Summary:
Union General Robert Schenck's adjutant William Chesebrough passes on orders for
Union cavalry to prepare to move to engage Confederate forces at Chambersburg in
June, 1863.
Baltimore, Md.,
June 17, 1863.
IV. Maj.-Gen. Milroy will proceed without delay, via Harrisburg and Bedford, or such other route as he may find expedient or necessary from Harrisburg, to put himself in communication with that body of cavalry and infantry of his division, who, under command of Col. Galligher, were yesterday at Hancock, and are understood to have proceeded thence northward into Pennsylvania. He will take charge of these forces, reorganize them, and obtain supplies and ammunition as they may need, using them, if opportunity presents, for offensive operations against any smaller or equal force of rebels now supposed to be at Chambersburg or in that neighborhood, or will conduct them to Harrisburg, reporting, as often as practicable, his movements to these headquarters; or, if found more expedient and advisable, after reaching the troops of which he will be in search, he may, if he can obtain the necessary supplies and ammunition, use them to observe, pursue, or interrupt the movements and operations of any rebel force at Cumberland or proceeding westward. In this case, he will, as soon as possible, by messengers or otherwise, put himself in communication with Brig.-Gen. Kelley, at New Creek. He will at Harrisburg confer with Maj.-Gen. Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna, in regard to his proposed movements and operations, but without delaying for this purpose at Harrisburg.
Maj.-Gen. Milroy and staff will be furnished transportation for their horses over such portions of the route as they may travel by railroad.
By command of Maj.-Gen. Schenck:
WM. H. CHESEBROUGH,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 45, Pages 190, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
