Summary:
William H. Boyd of the First New York Cavalry reports from Chambersburg in July,
1863. He discusses a skirmish in the area with foraging Confederate forces
retreating from Gettysburg.
Capt. Carey:
Chambersburg, Pa.,
July 9, 1863
I visited Greencastle this a. m. Took the Williamsport pike to near Cunningham's Cross-Roads; then over to Muttontown, or Middleburg. While on the latter trip, we saw a number of wagons foraging; gave chase, and had a skirmish with some 80 infantry. We drove them, but were unable to get the wagons, as it was within 1 mile of their camp. We retraced our steps to Middleburg, and then here. While at Middleburg, I learned that Lee's headquarters were on the pike between Hagerstown and Williamsport, and a corps is camped on one side of the road this side of Hagerstown; another, near Hagerstown, and another on the Leitersburg road. One hundred men of the First New York Cavalry are here, besides my command. Gen. Couch, I learn, is at Shippensburg; will be here to-morrow.
Received order about returning to Waynesborough. Will attend to it.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. BOYD.
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 623, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
