Summary:
Union General Darius N. Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna,
reports from Chambersburg in July, 1863, on the successful defense of
Pennsylvania during Lee's invasion. Couch devotes attention primarily to the
movements and actions of emergency militia units. He mentions sending emergency
militia from New York to defend Chambersburg, discusses Lee's advance on the
town, and reports the capture of enemy men and supplies during a raid on
retreating Confederate columns at Greencastle. He also discusses preparations
for the defense of Harrisburg, including African-American participation, and the
mobilization of men and supplies throughout the state.
Col. J. C. Kelton,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Hdqrs. Department of the Susquehanna,
Chambersburg,
Pa.,
July 15, 1863.
Sir:
In obedience to instructions from the honorable Secretary of War, I left Washington June 11, for Harrisburg, in order to assume command of the newly organized Department of the Susquehanna.
After an interview with His Excellency Governor Curtin and gentlemen of his council, an order was prepared and issued to the department, calling for a corps of troops for State defense. This was in accordance with instructions received from Mr. Stanton.
The Governor also issued a proclamation to the people of the State in connection with my order.
On the 15th, 800 of the enemy's mounted force appeared at Chambersburg, 16 miles north of the Maryland line. They were closely watched by about 120 men of the First New York Cavalry, under Capt. Boyd, who covered the wagon train of Gen. Milroy on its retreat from Winchester, Va., toward Harrisburg, Pa.
At this date there were not 250 organized men in the department for duty. The sick in the hospital at York were removed, as well as the United States stores at Carlisle.
Lieut.-Col. Coppee, of Philadelphia, volunteered his services to the State, and was sent to Altoona to arrange with the officers of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for the defense of that point, the bridges crossing the Juniata, as well as the mountain passes, southerly toward Bedford, McConnellsburg, and London.
Comparatively few troops offered for State defense.
The President called for volunteers for six-months' service, and Governor Curtin issued his proclamation for 50,000 men. This was on the 15th, and men in masses began to assemble at Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Huntingdon, Altoona, &c.
The militia of Pennsylvania was not organized. Farmers in the threatened parts were directed to remove their stock.
On the 17th, the only company of infantry, Capt. McGowan's, from York Hospital, was sent to Shippensburg. Rebel advance fell back on the 18th to Greencastle. Some 2,500 of Gen. Milroy's force, in retreating, via Hancock, arrived near Bedford Springs, where their commander joined them. They were a good deal demoralized. Col. Higgins re-enforced Milroy with 1,200 men, without blankets or camp equipage. Militia regiments from New York began to arrive. New Jersey sent one regiment for three days. Other companies from that State reported at Harrisburg.
The Secretary of War placed the arsenals and clothing depots at my disposal; also gave me ample authority to receive, subsist, and arm whatever troops might be offered from the neighboring States.
The New York militia were mustered into the United States service for thirty days. The Pennsylvanians generally declined to be mustered for six months. Finally, a portion consented to serve during "the existence of the emergency."
The heights on the right bank of the Susquehanna, opposite to Harrisburg, were being fortified, in order to cover that city and the important bridges. Some of the patriotic citizens of that city volunteered to work in the trenches; others were paid. The colored population were not behind their white brethren in giving assistance.
The Eighth and Seventy-first New York Militia went to Chambersburg on the 19th.
Rebel advance of infantry and artillery, 8,000 men, reported at Hagerstown.
Brig. Gen. W. F. Smith joined after returning from Altoona and Bedford. He was placed in command of all the troops and defenses opposite Harrisburg. The works were being pushed under the chief engineer of the department, Capt. J. B. Wheeler, assisted by Maj. James Brady, First Pennsylvania Artillery; Capt. Wilson, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and other employees of that and the Northern Central road.
Every effort was made to organize artillery and get it into position. Maj. Granville O. Haller, acting aide-de-camp, was sent to Gettysburg to take command.
Capt. David McConaughy, of Gettysburg, in company with others, were sent out as scouts to gain information.
Col. Thomas, Twentieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, had the defense of the bridges of the Northern Central Railroad.
On the evening of the 22d, the rebel cavalry advanced upon Chambersburg, followed by heavy masses of infantry and artillery. It was the head of their army, under Gen. Lee. A part of Ewell's corps advanced toward Carlisle, which place they occupied on the 27th and 28th by 12,000 men, our forces, under Brig.-Gen. Knipe, falling back to near Harrisburg. The remainder of Ewell's corps, 8,000, crossed from Chambersburg to Gettysburg on the 26th; drove in our scouts with their supports, with a loss to us of 176 men missing and prisoners of the Twenty-sixth Emergency Regt.. From that place the enemy moved in the direction of York.
The chief burgess and a deputation of citizens met this force 9 miles from the town, and formally surrendered. It was occupied by Gen. Early on the 28th. A body of 2,500 of the rebels immediately pushed toward Columbia, drove in the troops at Wrightsville, under Col. Frick, who retreated across the river and burned the bridge. Same day, their advance approached to within 3 miles of Harrisburg, engaging our pickets and reconnoitered the works.
Col. Thomas, Twentieth Regt., in charge of bridges near York, retired toward the Susquehanna.
