Summary:
In June and July, 1863, New York State militia were sent to Pennsylvania to help
defend the state against Robert E. Lee's invasion in what became the Gettysburg
campaign. In this dispatch, William Hall, commander of the Third Brigade, New
York State National Guards, reports to New York State Governor Horatio Seymour
on the actions of his troops during the Gettysburg campaign. He mentions sending
New York State troops to Chambersburg.
1863.
Sir:
I have the honor to report to you the condition of the Third Brigade of the First Division, composed of the Seventh, Eighth, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-fifth Regt.'s New York State National Guard.
At the annual inspection held on the 9th, 12th, 14th, and 16th days of October last, 1,929 were reported as present, and 621 as absent, making a total of 2,550, which is a large increase in numbers over the last year. The particulars of said inspection are contained in the brigade major's report made heretofore to the adjutant-general, to which Your Excellency is respectfully referred.
It may not be deemed inappropriate for me to refer somewhat particularly to the services performed by this brigade in the months of June and July last, at a period when a loyal State was invaded by an armed foe, threatening to despoil its citizens, to destroy its towns and cities, and set at defiance the authorities of both the local and general governments.
On the 15th day of June last, I received from you a telegraphic dispatch, as the commander-in-chief of the militia force of the State of New York, to proceed with my brigade, as speedily as possible,to the defense of the city of Harrisburg, the capital of the State of Pennsylvania. By direction and orders of Maj.-Gen. Sandford, the Seventy-first Regt. of the First Brigade was attached to my command, to participate in the expedition.
These five regiments promptly responded to Your Excellency's orders. The Seventh, Eighth, Thirty-seventh, and Seventy-first Regt.'s left the city of New York on the 16th, 17th, and 18th days of June; the Fifty-fifth Regt. left on the 24th.
I reached the place of destination on the morning of the 20th of June, and reported to Gen. Couch, who had command of all the military concentrated at that point, acting under orders from the authorities at Washington.
On the arrival of the Seventh and Fifty-fifth Regt.'s at the city of Philadelphia, they were met by orders from general headquarters, detaching them from my command. They were, by those orders, attached to the Third Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
On my arrival at Harrisburg, I found that the Eighth and Seventy-first Regt.'s had been placed under the command of Gen. Knipe, of the U.S. Volunteer service, and had been ordered to the front. I was placed immediately in command of all the regiments detailed to the fortifications at Bridgeport, on the opposite side of the Susquehanna River, or rather on the river opposite the city of Harrisburg. In this force was included the Eleventh, Twenty-second, and Thirty-seventh Regt.'s, one company of the Eighth Regt., and two companies of the Fourth Regt. of Artillery, all from the city of New York; also five regiments from the city of Brooklyn. The Eleventh and Twenty-second Regt.'s were commanded by Brig.-Gen. Ewen; those from Brooklyn were under the command of Brig.-Gen.'s Crooke and Smith.
My first order was to send out pickets to a distance of 5 miles, making a crescent form of 15 miles, to avoid a surprise by the enemy in our rear; this duty was assigned to the Thirty-seventh Regt.
On the 25th, I received an order to send two regiments to Marysville, about 8 miles up the river, to report to Gen. Yates. I sent the Thirteenth and Twenty-eighth, of the Fifth Brigade. On the 26th, Brig.-Gen. Crooke, of that brigade, reported for duty. I directed him to report to Gen. Yates, at Marysville, where his command had been sent.
On the 28th, Gen. Crooke returned with his brigade, and was quartered in the fort. On the 27th, the Thirty-seventh Regt. was directed to proceed to the front, under the command of Brig. Gen. W. F. Smith, of the U.S. Volunteers, with the Eleventh and Twenty-second Regt.'s, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Ewen. Brig. Gen. J. C. Smith, of Brooklyn, arrived with the Twenty-third, Fifty-second, and Fifty-sixth Regt.'s, reported, and was sent to the front, under the command of Brig. Gen. W. F. Smith.
During our encampment, the Thirty-seventh, Thirteenth, Twenty-eighth, and several other regiments worked on the defenses in the two forts on the heights, one of which was called Fort Washington, the other named Fort Couch.
On the 3d day of July, I received a verbal order from Gen. Couch to proceed forthwith to the front with the Fifth Brigade. Accordingly, I directed Brig.-Gen. Crooke to order his brigade to be in readiness to leave immediately. We broke camp about 2 o'clock in the morning, and took the cars for Carlisle, where we arrived at 7 a. m. While preparing to leave for Chambersburg, I received a telegram from Gen. Couch to return and resume my former command. I left the brigade at Carlisle, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Crooke, who proceeded with it to Chambersburg.
On my return, I found in the forts five companies of New Jersey troops (a very fine body of men), two companies of the Fourth Regt. of Artillery, New York State National Guard, one company of the Eighth Regt., under the command of Capt. Robert Brown, New York State National Guard, and one company from Philadelphia.
On the 11th day of July, the Sixty-fifth Regt., of Buffalo, reached the forts en route for home. It was detained some days on account of the difficulty then existing to procure transportation. On the 14th, the startling intelligence reached me that the city of New York was in a state of insubordination. Knowing the small military force left to defend that city from internal foes, and believing it important that relief should be sent there at the earliest possible moment, I sought and obtained permission of Gen. Couch to send this regiment there. It accordingly left my headquarters at daylight on the morning of the 15th, and arrived in the city of New York at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. The alarm produced by continued unfavorable reports in reference to the insecurity of the lives and property of the citizens of the city of New York, induced Gen. Couch to issue a general order directing the speedy return of all the New York and New Jersey regiments. This order was executed on the 18th, and the New York regiments reached the city the same evening.
I cannot forbear expressing my obligations to Capt. B. Frishmuth, commanding an independent company in the city of Philadelphia, for permission to bring with my command from that city a battery of four guns of artillery, the private property of his company, believing they might be of service in restoring municipal order in the metropolis.
During my operations in Pennsylvania, I was greatly assisted by Col. Pierson and Col. Cone, both of the city of New York, who volunteered as members of my staff. Their experience and skill in military affairs deserve acknowledgments.
I herewith have the honor to inclose the reports of the colonels of the Seventh, Eighth, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-fifth Regt.'s, of their services during the expedition.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. HALL,
Comdg. Third Brigade, New York State National Guard.
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 231-233, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
