The Southern Defender
| Sandy Bottom, Virginia | July 1, 1863 |
BATTLE IMMINENT IN PENNSYLVANIA!
 The scene of conflict in Pennsylvania. |
OUR ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA HARRISBURG ATTACKED York Occupied by Gen. Early
Chambersburg, PA- General Lee and his staff rode into the streets of Chambersburg, crowded with the curious and stunned citizenry of this small town. Many of them, used to seeing our victorious troops by now, were eager to the general who apparently has a legendary status among some of our enemy. Most of the army is encamped in the vicinity of Chambersburg and 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, but many of our boys are enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables that many of the farmers appear eager to sell them; that is until we present our notes from southern banks. Then they less eager to sell their goods, saying "Dish money ist vorthlesh here!" Meanwhile, we learn that Gen. Early's troops have occupied York for over a day and then left the city to march on Harrisburg. A heavy skirmish took place at this latter city between General Jenkins Cavalry and Yankee militia from New York, just west of the city. 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 forces. DR. LIPPITT'S JOURNAL A DOCTOR WITH THE 57th VA INFANTRY 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 numerous remarks about the reception they have received in Pennsylvania and here are several: William Marsten, assistant surgeon, 12th NC Infantry took in sites at Chambersburg: "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 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 COMMAND 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." -From Our Editors- If this rumor is true, it certainly adds fuel to the fire that the Lincoln government is rapidly running out of generals with a will to fight. What Hooker has resigned is in discussion at this moment, but he was certainly not the "fighting Joe" that the Yankee government has boasted so much about last spring. Though some of the blame for Hooker's downfall has been placed on the "Copperheads"- those northerners with southern sympathies- we can only point out that Hooker, like McClellan, Burnside, and Pope who Lincoln has sent toward Richmond, failed because of the righteousness of our cause for Southern Independence and they tangled with General Lee, our greatest officer in command of an army in the field. 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: Bivouac of Perry's Brigade Dear Father, We captured between six and eight thousand prisoners, twenty-seven pieces of artillery; twenty thousand stands of small arms and large supply of Quarter Master and Commissary stores. Stuart fought Stoneman for two days, but I have not heard any of the particulars. The citizens in this state were completely taken by surprise and are nearly frightened to death. They think that we will devastate the whole country in retaliation for the injury they have done us. They sell us anything we want, butter 12 1/2 cents per pound, chicken 15 cents, and eggs 10 cents a dozen, other things in proportion. General Lee's orders are very strict against committing any depredation upon private property. Gen Ewell's Corps is in the advance and is in the vicinity of Harrisburg. General McClellan is in command of large force of militia at the last named place. Hooker's army is supposed to be near Washington and Baltimore. The citizens declare themselves to be sick and tired of the war. They had no idea that we had as large an army as we have. I hope you will hear good accounts from us before long. Give love to all friends and relations and accept the same for yourself and family from, Your affectionate son, 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!. |
WHERE OUR BOYS ARE IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Due to the request of many of our subscribers, we are providing this list of your relatives and where they are currently located with their regiments. We wish them all safety and good health in the coming months!
(Remember that your soldier biographies can be found in the PRE-BROADCAST ACTIVITIES)
Major General James E. B. "Jeb" Stuart, commanding Cavalry Division - June 27, rode from Wolf Run Shoals on the Occoquan River, around Fairfax Station and Dranesville, Virginia and crossed the Potomac River into Maryland at Rowser's Ford below the mouth of Seneca Creek, south of Darnestown, MD; June 28, marched through Darnestown to Rockville to Brookeville, Maryland, and captured over 30 US Supply wagons; June 29, marched through Cooksville, Sykesville and Westminster, to Union Mills, MD; June 30, rode with his division from Union Mills, via Hanover, to Jefferson, PA. There was a cavalry skirmish at Hanover, PA.; July 1, rode north to Carlisle and skirmished with Union cavalry there. His artillery shelled Carlisle Barracks and the center of town that afternoon.
Major General John B. Hood, commanding division, Longstreet's Corps - June 27, marched to Chambersburg and went into camp south of town; June 28-29, remained camped near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville, eight miles east of Chambersburg; July 1, marched from Fayetteville to Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg.
Brigadier General Joseph J. Pettigrew, commanding brigade, Heth's Division, Hill's Corps - June 27, marched from Sharpsburg, Maryland to vicinity of Waynesborough, PA; June 28, June 28, marched to vicinity of Fayetteville, PA, eight miles east of Chambersburg; June 29, marched to Cashtown; June 30, marched from Cashtown toward Gettysburg and then returned to camp near McKnightstown, one mile east of Cashtown; July 1, set out early this morning toward Gettysburg.
