Summary:
In this July, 1863, dispatch, Union General William French writes General Daniel
Butterfield concerning efforts to cut off Lee's retreat from Gettysburg. He
mentions Confederate troop movements in the Chambersburg area.
Received 7 p. m.
Maj.-Gen. Butterfield,
Chief
of Staff:
Frederick City, Md.,
July 5, 1863.
Gen.:
I have a brigade occupying the passes, with infantry and artillery. The cavalry detachment which destroyed the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters, 3 miles this side of Williamsport, also captured an ammunition train, which was thrown into the river.
The enemy had commenced a trestle-bridge at the ferry. This has been ordered to be broken up by me. I have positive information that there is no bridge at Clear Spring.
I have just received information that the enemy are fortifying the heights covering the Shepherdstown Ford, and that a bridge is constructed, all ready to swing across from the Virginia side.
Lee is said to be moving to place his right on the river at Williamsport, his left and mass being at Chambersburg. It seems as if he was taking up the Antietam campaign.
I sent a dispatch about the smallness of my command, and that it would be throwing away a regiment or two to put them into the cul-de-sac of Maryland Heights without ammunition or supplies, there being only a few days' now here.
I can worry their rear through Crampton's Gap, and delay their passage of the river, which I am told cannot now be forded. I want troops from Washington, and supplies.
WM. H. FRENCH,
Maj.-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 538, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
