JULY 3D.—My son Custis stayed out all night, sleeping on his arms in the farthest intrenchments. A little beyond, there was a skirmish with the enemy. We lost eight in killed and wounded. What the enemy suffered is not known, but he fell back, and ran toward the White House.

This morning, Mr. Child, agent for exchange of prisoners, reported that “not a Yankee could be found on the face of the earth.” And this induced a general belief that the enemy had retired, finally, being perhaps ordered to Washington, where they may be much needed.

The Secretary of War, believing the same thing, intimated to Gen. Elzey (who for some cause is unable to ride, and therefore remains in the city) a desire to send several regiments away to some menaced point at a distance. In response, Elzey writes that none can be spared with safety; that the enemy had apparently divided his force into two bodies, one for Hanover, and the other for the Chickahominy, and both strong; and he advised against weakening the forces here. He said he had not yet completed the manning of the batteries, the delay being in arming the men—and he hoped “Hill could hold out.”

We have 3400 convalescents at Camp Lee, and as many more may be relied on for the defense of the city; so we shall have not less than 22,000 men for the defense of Richmond. The enemy have perhaps 35,000; but it would require 75,000 to storm our batteries. Let this be remembered hereafter, if the 35,000 sent here on a fool’s errand might have saved Washington or Baltimore, or have served to protect Pennsylvania—and then let the press of the North bag the administration at Washington! Gen. Lee’s course is “right onward,” and cannot be affected by events here.

My friend Jacques (clerk) marched out yesterday with the Department Guard; but he had the diarrhœa, and was excused from marching as far as the company. He also got permission to come to town this morning, having slept pretty well, he said, apart from the company. No doubt he did good service in the city today, having his rifle fixed (the ball, I believe, had got down before the powder), and procuring a basket of edibles and a canteen of strong tea, which he promised to share with the mess. He said he saw Custis this morning, looking well, after sleeping on the ground the first time in his life, and without a blanket.

We have nothing further from the North or the West.

July 3—Move hospital early. Brother Stradley and I were riding over the fields from one hospital to another, when I fell from my horse at noon, not knowing I had fallen, and remaining unconscious for an hour. Loss of sleep and excitement may have led to the vertigo. God could take a man out of this world without his knowing anything of it. Col. Bennett wounded. Lieut. Connell, of Co. G., killed.

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

NEAR VICKSBURG, June 24, 1863.

We have reports of an important nature from within Vicksburg. Deserters who came over to our lines yesterday say that a mutiny has broken out among the soldiers in the city, and that they demand its capitulation to the Union forces. The rebel officers have vainly endeavored to crush out the disaffection, which has now increased to open rebellion. The rank and file perceiving that the promises made them of speedy relief by Johnston forces have not been and are not likely to be fulfilled, have been growing daily discontented at the prospect, and are now in rebellion to compel General Pemberton to surrender the city. They know from the sanguine character of our troops and the energy of our operations that the capture of the city is but a matter of time, and in the meanwhile our shot and shell are killing them off by hundreds. Hence the gloomy state of feeling which pervades the garrison, and the desire to avoid a further and useless sacrifice of life. Rebel prisoners say that the bombardment on Saturday last killed and wounded over two hundred in the city, and that if it had been continued two hours longer the white flag would have been hoisted. Women and children, soldiers and officers, are hourly entreating General Pemberton to capitulate. I give you the reports for what they are worth. If they are true — and they certainly seem credible — it may be that Vicksburg will be ours with but a little further expenditure of ammunition.

On Monday night a rebel force charged upon and drove from the trenches, opposite General Lanman’s division, one of our working parties, whom they compelled to fall back to a point some distance in the rear. The rebels next morning brought an iron gun into position, on the edge of our works, and, employing the empaulement of our trench for a breastwork, opened with shell, much to the annoyance of our troops in the vicinity. General Lanman determined to rout them out, and a portion of one of his brigades was sent to that object. The two regiments selected succeeded in flanking the position of the rebels, and then by a charge captured the gun, made several prisoners and drove the remainder back to their former position. Work has been resumed again in this portion of the line, and is now steadily progressing throughout the length of our works. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

(From the Port Royal South, June 6.)