Major Edward Croft, 14th South Carolina Infantry - June 26, left camp near Logtown and marched through Hagerstown to Leightersburg, MD; June 27, marched through Waynesborough, PA and camped two miles south of Fayetteville; June 28-29, in camp near Waynesborough; June 30, marched through Fayetteville to pass through South Mountain and camped above Cashtown; July 1, marched through Cashtown this morning following Heth's Division toward Gettysburg, PA.
Lieutenant William Cannon, 9th Alabama Infantry - June 27, marched through Chambersburg to Fayetteville, PA, four miles east of Chambersburg; June 28-30, camped near Fayetteville; July 1, set out early this morning toward Cashtown and Gettysburg, PA.
Isaac Reed, 7th Georgia Infantry - June 27, marched to Chambersburg and went into camp south of town; June 28-29, remained camped near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville, eight miles east of Chambersburg; July 1, set out early this morning to march from Fayetteville to Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg.
Corporal James Meredith, 3rd Virginia Cavalry - June 27, rode from Wolf Run Shoals on the Occoquan River, around Fairfax Station and Dranesville, Virginia and crossed the Potomac River into Maryland at Rowser's Ford below the mouth of Seneca Creek, south of Darnestown, MD; June 28, marched through Darnestown to Rockville to Brookeville, Maryland, and captured over 30 US Supply wagons; June 29, marched through Cooksville, Sykesville and Westminster, to Union Mills, MD; June 30, rode with his division from Union Mills, to Hanover, PA and skirmished with Union cavalry; marched on toward Jefferson, PA; July 1, rode north to Carlisle and skirmished with Union cavalry there.
Lucas Meredith, 3rd Virginia Infantry - June 27, marched through Chambersburg and camped three miles north of town; June 28-July 1, camped near Chambersburg, PA.
John Knott, 6th North Carolina Infantry - June 27, marched from Mummasburg through Hunterstown, New Chester, and Hampton to Berlin, PA; June 28, marched from Berlin, through Weigelstown to York; June 29, camped at York; June 30, marched from York, to Weigelstown, through East Berlin, and camped within three miles of Heidlersburg; July 1, set out this morning headed west toward Gettysburg.
Sergeant Samuel Holland, 9th Virginia Infantry - June 27, marched through Chambersburg and camped three miles north of town; June 28-July 1, camped near Chambersburg, PA. where they guarded captured stores and a wagon train.
Private John Howard Roberts, 5th Texas Infantry - June 27, marched to Chambersburg and went into camp south of town; June 28-29, remained camped near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville, eight miles east of Chambersburg; July 1, marched from Fayetteville to Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg.
William Mays, Parker's Virginia Battery - June 27, marched from Greencastle, PA to Chambersburg and camped; June 28-29, camped near Chambersburg, PA; June 30, marched through Fayetteville to Greenwood, PA about two miles east of Fayetteville; July 1, still in camp near Greenwood.
Captain Isaac Stamps, 21st Mississippi Infantry - June 27, marched from Williamsport, via Hagerstown, Middleburg, and Greencastle, camped within five miles of Chambersburg; June 28-29, camped near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville, eight miles east of Chambersburg; July 1, took up a line of march this morning through Cashtown toward Gettysburg.
Sergeant William Hutchenson, Phillip's Legion Infantry - June 27, marched from Williamsport, MD, through Hagerstown, Middleburg, and Greencastle, PA and camped within five miles of Chambersburg, PA; June 28-29, rested near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville; July 1, took up a line of march this morning through Cashtown toward Gettysburg.
Lieutenant William Harris, 45th North Carolina Infantry - June 27, marched to and occupied Carlisle, PA; June 28-29, camped near Carlisle; June 30, marched from Carlisle through Petersburg, to Heidlersburg, PA; July 1, set out this morning to march southward to Middletown and then on toward Gettysburg.
William Fletcher, 5th Texas Infantry - June 27, marched to Chambersburg and went into camp south of town; June 28-29, remained camped near Chambersburg; June 30, marched to Fayetteville, eight miles east of Chambersburg; July 1, marched from Fayetteville to Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg.
Private James Melvin Pittard, 14th Alabama Infantry- June 27, marched through Chambersburg to Fayetteville, PA, four miles east of Chambersburg; June 28-30, camped near Fayetteville; July 1, set out early this morning toward Cashtown and Gettysburg, PA.
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?
Check back for next week's issue of The Southern Defender. Also look for the Gettysburg Star and Sentinel to find out what is happening in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
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