Summary:
Union railroad expert Herman Haupt writes General In Chief Henry Halleck on the
situation in Pennsylvania in this July 1, 1863, dispatch. Haupt reports on the
strengths of Confederate troops occupying Chambersburg, and mentions that Lee
was in the square at Chambersburg with his men.
Maj.-Gen. Halleck,
Gen.-in-Chief, U.S. Army:
Harrisburg,
July 1, 1863
Gen.:
I sent you two telegrams last night, and sent the same to Gen. Schenck.
Finding the communications cut with Meade's army, I concluded to run to Harrisburg, ascertain the position of affairs, then return to Baltimore, and try to work my way through to Frederick.
I found that there had been some skirmishing near Harrisburg yesterday; that the forces gathered for the protection of the place amounted to 16,000 men, and that information in regard to the movements, position, and numbers of the enemy, and arrangements for keeping advised of the same, were apparently reliable.
It appears to have been the intention of the enemy to attack Harrisburg yesterday. Our forces, supposed to be Pleasonton's, were resisting their movements, and, T. A. Scott said, had actually succeeded in retarding the advance on Harrisburg, and compelled a retreat. I thought I saw a much more decisive and important move on the tapis. Lee had received information of the removal of Hooker, and the substitution of Meade. He knew also that Meade's communications were cut by Stuart; that some confusion must exist from the change of commanders; that Meade could not at once get his forces in hand, and that, by suddenly concentrating and falling upon Meade, he could be crushed, when Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia would all be at the mercy of the enemy. I mentioned to Scott my opinion, in which he at once concurred, and I immediately sent the telegrams to you and Gen. Schenck last night.
The most reliable information as to the numbers of the enemy, as given by Scott, is as follows: Ewell, 23,000 men, 48 pieces; Longstreet, 30,000 men, 122 pieces; Hill, 24,000 men, pieces not known; Early, 15,000 men, 26 pieces; total, 92,000 men and 236 pieces, exclusive of Hill's. Forces of Ewell were counted in Carlisle, Friday p. m. June 26, as they passed. They left Carlisle by the Baltimore pike, Tuesday June 30, 5 a. m.
Longstreet's corps passed through Chambersburg on Friday and Saturday 27th, in the direction of Carlisle. In Carlisle Sunday evening; left on Monday afternoon; went through Newville with artillery in full trot, in the direction of Shippensburg, probably to take the Gettysburg road from this point.
Lee was in the square at Chambersburg at 9 a. m. Saturday, with 8,000 men and 40 pieces (part of Hill's). Left, after a conference with Hill, in the direction of Gettysburg.
Hill's corps commenced leaving Chambersburg at 12 m. Saturday, three hours after Lee, in same direction.
Early left Gettysburg for York Saturday; entered York Sunday; left York 2 p. m. Tuesday.
Firing Tuesday for several hours about Dillsburg and Petersburg, on the line between York and Gettysburg.
I am leaving for Baltimore.
Respectfully submitted.
H. HAUPT.
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 476-477, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