On Monday evening last, five Companies of the Black regiment of Carolina negros, and a portion of Battery C, 3d R.I. Artillery, Captain Brayton, under the command of Col. Montgomery, started on an expedition, which had for its main object the recruiting of soldiers for the 2d Black regiment of So. C. negros. The troops were put on board the transports John Adams, the Sentinel, and Harriet A. Weed, and the expedition got away from Beaufort at about 9 o’clock, and without accident or detention, proceeded as far as St. Helena Sound, when the Sentinel got fast aground, and some time was consumed in transferring them from her to the Adams and Weed.

At half-past two o’clock, the force arrived at the mouth of the Combahee river, and pushed rapidly but silently up the stream without being discovered by the enemy. A portion of the force was landed at Field’s Point, a place about twenty miles up the river, where was posted a rebel picket, which incontinently fled, leaving their blankets warm to our forces. Capt. Thompson’s company was here posted in deserted breastworks by Col. Montgomery, and the balance of the force proceeded up the river in the two transports, to Tar Bluff, two miles above, where some deserted rifle pits were found and Capt. Carver’s company left to occupy them. The two steamers again moved up the river to Nicol’s plantation, a mile or two above, where the Weed was left in charge of Major Corwin, and the John Adams rapidly steamed up to Combahee Ferry, across which was a fine pontoon bridge. This was taken up, but not before a rebel cavalry company had passed over while the guns of the Adams threw shells at them. Obstructions across the river prevented the Adams from ascending still higher, and after the pontoon bridge was burned, she turned and passed slowly down the river again. While the pontoon bridge was being destroyed, CAPT. HOYT’S COMPANY was sent up the right bank of the river to capture and destroy, and also to collect negros. Capt. Brayton, with his section of Battery, started up the left bank. Capt. Hoyt pushed on his little force, with skirmishers ahead, to Green Pond, where Col. Heyward resided, in magnificent style, in a mansion that equalled any on the main. Heyward managed to escape, but carried nothing with him. His horses were captured, his sabre taken, and a quantity of other movables borne away. Large and extensive rice mills and storehouses and cotton warehouses were completely destroyed, and finally the mansion itself was burned. The quantity of rice and cotton burned was immense. While returning, a small body of rebel cavalry and sharp-shooters followed our forces, and [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

The village of Gettysburg, Pa., was the scene of a desperate conflict on Wednesday and yesterday, the result of which is not yet fully ascertained; but there seems no reason to doubt that it is favorable to the Union arms. The forces engaged on Wednesday were the First and Eleventh army corps, under Generals Reynolds (who was killed in the action) and Howard, and the rebel forces under Generals Ewell, Longstreet and A.P. Hill. Our correspondents in the field give a fine description of the battle. The fight was resumed yesterday, and was reported to be a sanguinary one; but up to last night the government had received no official report. General Meade had arrived on the field and participated in yesterday’s battle. Six thousand rebel prisoners had been taken, many of them comprised of General Archer’s brigade, numbering one thousand five hundred, which were taken by the Fourteenth Brooklyn, Ninety-fifth New York and Sixth Wisconsin regiments. General Archer and his whole staff were captured. Two thousand four hundred of the prisoners arrived in Baltimore last night. Our forces in Wednesday’s fight were reported to have been only twenty-five thousand against fifty thousand of the enemy. Our loss was undoubtedly very heavy, many regiments having been badly cut up, and several having all their officers shot down.

Considerable excitement prevailed in Washington last night, and in the absence of detailed news from Gettysburg some apprehensions of the result are entertained.

