Mike
Friday June 26th 1863-Outskirts of Gettysburg
Fife and drum martial music prompted Tillie Pierce- working in her father's barn- to go take a look
It was the advance brigade of Lee's army-General John B Gordon's Georgian Infantry of Jubal Early's Division of Ewell's Corps accompanied by a detachment of Albert Jenkin's cavalry.
Gordon's 5000 soldiers looked to Tillie like the whole Confederate army had invaded Pennsylvania. A few of the men lifted their hats calling out "Good afternoon Ma'am Georgia's come a visitin'"
The Confederate conduct of this advance brigade was generally good despite the fact that the State of Virginia had suffered severely in bearing the brunt of the fighting and Union troops had not always been considerate of the property of the people of the South.
As the Confederates pushed on into Pennsylvania the countryside had surprised them. For most this was their first visit to the North and the natural beauty of the region and the level of opulence among northern farmers with the sheer abundance of crops and fruit trees-in comparison to Virginia-shocked these Southern boys.
But Lee restrained his army by issuing General Orders No 72 & 73 which stated that whilst in the enemy's country strict regulations for procuring supplies will be applied and any violation of them will be promptly and vigorously punished................we make war only upon armed men.
Gordon's troops would bivouack that night in fields north of the town. As they slept none of them could have imagined how hard they would have to fight to re-enter Gettysburg a mere five days later
Later that afternoon two Reb cavalrymen asked Tillie whether they could purchase coffee and a bushel of apples offering to pay with Confederate scrip
When she said that his paper money was worthless to her, the trooper replied
"Ma'am! in a few days time our money will be better than your own currency"
"Old Bald Head" Ewell now ordered Jubal Early's Division to strike at the Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg by way of Wrightsville to secure the bridge over the Susquehanna river.
Ewell's march through Pennsylvania had been a rewarding one. Between June 10th & 29th his Corps had captured 28 guns and almost 4000 Union prisoners. "procured" 5,000 barrels of flour, 3000 head of cattle a trainload of ordnance and medical supplied. Subsequently, one of Lee's objectives, the procurement of much needed supplies, was thus achieved, at least in part.
Ewell's star was riding high and the South figured that a second Stonewall Jackson had emerged. A view that was about to change dramatically.
Reb
Mike
