Headquarters,
Second Division
Gen. J.H. King, Commanding
Galveston, Texas

As mentioned elsewhere on this website, General Stepp has announced the Carolina Legion will, tentatively, reenact Gen. Gordon's Brigade (Early's Division) march into and brief occupation of Gettysburg. Following, is the history of the actual event.

Jubal Early’s Foray Into Gettysburg

June 26^th-27^th, 1863

By J.H. Stepp for the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee

On the morning of June 26^th, 1863 Maj. Gen. Jubal Early’s 5,143 man division of Ewell’s Second Corps Army of Northern Virginia marched out on the Chambersburg Pike on a path that would take them through the sleepy village of Gettysburg. Early’s corps commander, Gen. Richard S. Ewell, had previously directed him to accomplish a number of tasks most urgent of which was for him to proceed to York, Pa. and cut the Northern Central Railroad there and then destroy the Columbia Bridge spanning the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. This would pave the way for the intended capture of the state capitol at Harrisburg. Along the way he was also to gather much needed food, fodder and supplies for the army. With the later in mind, Early anticipated that a pass through Gettysburg might just yield some of those needed provisions since his maps showed that the little hamlet was a hub for the area’s road network.

The morning of Friday, June 26^th saw a steady rain that portended a miserable marching day for both man and beast. Early’s division had been reinforced by the much welcomed addition of 232 troopers of the 35^th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, under the command of Lt.Col. Elijah V. White. Around noon, Col. White reported to Early that there were rumors of an enemy force, of unknown strength, guarding the westward approaches to Gettysburg.

Early, no doubt grousing at this intelligence since it would slow his march to York, determined however to continue, albeit cautiously. He issued orders for Col. White’s cavalry to continue toward Gettysburg and develop the strength of the enemy’s force. To give muscle to White’s mounted troopers Early sent his strongest brigade, that of Brig.Gen. John B. Gordon to follow in case the weight of infantry was required. Early, with the balance of his command, would cut cross country to the Mummasburg Road and approach Gettysburg from the northwest with the view of cutting off the retreat of any Federals bold enough to confront his veteran troops.

Brig. Gen. John B. Gordon was a rising star in the Army of Northern Virginia, a ramrod straight man with fierce penetrating eyes once summed up by of one his soldiers as a man, "…who could put fight into a whupped chicken." Gordon ordered his men to pick up their marching pace in order to keep within supporting distance of the cavalry up ahead. The Georgians of his command, the 13^th, 26^th, 31^st, 38^th, 60^th & 61^st regiments, numbering 1,807 officers and men slugged their way down the muddy pike now with the scent of a fight to keep their feet moving forward.

Awaiting the hard marching Confederates about 4 miles west of Gettysburg was the 26^th Pennsylvania Emergency Infantry Regiment. This local militia unit was one of those hastily organized in response to Pennsylvania Governor Curtin’s call for 50,000 volunteers to repel the Rebel invaders. The Governor’s call had not been responded to in numbers anywhere close to that called up, but the 743 officers and men of the 26^th composed, in large part of young students from the Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Pennsylvania College in Gettysburg, were eager to defend their native soil and had just mustered into service at Harrisburg three days previous receiving new uniforms and rifle muskets. With practically no training to go with their newly gained martial accouterments they seemingly appeared to be of  dubious value.
 
Fortunately, a veteran officer was placed at their head; Col. William W. Jennings had seen combat and as such he firmly believed that his green men would be overwhelmed by the hard bitten Rebels if called to battle them. When ordered that morning to take a position west of Gettysburg to delay the Confederate advance, Col. Jennings protested placing his regiment into such a critical position. A member of the regiment later wrote, "Our Colonel, left to his own resources, wisely decided to make an effort to return to Harrisburg and immediately struck off from the pike, the Confederates capturing many of our rear guard after a sharp skirmish, and sending their cavalry in pursuit of us. These latter overtook us in the afternoon at Witmer’s house where after an engagement they were repulsed with some loss." As a result of this series of running fights, one militiaman was wounded and 176 were captured.
The 35^th Battalion Virginia Cavalry reported several wounded as well.

The firing gave abrupt notice to Gettysburg’s 2,400 townspeople that the dreaded invaders were at hand. As White’s southern cavalry approached the western outskirts some locals met them with gifts of liquor thinking that might prove to have a calming effect on the invaders.  
                   
Their well intended efforts, however, had the opposite effect. The troopers, now emboldened by shots of local brandy, galloped down Chambersburg Street whooping and hollering at the top of their lungs. Observing their entry, the Reverend Doctor Michael Jacobs related, "The advance guard of the enemy, consisting of 180-200 cavalry, rode into Gettysburg at 3:15 PM shouting and yelling like so many savages from the wilds of the Rocky Mountains; firing their pistols, not caring whether they killed or maimed man, woman, or child; and rushing from stable to stable in search of horses." Racing home from school 14 year old Tillie Pierce endeavored to reach her home amid the pandemonium. As she reached her house she observed Southern troopers taking her family’s horse, which she later wrote of, "I was very much attached to the animal, for she was gentle and very pretty…" Little Tillie begged the cavalrymen to return the horse, but they ignored her pleas. One Rebel, who little Tillie described as, "impudent and coarse," told her to go into the house and mind her own business.