A brilliant fight took place at Carlisle on Wednesday evening between the cavalry and artillery forces of the rebel General Fitzhugh Lee, 3,000 strong, and the Union troops under General W.F. Smith. General Lee made a detour with his troops around South Mountain to join General Ewell at Carlisle, as he supposed, not knowing that the place had been evacuated. Here he came into collision with Smith’s force, and demanded the surrender of the town under flags of truce three times; but General Smith refused all terms, and after a heavy bombardment, in which a portion of the buildings and the fine old barracks were destroyed, the rebels, falling short of ammunition, withdrew the next morning towards Shippensburg. Carlisle is the capital of Cumberland county, Pa., is situated in the Cumberland valley, between [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

From the details of the battle of Gettysburg, which we submit to our readers this morning, they will perceive that the Union forces engaged did their duty handsomely; that the general results are satisfactory and highly encouraging; that, in a word, the day closed with General Meade as the master of the situation.

When the First army corps, in the advance, discovered that it was in the presence of the enemy’s forces in greatly superior strength, it was not disturbed by any sense of danger, because the Eleventh, the Second and Third corps were in easy supporting distance — a fact which of itself shows that General Meade, though moving his heavy columns by forced marches, and covering a broad belt of country, knows how to keep a large army well in hand. The spirit displayed by our troops in this engagement was all that could be desired. The Army of the Potomac has the fullest confidence in itself and in its new leader, and General Meade evidently comprehends sufficiently the movements and the designs of Lee to know how to meet and to baffle them. A good beginning, especially in a campaign like this, is significant of a good ending, and we consider the achievements of our cavalry, from Westminster to Hanover, of Monday and Tuesday last, and this preliminary battle at Gettysburg on Wednesday, as a very good beginning towards the expulsion of the enemy from Pennsylvania and Maryland.

From information received last evening by way of Baltimore, it appears that at noon yesterday General Meade had gained a position which commanded the flank of the rebels, and that the whole army of the Potomac was around him. We infer from this that the forenoon of yesterday was devoted to manÅ“uvring by both armies, and, from the absence of any reports of a resumption of hostilities, that the day closed, at least on the Union side, in preparations for a general engagement this morning. As we understand the situation at the hour of our latest advices, General Meade’s army was so disposed as to compel Lee to fight to recover his direct roads to the Potomac river. It is probable, therefore, that a tremendous collision between the two armies will come off to-day. It is possible, however, that Lee may have found it [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The work which is now progressing in our harbor, for the defence of Charleston, is sadly impeded from the want of carpenters. Several of these artizans can find steady employment in a pleasant locality in the harbor, besides they will have the gratification of knowing that their labor has been contributed to the holiest of causes. It is to be hoped that owners of colored carpenters throughout the state will patriotically endeavor to assist our authorities by the labor under their control.

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

CARLISLE, Pa., July 2 — 5 P.M.

An engagement, as unlooked for and unexpected to the rebels as to us, took place here last evening, and continued during the greater part of the night. It seems that Fitzhugh Lee, after having cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and foraged until he had got a heavy train of wagons by a circuitous route passed around one end of South Mountain and was hastily proceeding to join General Ewell, not being apprised of the latter’s departure from Carlisle, came in contact with the Union forces under command of Brigadier General W. F. Smith, said forces having just commenced to enter Carlisle footsore and leg weary, on the Harrisburg pike, while Lee’s men were pressing upon the York pike.

At first General Lee was somewhat puzzled to know the cause of this unexpected turn of affairs, so he entered into a slight skirmish with our men in order to try and ascertain our strength. Finding the Union force heavier than he at first expected, Lee sent in a flag of truce demanding the surrender of the town, and, in the event of non-compliance with the demand, requesting the women and children to be removed, for, as he expressed it, it was his intention to shell the town, regardless of all consequences such action might entail. General Smith promptly replied that he would not surrender the town under any circumstances whatever, and would take occasion to have the women and children removed at once.

Thus matters remained for some little while, General Smith notifying the citizens of their danger. It appears that General Lee was reluctant to shell the town, and sent in another flag of truce, making a demand similar to the first one. General Smith also made a similar reply, and the flag of truce returned.

