by Southern Writers — Advance of General Smith from Harrisburg to Carlisle — Stuart's Cavalry comes upon the scene at the latter place — Demand upon Smith to Surrender — Demand refused, and Carlisle shelled and the United States Barracks burned — Stuart falls back toward Gettysburg CONTENTS.

XX

Chapter VII

The Second Day's Engagement. Page.

The Position taken by the Federals — Position ofthe Confederates — Superiority of the former — Arrival of Troops, and their Positions assigned them — Contemplated Attack upon the Confederate Left — Generals Slocum and Warren oppose it and the purpose abandoned, and a defensive attitude determined upon — Both sides Preparing fora Renewal ofthe Conflict — Silence along the Lines — Confederates Less Sanguine and Boastful — Providential Inactivity of the Confederates— Their Failure to make an Early Attack gives Time for all the Federal Troops to Arrive — Lee Confronted by Difficulties, abandons his Purpose of a Tactical Defensive, and resolves to attack Meade — Reconnoitering the Federal Position and Consulting with his Generals — A Simultaneous Attack upon both Flanks determined upon, and Orders Issued accordingly — Inexplicable Delay of General Longstreet in Opening the Battle — Expected to make an Earlier Attack — Statements of several distinguished Southern Officers — Advanced and Exposed Position taken by General Sickles — Furious Attack upon him by Longstreet — Meade, seeing that Sickles could not hold his Position, posts the Fifth Corps upon the Line originally intended — Desperate Fighting and Fearful Slaughter — The Historic Peach Orchard and the Wheat Field — Sickles' Line Broken at the Angle and Driven Back — Humphreys Driven and the Federal main Line Pierced — Failure of Hill to Support this Charge and Hold the Position Gained — Large Captures of Federal Artillery — Stannard's Vermont Brigade to the Rescue — The Enemy Driven Back and Guns Recaptured — Efforts of the Enemy to Out-flank Sickles' Left and Seize Little Round Top — Strange Oversight of the Federals in failing to perceive the Importance of this Key to the whole Field — Its Value accidentally Discovered — Troops and Cannon rushed up to its Summit, and a Determination to Hold it at all Hazards — Terrific Fighting and Great Slaughter — Eminent and Distinguished Officers Slain — Description of the Terrific Struggle, by a Confederate Participant — Brilliant Charge by Barnes' Division and by the Regulars under Ayers in Front of Round Top — The Ground in front a Seething Whirlpool of Blood and Fire — The Enemy Penetrates between Big and Little Round Top and Attacks the Federal Rear — Heroic Resistance by the Twentieth Maine under Colonel Chamberlain — Reinforcements from the Sixth and Twelfth Corps Ordered — Gallant Charge by the Pennsylvania Reserves and Repulse of the Enemy — Longstreet seeing part ofthe Sixth Corps in Line, be- CONTENTS.

XXI Page. 295 comes Discouraged and Withdraws his Men — Numbers Engaged upon the Federal side — Confederate Estimates Considered — At tack of Early upon the Confederate Center — Terrific Hand to Hand Fighting — Temporary Success of the Confederates — Their final Repulse with Great Slaughter — The Louisiana Tigers meet their Match — Great Numbers of them Slain — Attack of Johnson's Di vision upon the Federal Right — The Line having been Weakened to Reinforce the Sorely-pressed Left, is Pierced and Occupied during the Night — Ignorant of the Importance of the Position gained, the Confederates fail to take Advantage of it — Results of this Day's Engagements — Positions ofthe Respective Armies at the Close of this Day — Errors of the Confederates — Errors of the Federals — Scene in General Meade's Head-Quarters — A Council of War Held — Decided to Remain and Fight the Battle Here — Scene in General Lee's Head-Quarters

Chapter VIII

The Third Day's Engagement. Readjustments of the Lines during the Night — Pickett's Division, which had only Reached the Field during the Afternoon before, Placed in Position — The Twelfth Corps Returned to its Position, and Preparations made to drive Johnson from the Position within the Federal Line he had gained — Shaler's and Wheaton's Brigades of the Sixth Corps and Lockwood's Maryland Brigade sent to Assist Slocum — Johnson Reinforced by Daniels' and O'Neill's Brigades of Rodes' Division — Opening ofthe Engagement at Early Dawn — Terrific Fighting and Fearful Slaughter — The Enemy finally driven out and the Federal Line Re-established after six hours' Desperate Fighting — Lee's Plans again Defeated — The Attack upon the Federal Left Center to have been Simultaneous with the Attack upon the Right— Longstreet again not Ready — Ominous Silence Reigns for Two Hours — Both sides Preparing for the Last Desperate Effort — Renewal of the Fight — Terrific Artillery Prelude — Great Destruction of Life, in both Armies — Graphic Descriptions by both Federals and Confederates — Cessation of the Firing — The Assaulting Columns Appear — Imposing Appearance and Admiration of the Federals — Statement by a Confederate Officer as to the Length and Depth of this Great Assaulting Column, and the Distance by Actual Measurement it had to Traverse to reach the Federal Line — Opening of the Federal Artillery upon the Advancing Troops — Their Lines Ploughed Through and Through — Still Pressing Forward until within Reach when the Infantry Fire upon Them — The Federal Lines a Sheet of Flame — Their Line Pierced — Des- CONTENTS.