Gordon’s infantry soon followed in the wake of White’s cavalry. Most of the town’s populace had now retreated into their homes and peered at the Southerners through the relative safety of their blinds and drapes. Charles Tyson, a local photographer, later recalled, "We had taken the precaution to lock the front door and yard gate, and were looking out through the Venetian shutters seeing, but unseen." After several Rebels tried to open their door, Tyson determined it would be wise to treat them as guests. Inviting the soldiers into his home, he offered them water. He related they "came right along and wanted bread and butter, but we had told them we did not have enough to commence on, and they were satisfied far more easily than I expected, were very polite and gentlemanly."

Fannie Buehler, the local postmistress, took down the post office sign, and buried the keys to the building. Gordon’s brigade passed by her home across from the courthouse, and she described the feared Rebels thusly, "I looked at them in their dirty, torn garments, hatless, shoeless and footsore, I pitied them from the depth of my heart. I wondered what this coming meant; what they were going to do; and how long they were going to stay, so I sat myself down on the door step, with my children, and Bruno, our faithful Newfoundland dog to watch operations."

Gen. Gordon quickly moved to secure the town posting guards at most public buildings and some businesses, assuring those townspeople he came across that they would not be harmed, and fears should be quieted. One of Gettysburg’s newspapers, in a June 29^th issue, stated that the Confederates had a distinctive aroma, because they were "wet from the rain which had fallen during most of the day, and considerably heated by a long march." When the saucy young Tillie Pierce observed some of Gordon’s men eating in front of her house she recounted, "Their manner of eating was shocking in the extreme. As I stood in the doorway they threw the apple butter in all directions while spreading their bread. I was heartily glad when they left, for they were a rude set!"

Having left the remaining three brigades of his division encamped outside of town, Gen. Early rode into Gettysburg. While watering his horse he wrote out a demand for supplies from the town. Gen. Early’s requisition directed to the authorities of the borough called for 1,200 pounds of sugar, 600 pounds of coffee, 60 barrels of flour, 1,000 pounds of salt, 7,000 pounds of bacon, 10 barrels of whisky, 10 barrels of onions, 1,000 pairs of shoes, and 500 hats or in lieu thereof, $5,000.00 in cash. His staff, unable to locate any town officials at the courthouse, finally brought to Early the town constable, John Burns, a elderly War of 1812 veteran who would later take up his flintlock musket on July 1^st and volunteer to fight against the invaders, no doubt having been "riled" up by the perceived ill treatment of his town during this earlier occupation. Gen. Early ordered Burns to find and deliver his demand to the proper town officials.

Constable Burns, at length, located the borough council president, David Kendlehart. Choosing to respond in writing, Kendlehart replied that "…the quantities required are far beyond that in our possession. In compliance, however, to the demands we will request the stores to be opened and the citizens to furnish whatever they can of such provisions. Further we can not promise." Kendlehart then sent Burns back with the reply.

Unknown to Early, most of Gettysburg’s merchants had wisely anticipated occupation by the Southerners and many had earlier sent away their goods and valuables to points east, particularly to Philadelphia. Studying the reply which Burns brought back to him, Early’s usual ill temper was apparently not piqued; but then he was not inclined to show the Yanks any particular leniency either. He ordered Gordon to search the town for the needed supplies making any appropriate payment in CS currency. Little, however, would be found in the town of value to the Confederates beyond some horseshoes in local stores and 2,000 army rations sitting in cars at the railroad depot intended for the hapless 26^th Pennsylvania. After removing the rations, Early ordered the train and a nearby railroad bridge to be fired. Early later wrote of his visit to Gettysburg in his official report of the campaign, "The day was rainy and the roads very muddy, and as it was late when I reached the place, and having to move on York early the next day, I had no opportunity of compelling a compliance with my demands in this town, or ascertaining its resources, which I think, however, were very limited."

The rest of the day transpired with little of the excitement brought on during the morning hours. One of Gordon’s regimental bands played Southern airs including "Dixie" near the town square much to the "annoyance" of some townspeople. Regrettably, the local reporter did not specify whether the source of the annoyance was the quality of the musicianship or rather the choice of blatantly "Rebel" music. The captured militiamen of the 26^th Pennsylvania Emergency Infantry Regiment, who had been brought in with Gordon’s column as prisoners of war were kept under guard near the courthouse and were paroled the next morning. A local wag pointed out that the Confederates "divested the taverns and liquor stores of their liquors." but he pointed out that the soldiers "did not do much damage in the town."

The residents of Gettysburg could little know at the time that Early’s visit would be but a mere prelude to the commencement five days later of the largest battle ever fought on the North American continent.

Sources Used

Early, Jubal A, edited by Frank Vandiver, War Memoirs Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States, 1969The War of the Rebellion; A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Series I Vol. XXVII

Nye, William Sturtevant, Here Come The Rebels! 1988

Black, Linda, Gettysburg’s Preview of War: Jubal Early’s June 26, 1863 Raid Gettysburg Magazine Issue No. 3 July 1990

Alleman, Tillie Pierce, At Gettysburg: Or, What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle

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