Immediately the enemy opened on the town with shell and grape and canister, but principally shell. These tore through the streets, penetrated public and private buildings, destroying furniture, &c., to a great extent. Trees were cut down in the streets in all directions. The people took refuge in their cellars with their children, &c., while in many instances the shell were tearing through the houses above them. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

CAVALRY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, June 30, 1863.

THE CAVALRY WINNING FAME.

Gen. Kilpatrick, having recently been promoted from a colonelcy, has more recently been placed in command of Stahel’s division of cavalry, comprising Ingalls’, under Brigadier General Farnsworth, and Brigadier General Custer, both of whom have served on General Pleasanton’s staff, and other brigades, besides artillery from the regulars. The cavalry has been steadily winning fame since it has been demonstrated that it is worthy a good name, and that division of it under General Kilpatrick will keep its laurels always green.

THE ADVANCE INTO PENNSYLVANIA.

On our advance into the Keystone State, at a late hour last evening, the boys were almost frantic with joy, and they made the welkin ring with cheers as soon as the State line was crossed.

THE APPROACH TO LITTLESTOWN.

The head of the column reached Littlestown, Pennsylvania, at eleven o’clock, being the first of the Union troops that had marched from Virginia to protect the keystone of the arch from being broken by rebel hands. The hotels, stores and private dwelling houses were brilliant with flashing lights, and cheers were given for the […..] of Pennsylvania,” more than three times three.

The ladies of the village baked bread for the soldiers during the whole night, not once closing their eyes in sleep, and the excitement of seeing for the first time even the advance column of an army kept them awake in the morning. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, Menphis Daily Appeal (Atlanta, Ga)

            What an immense amount of heroism among this class passes unnoticed, or is taken as a matter of course, not only in this most righteous war we are waging, but in those of all past time.  For the soldier, he has his comrades about him, shoulder to shoulder.  He has praise if he does well; he has mention and pitying tears if he fall nobly striving.  But alas!  for the soldier’s wife.  Even an officer’s wife, who has sympathizing friends, who has the comforts and many luxuries of life, whose children’s future is provided for if their father fall, what hours of dreadful suspense and anxiety she must pass, even in these favorable circumstances.  How hard for her.  But for the wife of the poor soldier, who in giving her husband to her country, has given everything, who knows not whether the meal she and her little ones are eating may not be the last for many a hungry, desperate day, who has no friends to say “Well done” as the lagging weeks of suspense creep on, and she stands bravely at her post, keeping want and starvation at bay; imagination busy among the heaps of dead and wounded, or traversing the wretched prison dens, and shuddering at the though of their demoniac keepers; keeping down her sobs as her little daughter trustfully offers up her nightly prayers “for papa dear to come home;” or when her little son, just old enough to read, traces slowly with his fingers the long list of the killed and wounded, “to see if father is there;” shrouding her eyes from the possible future of her children, should her strength give out under the pressure of want and anxiety; no friend to turn to, when her hand is palsied with labor; nor waving banners, nor martial music, nor one procession to chronicle her valorous deeds; none but God and her own brave heart to witness her noble, unaided struggle; when I think of those solitary women scattered throughout the length and bredth of the land, my heart warms toward them; and I would fain hold them up in their silent struggle, for all the world to admire.  When the history of this war shall be written (and that cannot be now,) let the historian chronicle the sublime valor of the hearthstone, all over our struggling land.–Fanny Fern.