The call of June 15 brought only seven full regiments. The Governor obtained the sanction of the President, and called out 60,000 militia for State service. These rendezvoused at Harrisburg, Reading, and Huntingdon. Up to this time, New York had sent nearly 6,000 men.
Col. E. Franklin, a citizen of Lancaster, had been placed in command of the fords and bridges on the Lower Susquehanna, to Conowingo, in Maryland, some of which were guarded by citizens partially armed with shot-guns.
Five thousand men of the counties bordering on the Juniata filled the passes leading to their homes, and threw up military works. They were an army of bushwhackers, commanded by ex-officers.
Brig.-Gen. Smith advanced to Carlisle July 1, with 3,000 men. During the night, Lee's cavalry, 3,200 strong, surrounded the place, and, after demanding its surrender, shelled the town, retiring before the next morning in the direction of Gettysburg, where Gen. Lee was hastily concentrating, having been forced to this by the rapid movements of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Meade.
The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1, 2, and 3, when the rebels commenced falling back to Hagerstown. Brig.-Gen. Knipe joining Smith, the latter moved in the direction of Gettysburg through the mountains, via Pine Grove, in order to make a diversion in favor of Meade by attacking Lee's flank and rear. This movement compelled the latter to keep a large force in line of battle near Cashtown. Smith was ordered by Gen. Meade to join him at Gettysburg. Subsequently it was countermanded, and he followed the retreating army of Lee, via Altodale, to the vicinity of Waynesborough, where he effected a junction with one of Meade's brigades, under Brig.-Gen. Neill. Smith's division was mostly composed of New York troops, including one brigade of Pennsylvania emergency men, under Col. Brisbane, acting brigadier-general. I respectfully refer to the elaborate report of Brig.-Gen. Smith.
Maj.-Gen. Sigel was assigned to duty in this department, and took command of the rendezvous at Reading. Maj.-Gen. Stahel was present as chief of cavalry.
Maj.-Gen. Dana, on duty at Philadelphia, reported to me at Chambersburg on the 11th, and was assigned to the command of the Second Division, composed of Pennsylvania militia, excepting two New York regiments, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Yates.
Col.'s Beaver and Miles, both of the Second Army Corps, dangerously wounded at Chancellorsville, commanded Camps Curtin and Huntingdon.
Col. Pierce, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who had succeeded Milroy, killed, wounded, and captured a company of rebel cavalry at McConnellsburg.
On July 5, Capt. Jones, First New York Cavalry, attacked Lee's wagon train near Greencastle, and brought off 645 prisoners, 300 of whom were wounded, 90 wagons, and 1 piece of artillery.
Had Col. Pierce fully carried out my instructions, he would have inflicted very heavy loss upon the rebels, in breaking up their trains. He sent in nearly 1,000 prisoners; Gen. Smith about 300, with some wagons and horses. This officer joined his force with those of Gen. Meade, the latter having under advisement the breaking up of this division and distributing the regiments among the brigades of his army. This course was recommended to that officer and approved by Gen. Smith. Lee, however, recrossed the Potomac before it was accomplished. Thus ended, disastrously to the enemy, their invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
I received from Governor Curtin and State officers every assistance. Among the latter, more prominently were Col. John A. Wright, aide-de-camp; Hon. William M. Meredith, attorney-general; Adjutant-Gen. A. L. Russell, Commissary-Gen. Irwin, Gen. Cameron, Col. T. A. Scott, Judge Watts, Hon. Charles McAllister, Col. McClure, Judge Francis M. Kimmell, Col. Stumbaugh, and J. N. Du Barry, together with a very great number of gentlemen residing within the limits of the department, who lent their assistance in working for the common cause.
The Governor of New York pushed forward his regiments with alacrity. They were generally armed and equipped ready for field service, and their arrival brought confidence.
Among the patriotic associations in the country, the Union League, of Philadelphia, is not surpassed for its vigor and efficient labor. It alone placed several regiments in the field.
The militia of Pennsylvania raised to resist the invasion was composed of men from all classes and professions, and was a fine body of men.
My thanks are due to the following-named gentlemen, who freely gave their services to the State, and served as volunteers on my staff; they were stationed in various sections of the department: Lieut. Col. Henry Coppee, Military secretary; Maj.'s Wilson and Wayne Mac Veagh; Capts. David McConaughy, W. A. H. Lewis, and A. Wright; and Cadets Reuben W. Petrikin, William Krause, and Charles W. Raymond, from West Point, extra aides-de-camp.
New York sent nineteen regiments and one battery, commanded by the following brigadier-generals: Brig.-Gen.'s Hall, Yates, Ewen, Crooke, and Smith.
Pennsylvania furnished eight regiments of emergency men, twenty-two regiments of three-months' militia, five companies of artillery, one battalion of six-months' infantry, two regiments and one battalion of six-months' cavalry, and one battalion of three-months' cavalry. The three-months' men were generally organized between July 4 and 11 of the same month.
New Jersey sent one battalion of infantry that remained until after the invasion.
Number of prisoners reported, 1,341, of whom nearly 500 were taken under arms, 400 wounded, and the remainder stragglers and deserters. This does not include quite a number who escaped through the mountains and went north, being aided in this by the citizens.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. N. COUCH,
Maj.-Gen., Comdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 44, Pages 211-216, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
