The Yankee Gazette

Westietown, PA

July 1, 1863

BATTLE IMMINENT IN PENNSYLVANIA

GEN. HOOKER RESIGNS FROM ARMY COMMAND!

NEWS FROM FREDERICK

GEN. HOOKER RESIGNS!

MEADE OF PENNSYLVANIA
APPOINTED TO COMMAND

Frederick, MD- A grave development has occurred in the army! Gen. Hooker has resigned his place in command of the Army of the Potomac effective midnight of June 28th!

Gen. Meade

This exclusive report from our special correspondent within the army has informed us that "Fighting Joe" Hooker left the army effective at midnight of June 28, three days ago. A new commander has been appointed and though it is not confirmed by the War Department, it is believed to be Major General George Gordon Meade of Pennsylvania. Many of our readers will remember General Meade from his exploits in command of a division of the Fifth Corps in front of Richmond last year, and his part in the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia last December. It was his division of Pennsylvania Reserves that briefly broke through "Stonewall" Jackson's line south of Fredericksburg before a re-enforced enemy threw back his gallant attack. It was thought that General John Reynolds of Lancaster would be a natural choice to move into army command, but sources state that he turned the appointment down and referred Gen. Meade to the department officials, and President Lincoln has approved the appointment.

This shocking state of affairs has stunned many in the news office that have been closely following the war of words between Gen. Hooker and the War Department. A new commander with no army command experience has been named during the height of this crisis and on the eve of a battle with Lee's army. The Army of the Potomac, numbering approximately 98,000 men, was concentrated around Frederick three days ago but has since spread out and began marching northward. General John Reynolds, in command of the 1st Corps and who was thought to be the perfect successor to any army commander, has taken his troops westward along the Catoctin Mountains toward Emmitsburg to block the mountain passes.

LETTERS FROM THE ARMY

More letters have arrived at the YANKEE GAZETTE and are printed here for your information:

A most disturbing letter was received by William Clare from his brother, Lt. Henry Clare of the 83rd New York-

Camp near Middletown, MD.
June 28th, 1863

My Dear William
I have not heard from you in reply to my last letter written on the march from Va. We have had incessant marches for the last week. We all agree on one idea -viz- the hope that Lee may lay waste the whole state of Pa in order to arouse the North from their apparent lethargy.
The enemy have passed through all this section of the country plundering as they went along. The people are most indignant at the audacity of the Rebels invading this peaceful State. My opinion is that 90 days will decide the fate of this country, for should we defeat Lee it will result in the loss of his entire Army and undoubtedly the fall of Richmond & if, on the contrary, defeat should be our lot then farewell Washington Administration Country & all -- but I have better hopes than this. Yet if the North will not flock to our standard in masses then I sincerely hope Lee may come off victorious, as such people would not be worthy of having a country.

Your aff-brother
H. P. Clare

Some of our readers should recall the stirring account from Daniel Townsend of the US Artillery, of the battle at Aldie in our last issue. We have received more news of his adventures in Virginia, and his treatment by a female rebel, for today's issue:

"June 25 - While passing through Middleburg I halted, dismounted and entered a house with the intention of purchasing something to eat. Asking the lady of the house if she had anything to sell, I met with a very sullen reply. She said she had nothing for the yankees, the Lincolnites and mud sills of the North, but that she was going to bake a large batch of bread for the rebels that would be here before long. I was so enraged that I said nothing but walked out, mounted my horse and rode on. If it had been a man that had spoken to me in that manner I would have felled him to the floor, but I always respected the female sex, therefore I could no nothing but swallow my chagrin."

BREAKING NEWS!

A correspondent of ours who went to Hanover, PA to find out more about the skirmish there reports that a large concentration of the Confederate Army is near Cashtown and that last night a brigade entered Gettysburg in search of Federal stores and militia. They were turned back by the arrival of Union cavalry commanded by Gen. John Buford who immediately set his troops in picket positions around the town. Our correspondent will report more as soon as he can make a connection to Gettysburg.