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

Two years have now passed since Semmes commenced his piratical cruise in the Sumter, since which time about one hundred and fifty of our vessels — valued, with their cargoes, at ten millions of dollars — have been captured by vessels under the Confederate flag, and still nothing effectual has been done by our immense navy to put a stop to their wholesale acts of rapine, plunder and piracy. From the first appearance of the little schooner Jeff. Davis they have gone on increasing in numbers, strength and power, until, by their numerous swift, heavily armed steamers, the confederate navy has become the terror of our entire mercantile marine. Their vessels are found in every part of the Atlantic; they even capture and burn our vessels within sight of our commercial marts, and still escape (if escape it may be called) from vessels which never seem to pursue, or at least never find them. Still nothing is done. Occasionally, when news comes of the wholesale destruction of a dozen or more of our ships and vessels, the Department, under the influence of a sudden spasm, orders all the idle vessels lying at our navy yards in hot pursuit of the pirates; and, to make the raid certain and effective, a number of old barks and schooners are sent out, which, if by accident they should happen to meet any of the rebel steamers, will fall into their hands, and in turn, like the Tacony, be turned against us. Fast sailing steamers like the Atlantic, Baltic, Ocean Queen and others are left by the Department lying at our wharves, because, forsooth, our merchants will not assume the war risk and pay for them if lost.

This appears like a singular position for our government to take, when by every principle of justice and equity it is bound to protect the interests of its citizens everywhere, and pay all losses sustained by the acts of pirates left to roam for months and years unmolested on our coast. The effect of this apathy or criminal neglect on the part of the Navy Department may be fully realized by a glance at the character and nationality of the vessels that now monopolize the carrying trade at this port, while our own are rotting at our wharves. Our merchants, fully realizing that the flag under which their vessels have so long and proudly sailed can no longer afford them protection in the pursuit of legitimate trade, are compelled to let them lie idle or resort to the disgraceful practice of putting them under the flag of a foreign Power. This practice has been carried on to an almost incredible extent since it has become apparent that they have nothing to hope for or expect at the hands of the Department at Washington. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

DESPATCH OF MR. J.H. VOSBURG.

GETTYSBURG, July 1, 1863.

The First corps of General Reynolds had been engaged with the enemy probably about two hours when the Eleventh arrived on the ground, hurrying up to meet the noise of battle towards us. So far the First corps had appeared to have the advantage; but about the time of our arrival the rebels had partially succeeded in turning their right flank.

Arriving on the ground, General Howard assumed command and immediately made his dispositions for the battle. The First corps was at this time on a wooded ridge near the Lutheran Theological Seminary; to the right was another range of hills, the right being wooded and crossed by the Harrisburg road. General Howard directed that two divisions of the Eleventh corps be placed on this range of hills, the First division on the right and the Third on the left of the Harrisburg road, a stream being on our extreme right. The Second division was held as a general reserve.

General Schurz, being in command of the Eleventh corps, endeavored to take the position indicated; but owing to the flank of the rebels on the right of the First corps we were not able to reach the favorable point desired. The rebel corps of Gen. A. P. Hill had, so far, engaged the First corps. But at this time General Ewell’s corps of twenty-five thousand men arrived by the Rock road. It was this overwhelming force which was to be met by seven thousand men. Before they had reached an advantageous defensive position, the rebels had batteries so posted that our columns moving up on an air line afterwards were exposed to a destructive cross fire. General Barlow, on the right, with the First division, made a most desperate effort to take and hold the position assigned him. The brave General, it is said, while riding along in front of his line encouraging his men, while the skirmishers were firing, was hit by a musket ball and severely wounded in the thigh or groin. The division fought bravely, and lost heavily, the brigade of Colonel Von Gilsa holding its position firmly, and that of General Ames doing well. The Third division, General Schimmelpfennig, was meanwhile striving nobly to hold the position it was directed to hold immediately on the right of the First corps and on the cleared part of the hill between the Seminary and the position of General Barlow. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

Mr. John J. Fitzpatrick’s Letter.

NEAR VICKSBURG, June 22, 1863.

Without touching upon forbidden topics there is little to write concerning our operations for the reduction of the great rebel stronghold on the Mississippi. The siege is progressing with that deliberate energy which characterizes such a work, and, while our advance is slow and sure, the resistance of the rebels is as steadfast and obstinate. They contest every inch of the ground, and every spadefull of earth is turned by the besieging forces amid showers of bullets. Their artillery fire, however, has almost entirely ceased, which fact has created the impression that they are nearly devoid of that arm, or are conserving their ammunition for the final and grand assault.