Page. 357 perate Fighting — Stannard's Vermonters again to the Front — Deeds of Heroism — The Attack Repulsed — Large Captures of Prisoners — Retreat of a Few Survivors— Graphic Description of the Memorable Assault by Eye-witnesses and Participants, Feder als and Confederates — Stuart's Attempt to get into the Federal Rear — Great Cavalry Engagement Simultaneously with the Assault in Front — Graphic and Thrilling Account by Colonel William Brooke Rawle — Repulse of Stuart — Numbers Engaged in this Cavalry Fight — Estimate by the Count of Paris — Cavalry Engage ment upon the Federal Left — The Fall of General Farnsworth — Brilliant Charge of the Pennsylvania Reserves and close of the Battle of Gettysburg — Failures of the Confederates this Day — Lee's Plans not Carried Out — Somebody to Blame — Remarks of Colonel Taylor, Lee's Chief of Staff — Longstreet's Defense and Reply to Colonel Taylor — Longstreet Expresses his Disapproval of the Plans of Lee and his Reluctance in Executing Them — -Import ant Historical Papers Relating to this Subject — Condition of things within the Confederate Lines after the Failure of Pickett's Great Assault — Descriptions by Colonel Freemantle of the British Army and Captain Owen of the Confederate — Should General Meade have followed up Pickett's Repulse by a Grand Counter Charge — Opinions of Distinguished Confederate and Federal Offi cers — The Rebellion receives its most Damaging Blows in the East and West at the same time, for about the time Lee received his Crushing Defeat at Gettysburg, General Pemberton was negotiating with Grant at Vicksburg for the Surrender of his Army — Federal and Confederate Losses during the Three Days of Battle

Chapter IX

Retreat of the Confederate Army. Relative Strength of the two Armies after the Battle — Federal Troops Available and within Reach — Combinations that could have been made — Why was it not Done — Strange Dereliction of those in Authority—Failure to Pursue and Attack the Retreating Confederates Emboldens Confederate writers to Question the Victory Won Statement of Colonel Taylor— Dispositions made by Lee after night closed upon the Scene — Troops Withdrawn and placed behind Seminary Ridge — Breast-works thrown up — An Immediate Retreat to Virginia Decided on — The Wounded placed in Wagons and sent on their way — Large Numbers Unable to be Moved and Left Behind—Withdrawal of the Army — Discovery of the Flight of the Enemy by General Birney and his Desire to Attack — Is Forbidden CONTENTS.

XXIII Page. 446 by General Meade — The Sixth Corps, Accompanied by Cavalry, in Pursuit — Overtakes the Confederate Rear at Fairfield, but is For bidden to Attack — General Howe's Statement — Independent Move ments Elsewhere and Excellent Results Gained — Turner's Pass of the South South Mountain Seized, and Confederate Pontoon over the Potomac at Falling Waters Destroyed by General French — Daring Dash by Kilpatrick upon the Enemy in the Mountain, and Terrific Night Assault — A Perilous Ride — Description by a Partici pant — The Pursuit of Lee Slowly Conducted by way of Emmitts burg, Frederick, Middletown, and Turner's Pass — Daily and Leisurely Movements of the Federals — Lee reaches Hagerstown in Two Days — Incessant Rains cause the Potomac to Rise — Line of Battle Selected and Breast-works thrown up — Advance of Militia under Generals Dana and Smith — General Couch Removes his Head-quarters to Chambersburg — After an Eight Day's March the Federals reach the Confederate Line — Commanders Anxious to take Advantage of Favorable Opportunities for Assaulting the Foe Forbidden, as a General Engagement was not Desired — Statement by General Howe — Meade calls together his Corps Commanders and Considers the Question of Attacking Lee in the Strong Posi tion he had taken and Fortified — The Majority Opposed to an Attack — Too Late, the Opportunity Lost — Urged by President Lincoln, Meade, on the following Evening, issues Orders for an Attack the next Morning — Daylight appears, but the Enemy Gone — Pursuit by Kilpatrick — Comes up with the Confederate rear at Falling Waters, and after a Severe Engagement, the Enemy Suc ceeds in Escaping after the Loss of General Pettigrew and many others Killed and Wounded, and a large number of Prisoners — Should General Meade have Ordered an Attack — Hampered with Instructions as to the Safety of Washington — Dispatch from General Halleck — Testimony of General Meade before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War — Opinions of Thomas Robins, jr., and General McLaws

Chapter X

The Great Wagon Train of Wounded. Departure of the Great Wagon Train with Wounded — The Train not less than Twenty-five or Thirty Miles Long — Over Ten Thousand Wounded Men With and In It — Unparalleled Scenes of Suffering- Description by General Imboden who had it in Charge — Graphic Descriptions by Eye-witnesses who Resided Along its Route — Statements of Jacob C. Snyder, Rev. J. Milton Snyder, Rev. J. C. Smith, and Mr. David Z. Shook — Losing their Way in the Night CONTENTS. Page a Small Part of this Train enters Chambersburg — Scenes of Suffer ing—Provisions made for Sufferers — Captain Jones with Two Hundred Cavalry Dash upon this Train at Cearfoss' Cross- Roads — One Hundred Wagons and One Thousand Wounded Prisoners Taken — Pursuit by General Gregg and Captures made at the Confederate Rear 477

Chapter XI

Phenomena of Battle Sound. The Sound of the Cannonade Heard at a Distance of One Hundred, One Hundred and Twenty, One Hundred and Forty, One Hundred and Fifty, and Two Hundred Miles from the Field — Certificates by Rev. C. Cort, Rev. Dr. C. R. Lane, Rev. Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, Hon. F. M. Kimmell, and Rev. L. W. Stahl, — Explanatory and Philosophical Papers by Professors Spencer F. Baird of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington and A. B. Johnson of the United States Light House Board — Extracts from the Writings of Professor Henry 50S