HARRISBURG ATTACKED

YORK TAKEN BY GEN. EARLY

BRIDGE AT COLUMBIA BURNED

REBEL STUART ATTACKS WAGON TRAIN
AT ROCKVILLE

South-central Pennsylvania.

Harrisburg- The alarm has been great in the city with the news of the approach of Rebel forces under Gen. Jenkins. His cavalry raided Mechanicsburg on Sunday past and yesterday skirmished with the 22nd and 37th New York Militia at Sporting Hill on the west side of Camp Hill yesterday. The rebels then pressed on to the outer defenses of Fort Couch where they skirmished with the outer picket line for over an hour before they withdrew in the direction of Carlisle. At least 16 Confederates from the 16th and 36th Virginia Cavalry were killed or wounded during the fighting and an additional 20 to 30 were wounded. Our losses are listed at 11 men wounded.

While the fighting raged, citizens of Harrisburg were engaged in securing their homes, though to avoid the danger, many were leaving the city to seek shelter with family members in surrounding counties. By noon the streets were deserted and all stores and shops closed down in anticipation of a great battle to be fought on the owners' doorsteps. Needless to state, there has been a growing fear in this city of an imminent battle. to The governor was at his office throughout the day to monitor the crisis that has held him there for several days.

Reports from our friends in York state that a "seedy looking lot of armed men proceeded into York with the intent of capturing the city last Saturday, followed closely by a long column of Virginia soldiers clad in butternut and gray flying the red Confederate battle flag. Their commander was the general Early, the same fellow who raided Adams County last week. After securing the city his troops marched to the fairgrounds where they encamped for the night. The following morning they set out early leaving a terrified civilian population behind and unmolested. It is curious that the Confederates do not raid private homes and stores, but an officer of a North Carolina regiment informed our correspondent that General Lee had issued orders banning such activity and any culprit 'caught in the act of theft from Yankee citizens would be tried and shot for defiance of this order.'"

General Early's pursuit from York continued onto Wrightsville and Columbia where our militia burned the railroad bridge over the Susquehanna River as the Confederates entered the town. A militia officer also ordered the ferry boats to be cut from heir moorings and set adrift to prevent the Confederates from using them to gain access to the eastern shore. The Confederates did not tarry long here but set out again after an hour's rest, marching northward toward the capital city.

REBEL ATTACK AT ROCKVILLE

An exhausted survivor of a Confederate raid on one of our army wagon trains stumbled into a freight office near this station and told of a woeful tale of disaster. It appears that the Rebel Stuart has made an appearance but in a most unlikely location near Rockville where one of our supply trains, en route to the Army of the Potomac, was jumped and destroyed by a large group of Confederates. "They swept upon us," the lone rider explained, "and shot anyone who resisted. All were taken prisoners except for several who made their escape." If this witness to the raid is true, then it would appear that the Confederate cavalry has indeed set itself between our army at Frederick and the Washington defenses

WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

Pvt. John Follmer, 16th PA Cavalry, informs the Gazette from the campaign trail:
June 28 - Marched all last night and all day, making only occasional short stops to rest. Tonight we went into camp near Frederick, Md. There seems no doubt of Gen. Lee's going into Penna. We expect a great battle as soon as we meet the rebels. Most of our men seem anxious to have a fight. If the field is open we think we are sure of victory. The confeds are as prone to dig, as is a Wood Chuck. It will be strange if he is not intrenched when we find him.

June 30 - Again we are on the march. Was advance guard today and noticed as we entered Westminster a great deal of uneasiness among the people. There seemed to be a desire to get out of our way. At one street corner saw a man dodge behind the corner of a building, called him out and asked why all the people seemed so much afraid of our troops. He asked what troops ours were. We replied "Union." Then he asked why we carried the black flag. It had been raining and our guidons were furled and had black oil cloth covers over them to keep them dry. Someone said they were black flags. It was soon reported that we were enemies with black flags. We removed the covers, shook out the stars and stripes, much to the joy of the people.