A TOUR AROUND THE LINES.

In company with a confrere of the HERALD, I have just concluded a tour of our lines, by which, as we are new arrivals here, we obtained quite an insight into the position of matters in this vicinity. We started from the Yazoo river at a point locally known as “Lake Land,”… the direction of the army was soon indicated to us by the long lines of army wagons which, enveloped in clouds of dust, were rumbling and rattling along the rugged ground. Following the road thus indicated, we traversed a bottom land, with the Chickasaw bayou on our left, until we struck the forks of that stream, where the country began to rise, and we soon found ourselves ascending one of those steep bluffs which have been rendered so famous in the history of this site. A ride of about an hour and a half, which was accomplished with no little labor by our horseflesh, unfolded to our comprehension the topographical and picturesque features of the vicinity. The roads — which for the most part are army roads, intersecting the encampments at every point and forming a network through and around the whole army — run the greater portion of their length along the very summits of the various ridges, and are so narrow in places that two wagons can with difficulty pass each other. To obviate this trouble, however, all vehicles are required to take the right hand roads in going to and the right in returning from the landing, the enforcement of which rule forms part of the duties of the guards and pickets. The nature of road varies as the distance. Traversing as it does a series of ridges, it is at one time steep and precipitous, and again, when the tops of the bluffs are but elevated table lands [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

DESPATCH OF MR. G.W. HOSMER.

BIVOUAC ON THE FIELD,

WEST OF GETTYSBURG, July 1 — 10 P.M.

General Buford’s cavalry had previously driven the rebels to the west of the town, beyond the seminary, and between nine and ten o’clock A.M. the rebels gave his pickets a pretty sharp brush and drove them in. General Reynolds, with the First corps, was on the road from Emmettsburg to Gettysburg, en route to the latter place, which the road approaches through the very scene of the conflict.

General Reynolds at once threw forward the First division, under General Wadsworth, which began to drive the enemy from the start. Very soon after the Second division of the same corps went on the right of the First division, the Third division on the left of the First, and the whole line began to advance. Nearly west of the town, just in the outskirts, near the seminary, of which I have spoken, is a large brick edifice. Southward from this runs a piece of woods, and the seminary stands on a ridge which slopes to the west into a little open valley of ploughed fields and meadows, rich with grass and grain. Beyond the valley is a ridge of higher land, thickly wooded. The valley runs in a southwesterly direction, and at its lower extremity is a large farmhouse, near which the Eighth Illinois cavalry was drawn up in the field, and formed our extreme left. Several farmhouses dotted this same rich little valley. Across this valley General Reynolds’ line advanced somewhat hastily, almost before it was well formed, and in that condition did not go far until against it a heavy force of the rebel infantry was immediately thrown, and General Reynolds was in turn driven. But his troops retired step by step, and in excellent order. Forward with the utmost enthusiasm pressed the rebel line, eager now to turn Reynolds’ retirement into a rout. Some of the rebels had too much energy and got too far; for, while they pressed too closely on the right of the centre division, the left of this same division was suddenly swept around, and then enclosed in the handsomest manner an entire rebel brigade under General Archer. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, Richmond Enquirer

General Le’s army has occupied, without resistance, the flourishing town of York, the centre and capital of a great county which is the garden of Pennsylvania; situated on the railroad on which Baltimore depends for its supplies, and within fifty miles of that city, almost due North. The intelligence of the capture of Harrisburg is not confirmed; and was at least premature.

The plans of Lee are still a secret to our enemies, as well as to ourselves; whether he means to strike for Philadelphia, or for Baltimore, and in either case to cut off the railroad communication of Washington with the North, as he has already with the West; whether his intention be to establish himself quietly in the richest part of the Keystone State, and make its fertile valleys support his army, until he can force Hooker to a battle, perhaps in front of the fortifications of Washington; all this remains matter of conjecture for the present. One thing, however, is plain — General Lee movements are directed not to indiscriminate plunder and devastation, but to the winning of victory; and victory, will leave all Maryland and the best part of Pennsylvania absolutely in his power, to levy regular contributions upon the country — to burn or to ransom the towns and cities at his pleasure — to free Maryland and Baltimore and to strike a blow right at the enemy’s head in Washington.

