The Southern Defender

OUR ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG ATTACKED

GEN. EARLY OCCUPIES YORK

Gen. Lee enters Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Chambersburg, PA- Accompanied by his staff and escort, General Lee triumphantly rode into the streets of Chambersburg, crowded with the curious and stunned citizenry of this small town. Many of them, now accustomed to seeing our victorious troops, were eager to gaze upon the general who apparently has legendary status among our enemy. The army is encamped in the vicinity of Chambersburg where the men are enjoying the fruits of their labors by living off the rich farms that surround the camps. General Lee has issued strict orders against plundering of private homes and property, and unlike the Yankee scalawags in Virginia, our soldiers have been very respectful of private property. Many are enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables that Dutch farmers in this county appear eager to sell them; that is until we present our notes from southern banks. Then they are less eager to sell their goods, saying "Dish money ist vorthlish here!"

Meanwhile, we learn that Gen. Early's troops have occupied York for over a day before leaving the city to march on Harrisburg. A heavy skirmish between General Jenkins Cavalry and Yankee militia from New York took place just outside newly constructed forts on the west bank of the Susquehannah River. A correspondent with Jenkins men has reported that many of the civilians have fled the area and those that remain are perfectly frightened by the presence of our troops. Harrisburg appears to be heavily fortified though the militia who fought a skirmish at Oyster Point near Camp Hill, were less than daring when compared to our seasoned veterans.

DR. LIPPITT'S JOURNAL

Near Fredericksburg, VA- Surgeon Charles Lippitt of the 57th Virginia Infantry, Gen. Armistead's Brigade of General Pickett's Division, has kindly lent "The Defender" his personal journal that he has kept for many months. We offer the readers a recent passage submitted from the camps of Pickett's Division near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where the good surgeon's regiment is busy guarding stores and supplies:

"June 28 - Sunday. An order to clean our equipments and fun was dusting down our clothes. Some of our officers attempted to go into town to buy some articles, but Lee's orders prohibited it. No one is allowed to purchase but the Chief of Departments and they only for the use of the Army. Heard today that Grant had made another attack upon Vicksburg and had been repulsed with great loss & was recrossing the Big Black in retreat."

IMPRESSIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA

Many of our soldiers have expressed opinions about the reception they have received in Pennsylvania. William Marsten, assistant surgeon of the 12th NC Infantry, took in sites at Carlisle and was interested in the school there. "On Tuesday I visited Dickenson College and was much pleased. Professor Wilson was kind enough to show me around the college."

Chaplain Francis Kennedy, 28th North Carolina Infantry, writes: "On June 24 we passed this morning through a very little village called Smithfield. The patriotism of the ladies, who were numerous and pretty, was quite demonstrative as we passed. They surrounded Gen'l Lee and must have worried the old gentleman with shaking his hand. This morning, June 30, we left our camps near Funkstown at 5 o'clock and marched 12 miles, turned off from the road to Chambersburg which we thought was our destination, and took the turnpike toward Gettysburg. On the road we passed the smouldering ruins of extensive iron works, the property of the notorious Abolitionist Thaddeus Stephens, which had been totally destroyed by order of Gen'l Ewell. This man Stephens was the author of "Yankees' Confiscation Hill" and the plan of colonizing the South with free negroes, illustrating his theory, I believe by a practical experiment in the portion of Florida which is held by the Yankees. The only unpleasant feature about the destruction of the property is that a considerable number of operators are left without employment. But upon inquiring among them I learned there was no danger of woman and children suffering"

THE VICKSBURG SITUATION

from a correspondent in the city- "June 28- We withstood a heavy barrage of Yankee artillery tonight that rained shells and bombs upon the city, most of which is presently deserted. Union gunboats ran by our river batteries last night, though damage was inflicted upon them, one or two ironclads were able to make great mischief upon our fortifications. Many of the civilian population has escaped the constant bombardment by hiding in cellars and caves along the riverbank. It appears that though the army suffers from want of rations, the city-dwellers are nearly destitute for food. The Union force under Grant has constructed strong entrenchments surrounding the city and the relief that Gen. Pemberton has been expecting has yet to arrive. We hear of a Union force on the Black River that has threatened our last lines of communication, but rumors have been constant and few can be believed with accuracy."

YANKEE GENERAL QUITS

Chambersburg, PA- From a army courier near Hagerstown: "A rumor has reached army headquarters of a change in command of the Union 'Army of the Potomac' that General Hooker left that army on June 28. A new army commander has been appointed but who this may be is at this time unknown. Rumors are that it may be Gen. John Reynolds of Pennsylvania."

The editors of this paper firmly believe that we are on the verge of a great victory in the North, one that will defeat the Lincolnites and those who would subjugate and enslave the South to their wills. This war for Southern independence will see a righteous end with a triumph of our cause, and when our boys in the Army of Northern Virginia thoroughly defeat the Yankee army in Pennsylvania, we will see our cause triumph.

LETTERS FROM THE ARMY

A letter from Corporal D. E. Maxwell of the 2nd Florida Infantry was recently received by father, and describes the 2nd Battle of Winchester fought so recently. Corporal Maxwell's letter:

Your affectionate son,
D.E. Maxwell

LEE'S ARMY IN YANKEEDOM

The army has moved rapidly through the Shenandoah Valley and into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our best reports have given us this itinerary of the army, released just yesterday!.

QUESTION FOR THE WEEK: On June 26, a soldier in the 13th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was awakened at 4 o'clock in the morning and was ordered to help one of his officers for one half hour. He then packed his blanket roll and set out from a camp below Hagerstown at 5 o'clock in the morning, marched fifteen and one half miles to a camp near Leightersburg, Maryland at 5:30 PM. There he spent an hour getting water for he and his friends and fixed a quick supper of bacon and corn bread. Then he went on picket duty for an additional four hours until 10:30 at night. How many hours of this single day did this soldier spend marching and on guard duty?