The great invasion of 1863; or, General Lee in Pennsylvania. Embracing an account of the strength and organization of the armies of the Potomac and northern Virginia; their daily marches with the routes of travel, and general orders issued; the three days of battle; the retreat of the Confederate and pursuit by the Federals; analytical index ... with an appendix containing an account of the burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a statement of the General Sickles controversy, and other valuable historic papers

Front matter

w ne

GEEAT INVASION

G.

Chapter I

The Armies of the Potomac, and of Northern Virginia.

Page.

Number of the 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 of the 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 Ignoijance 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 3$

Chapter II

The Armies in Motion; Rout of General Milroy at 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

xiii

Xiv CONTENTS.

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Fredericksburg and Concentration at Culpeper — Reconnoissance in force by the Federal Cavalry under General Pleasanton — Desperate Engagement at Beverly Ford or Brandy Station — Capture of General Stuart's Head -quarter's Chest containing Lee's Plans — Prompt Measures by General Hooker to Defeat Dee's Purposes — Dee Forced to the Shenandoah Valley instead of moving Northward 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 Maintain 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 Williamsport — 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 Pennsylvania — Jenkins crosses the Potomac at Williamsport 66

Chapter III

Preparations for the Reception of the 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 of the 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 8*

CONTENTS. XT

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 —

Page.

*▼! CONTENTS.

Immediate Dispatch of this Fadt to Harrisburg — Benjamin S. Huber, the Heroic Dispatch Bearer — Interesting Account of his Trip — Closeted with the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Military Authorities — Lee's whereabouts known at Washington early in the day following his Entrance into Chambersburg — Description 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. Thaddeus 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 General Knipe — Arrival of Longstreet's Corps — General Order by Lee

— Humanity of the 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 Murdered 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 Hurried Across the Mountain to the Union Head-Quarters — Rodes' Infantry 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 Dollars Demanded — Part of this Amount Paid Over — Insolent Order, or Address to the People — General Gordon with his Brigade Advances to Wrightsville on the Susquehanna — Objedl of this Movement — Immense Importance of Preventing the Confederates from Seizing the Columbia Bridge crossing the River at that place — Hurried Concentration of Militia under Colonel Frick — Breastworks 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 Sunday'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 — Interesting Account of the Interview — Skirmish at Oyster's Point —

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CONTENTS. XV11

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 of the 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 Army heard from — The Order to Attack Harrisburg Countermanded, and a Concentration about Cashtown Ordered — Places Occupied by the Different Corps and Divisiens 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 — Receives Dispatches and hurries on to Gettysburg — The Cavalry Brigades 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-

XV111 CONTENTS.

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wood to Prevent his Communications from being Interrupted by

any Federal Advance by way of the Pine Grove Road — The Cavalry Brigades of Robertson and Jones Return from down the Valley and passing through Chambersburg go on to Gettysburg — Confederate 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 114

CHAPTER V. T/ie Advance of the Federal A rmy

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 byway of Pimmittsburg toward Gettysburg — Buford's Cavalry passes through Gettysburg, and encamps over night two

CONTENTS. XIX

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 Dines 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 Dine 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 Eroken 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 259

■XX CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII. The Second Day's Engagement

The Position taken oy the Federals — Position of the 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 for a Renewal of the 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 of the Sixth Corps in Line, be-

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CONTENTS. XXI

Page.

comes Discouraged and Withdraws his Men — Numbers Engaged

upon the Federal)side — Confederate Estimates Considered — Attack 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 Division 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 of the 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 295

CHAPTER VIII. The Third Day's Engagetnenl

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 of the 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 Adtual 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-

XX11 CONTENTS.

Page. 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, Federals 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 Engagement 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 — Important 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 Officers — 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 357

CHAPTER IX. Retreat of the Confederate A rmy

Relative Strength of the two Armies after the Battle — Federal Troops Available and within Reacli — 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. XX111

Page, by General Meade — The Sixth Corps, Accompanied by Cavalry, in

Pursuit — Overtakes the Confederate Rear at Fairfield, but is Forbidden to Attack — General Howe's Statement — Independent Movements 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 Participant — The Pursuit of Lee Slowly Conducted by way of Emmittsburg, 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 Position 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 Succeeds 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 446

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 — Unparalled 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

XXIV CONTENTS.

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a Small Part of this Tram enters Chambeisburg — Scenes of Suffering — 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 508

CHAPTER XII. Gettysburg — The Nation's Shrine

The Condition of the Slain after the Battle — Purchase of Ground for the Soldier's National Cemetery — Dedication of the Cemetery — Solemn and Impressive Exercises — Eloquent Prayer by Dr. Stockton — Memorable Dedicatory Address of President Lincoln — Affection of the People for Mr. Lincoln — Burial of the Dead — Beautifying of the Grounds — Memorial Tablets and Monuments — Tribute to the Heroic Dead — Gettysburg, Holy Ground 520

CHAPTER XIII. A Guide to the Field of Battle 536

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

Portrait of Major -General George G. Meade. Frontispiece.

Portrait of General Robert E. Lee 3a

Portrait of Major- General Joseph Hooker 233

Pen Sketch of Major-General George G. Meade 241

Portrait of Major-General W. S. Hancock 357

Map of Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania, from the Potomac to the

Susquehanna 91

Map of the Battle Field of Gettysburg. Front.

General Lee and Staff in the Public Square of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 163

Portrait of the Scout, Benjamin S. Huber 166

Portrait of the Scout, Rev. S. W. Pomeroy 225

View from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, showing the scene of the

first day's battle 260

The tree under which General Reynolds fell 264

East Cemetery Hill, upon which the Union forces were rallied 278

Culp's Hill, from Evergreen Cemetery and the Baltimore Pike 280

Little and Big Round Top, from the North-west 282

General Lee's Head - Quarters 291

View from the Cupola of the Theological Seminary, looking East and

South-east, showing East Cemetery Hill and Ridge 296

View from the Soldier's National Monument, looking West, showing

Seminary Ridge , 298

Federal Breast-works upon Culp's Hill 302

Entrance to the Devil's Den 320

Inside the Devil's Den 322

The Valley of Death 325

The Wheat Field, or the Scene of the Whirlpool of the Battle 327

The Assault upon East Cemetery Hill 340

General Meade's Head - quarters „ .... 353

XXV

XXvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

The High - Water Mark of the Rebellion, or the Place where it Received its Death Wound 37°