It is true the enemy’s country deserves no consideration at our hands, to leave it all one waste like the Stony Arabia, would be only fitting retribution; but the natural desire to bring home to the foe some portion of that desolation which he has visited upon us, must, for the present, give way to the necessities of strategy. In the meantime, our good Confederate boys are living like the sons of kings. We wish them a very good appetite, and only apprehend that they will not wish to come back to us at all. They will want to settle in that land flowing with milk and honey, where our rose colored notes will buy six times as much as they will do at home, and where men use sugar with their coffee, and coffee with their sugar. The country people of Pennsylvania, it seems, are tolerably indifferent to all this. They are not rushing to arms, as was expected; but wait for New York troops; and, indeed, seem not too solicitous for the arrival of those saviours. — They want no more than good prices for their produce, and are wisely content with Confederate money, which, indeed, is too good for them, being quite good enough for much better men. This lavish expenditure of Southern money in Pennsylvania also will have two good effects; it will help to deplete our currency within the limits of the Confederacy; and it will give to some of the Pennsylvanians a positive interest in sustaining Confederate credit. They cannot do a better thing for their own interest than to suffer our troops to occupy all their towns, as they have occupied York, resistance.”

July 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

Through private letters and persons arriving from Martinsburg and Winchester, we have interesting, though not late news, from General LEE’S army. On last Wednesday the whole of our forces had crossed into Maryland, not at Leesburg, as previously reported, but at Williamsport and other fords in that neighborhood. At that time we had made no movement directly or indirectly on Harper’s Ferry, which was still in possession of the enemy, who was strongly entrenched on the Maryland Heights.

Before crossing the Potomac, an order was issued by Gen. Lee that no private property should be touched. Citizens of Maryland were informed that such supplies as the army needed would be procured in the country, and paid for in Confederate money, at the prices prevailing before the entrance of our troops into the State. If they failed to bring in such supplies they would be seized, under authority, and any article necessary for the support of the army, if concealed, would be confiscated, if discovered. Those who declined receiving Confederate money would be given receipts for all produce furnished. Under this order the army was being bountifully supplied at very moderated prices. Flour was bringing $5 per barrel, bacon 8 and 10 cents per pound, and other articles in proportion. In the Valley of Virginia no flour was being purchased for the army, all the supplies being secured north of the Potomac.

The cavalry raids of Gen. Jenkins into Pennsylvania had been crowned with great success. On his first raid he went over into Fulton county, where he secured over a thousand horses and a large number of cattle and sheep. It is said that a drove of the latter, nearly four miles in length, passed through the upper part of Jefferson county on their way up the Valley in the early part of last week. The number of cattle was estimated from three to five thousand, and the number of sheep at about six thousand. Besides these, another lot of horses, numbering 1200 or 1300, were sent in by Gen. Jenkins, the result of his second raid among the rich farmers of the Cumberland and Core Valleys in Pennsylvania. From these facts some idea may be formed of the value of invasion to the Confederacy. [continue reading…]

July 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The success of a small military force, aided by citizens, in driving back an enemy numbering several thousand, from Knoxville, affords, says the Savannah Republican, an encouraging example of what the people can do for the protection of their homes when both their hearts and hands are enlisted in the work. Let every community take courage from the experience of Knoxville. Every man who is able to load or shoot a gun should at once go into a company of home guards and keep his shot gun bright for the day of need. Everybody is willing to fight, but the difficulty lies in a want of organization, which is necessary for prompt and harmonious action in cases of emergency. Without it the confusion that must ensue on an alarm will benefit the enemy by preventing everything like an effective movement against him. With nobody to command, we shall become a disorganized and frightened mob, and a hindrance to the military instead of a support.