WHERE OUR BOYS ARE IN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

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 John F. Reynolds - June 27, marched from Jefferson to Middletown, MD; June 28, marched from Middletown to Frederick, MD; June 29, marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg, MD; June 30, marched from Emmitsburg to Marsh Run approximately 8 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. While here he reassumes command of army's "Left Wing" including the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps.; July 1, early this morning, Gen. Reynolds rode at the head of his troops north on the Baltimore Pike toward Gettysburg, PA.

Brigadier General Henry Hunt - June 27, marched from Poolesville to Frederick, MD; June 29, marched from Frederick to Middleburg, MD; June 30, left Middleburg and marched to Taneytown with Army Headquarters; July 1, about midday, General Hunt rode northward toward Gettysburg.

Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, 140th New York Infantry - June 27, marched from a camp between Edwards Ferry and the mouth of the Monocacy to Ballinger's Creek, near Frederick, Maryland; June 28, on picket duty at Ballinger's Creek; June 29, marched from Ballinger's Creek, through Frederick and Mount Pleasant to Liberty, Maryland; June 30, marched from Liberty, through Johnsville, Union Bridge, and Union, to Union Mills, Maryland; July 1, began the march this morning at Union Mills and headed to Hanover, Pennsylvania, through McSherrystown and toward Bonaughtown, 5 1/2 miles east of Gettysburg.

Major Edwin B. Wight, 24th Michigan Infantry - June 27, marched from Jefferson to Middletown, MD; June 28, marched from Middletown to Frederick; June 29, marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg, MD; June 30, left the vicinity of Emmitsburg and marched 4 miles to Marsh Run, 8 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; July 1, left camp at Marsh Run and marched toward "the sound of guns" near Gettysburg.

Sergeant Ezra Brown, 4th Michigan Infantry - June 27, marched from a camp between Edwards Ferry and the mouth of the Monocacy to Ballinger's Creek, near Frederick, Maryland; June 28, camped near Ballinger's Creek; June 29, marched from Ballinger's Creek, through Frederick and Mount Pleasant to Liberty, Maryland; June 30, marched from Liberty, through Johnsville, Union Bridge, and Union, to Union Mills, Maryland; July 1, began the march this morning at Union Mills and headed to Hanover, Pennsylvania, through McSherrystown and toward Bonaughtown, 5 1/2 miles east of Gettysburg.

Oren Lord, 17th Maine Infantry - June 27, marched from Point of Rocks, Maryland through Jefferson to Middletown; June 28, marched from Middletown to near Woodsborough, MD; June 29, moved from Woodsborough to Taneytown, MD; June 30, marched from Taneytown to Bridgeport; July 1, set out this morning to march from Bridgeport, Maryland through Emmitsburg, and northward toward Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, to support the First Corps.

David Colburn, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry - June 27, marched from Point of Rocks, Maryland through Jefferson to Middletown; June 28, marched from Middletown to near Woodsborough, MD; June 29, moved from Woodsborough to Taneytown, MD; June 30, marched from Taneytown to Bridgeport; July 1, set out this morning to march from Bridgeport, Maryland through Emmitsburg, and northward toward Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, to support the First Corps.

Phillip Bennetts, 7th Wisconsin Infantry - June 27, marched from Jefferson to Middletown, MD; June 28, marched from Middletown to Frederick; June 29, marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg, MD. Camped and went on picket duty.; June 30, left Emmitsburg and marched 4 miles to Marsh Run, 8 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; July 1, left camp at Marsh Run and marched toward "the sound of guns" near Gettysburg.

Sergeant Conrad Mehne, 27th Indiana Infantry - June 27: Moved from near the mouth of the Monocacy Creek, through Point of Rocks to Knoxville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Knoxville to Frederick, Maryland; June 29, marched from Frederick to Taneytown and Bruceville; June 30, marched from Taneytown and Bruceville to Littlestown, Pennsylvania; July 1, set out this morning from Littlestown, via Two Taverns, toward Gettysburg.

Henry F. Long, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry - June 27, marched from Leesburg, VA via Edwards Ferry where they crossed the Potomac River, to near Jefferson, Maryland; June 28, moved from near Jefferson to Middletown; June 29, marched from Middletown, through Boonsborough to Cavetown, to Monterey Springs, PA to near Fairfield where COnfederate troops were encountered; withdrew a short distance toward Emmitsburg, MD; June 30, moved from near Fairfield, through Emmitsburg, Maryland, and then toward Gettysburg; July 1, on picket duty somewhere near Gettysburg in Adams County, PA.

Alonzo D. Hayden, 1st Minnesota Infantry - June 27, marched from camp near Edwards Ferry, through Poolesville to Barnesville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Barnesville to Monocacy Junction near Frederick, Maryland; June 29, Marched from Monocacy Junction, via Liberty and Johnsville, to Uniontown, MD; July 1, began their march this morning from Uniontown, via Taneytown, toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Sergeant Charles Phelps, 5th New Hampshire Infantry - June 27, marched from camp near Edwards Ferry, through Poolesville to Barnesville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Barnesville to Monocacy Junction near Frederick, Maryland; June 29, Marched from Monocacy Junction, via Liberty and Johnsville, to Uniontown, MD; July 1, began their march this morning from Uniontown, via Taneytown, toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

John Paris, 1st Delaware Infantry - June 27, marched from camp near Edwards Ferry, through Poolesville to Barnesville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Barnesville to Monocacy Junction near Frederick, Maryland; June 29, Marched from Monocacy Junction, via Liberty and Johnsville, to Uniontown, MD; July 1, began their march this morning from Uniontown, via Taneytown, toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Corporal Cornelius Bennick, 74th New York Infantry - June 27, marched from Point of Rocks, Maryland through Jefferson to Middletown; June 28, marched from Middletown to near Woodsborough, MD; June 29, moved from Woodsborough to Taneytown, MD; June 30, marched from Taneytown to Bridgeport; July 1, set out this morning to march from Bridgeport, Maryland through Emmitsburg, and northward toward Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, to support the First Corps.

Sergeant Philip J. Kuhn, 26th Wisconsin Infantry - June 28, marched from camps near Middletown to a new camp closer to Frederick, Maryland and went on picket; June 29, marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg, MD; July 1, set out this morning to march from Emmitsburg toward Gettysburg.

Charles Beard, 33rd Massachusetts Infantry - June 28, marched from camps near Middletown to a new camp closer to Frederick, Maryland and went on picket while it rained; June 29, marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg, MD; July 1, set out this morning to march from Emmitsburg toward Gettysburg.

John Pierce, 14th Connecticut Infantry - June 27, marched from camp near Poolesville to Barnesville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Barnesville to Monocacy Junction near Frederick, Maryland; June 29, Marched from Monocacy Junction, through Liberty and Johnsville, to Uniontown, MD; July 1, began the march this morning from Uniontown, via Taneytown, toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Private Isaac Taylor, 1st Minnesota Infantry- June 27, marched from camp near Edwards Ferry, through Poolesville to Barnesville, Maryland; June 28, marched from Barnesville to Monocacy Junction near Frederick, Maryland; June 29, Marched from Monocacy Junction, via Liberty and Johnsville, to Uniontown, MD; July 1, began the march this morning from Uniontown, via Taneytown, toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Charles Reed, Bugler, 9th Massachusetts Battery - June 27, marched from Poolesville to Frederick, Maryland; June 29, moved from Frederick to Bruceville, MD; June 30, marched from Bruceville to Littlestown; July 1, his battery was ordered to march from Taneytown to a location near Gettysburg and left early this morning.

QUESTION FOR THE WEEK: A "regiment" consisted of 1,000 soldiers and was led by a colonel. Each regiment was given a "regimental flag" to distinguish it from other regiments. Apart from a regimental flag, some units also carried a United States flag and two smaller flags known as "flank markers". Regiments were assigned to a "brigade", led by a brigadier general who also carried a flag to mark his headquarters. How many flags would appear in one brigade of five Union regiments?

(Don't forget the general's flag!)

Check back for next week's issue of The Yankee Gazette. (Also look for the Gettysburg Star and Sentinel to find out what is happening in Adams County, Pennsylvania.)

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