Then let all the citizens of the Confederate States organize at once into military companies, appoint their officers, agree on signals and a place of rendezvous, and then disperse abut their business, but keeping ever ready for the foe.

July 3, 1863, The New York Herald

DESPATCH OF MR. F.G. CHAPMAN.

BALTIMORE, July 2, 1863.

About half-past nine o’clock yesterday morning, as the First army corps passed through Gettysburg, on its way northward, its advance encountered the enemy’s skirmishers, posted in by streets and out of the way places. These were quickly dislodged by our skirmishers, and the column proceeded. When our advance reached a point about half a mile north of the town it came upon the enemy under General Buhil, commanding the right of General A. P. Hill’s corps.

General Reynolds was immediately notified, and he rode to the front, where he found the advance of the two armies engaging each other, principally upon the right of the road. The fight at first was almost entirely an infantry engagement, as the nature of the ground was such as to preclude the use of artillery upon either side. General Reynolds, seeing that he could not use his artillery to advantage, rode out to an eminence a short distance from the road to find a place to plant a battery, when he received a volley from some sharpshooters posted in a thicket close at hand. His horse became unmanageable, wheeled and reared, and at the same time a ball struck the General in the back of the neck, passing downward, severing the spinal column, and killing him instantly.

His forces fought on and succeeded in driving the enemy before them a short distance, until the rebels reached the cover of their main body. Here the full force of the enemy was discovered, and our men fell back to the line of their first encounter, and word was sent back to the Second, Third and Eleventh corps to come up. [continue reading…]

July 3d, 1863.—H. was going to headquarters for the requisite pass, and he saw General Pemberton crawling out of a cave, for the shelling has been as hot as ever. He got the pass, but did not act with his usual caution, for the boat he secured was a miserable, leaky one—a mere trough. Leaving Martha in charge, we went to the river, had our trunks put in the boat, and embarked; but the boat became utterly unmanageable, and began to fill with water rapidly. H. saw that we could not cross it and turned to come back; yet in spite of that the pickets at the battery fired on us. H. raised the white flag he had, yet they fired again, and I gave a cry of horror that none of these dreadful things had wrung from me. I thought H. was struck. When we landed H. showed the pass, and said that the officer had told him the battery would be notified we were to cross. The officer apologized and said they were not notified. He furnished a cart to get us home, and to-day we are down in the cellar again, shells flying as thick as ever. Provisions are so nearly gone, except the hogshead of sugar, that a few more days will bring us to starvation indeed. Martha says rats are hanging dressed in the market for sale with mule meat,—there is nothing else. The officer at the battery told me he had eaten one yesterday. We have tried to leave this Tophet¹ and failed, and if the siege continues I must summon that higher kind of courage—moral bravery—to subdue my fears of possible mutilation.

1. hell

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in post-civil war New Orleans, her diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were generally used instead of full names—and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials. (Read Dora Richards Miller’s biographical sketch.)

2nd. Borrowed one day’s rations of the 12th R. I. Expecting a train for ourselves. Boys very accommodating. Regt. to be mustered out of service on the 13th. All very happy. It makes me almost homesick and still I am glad my time is not out. I could not be satisfied at home with this cruel war going on. Many will re-enlist. Boys went for forage.

Thursday, 2d–We loaded up our baggage and started at 8 o’clock to join our regiment and brigade in camp on the Big Black river, about ten miles distant. We found our command cutting away the trees which were cut down to keep General Johnston from coming in our rear after Vicksburg should surrender.^[1]

[1] It was reported that Pemberton had raised the white flag, asking for terms of surrender. This being the case, our forces were set to work clearing the road for our artillery; for we understood that upon the surrender of Vicksburg, we were to pursue Johnston’s army.—A. G. D.

Thursday, 2d.—Pretty quiet to-day; think the rations are about out, as we have been getting two small biscuits and a pint of pea soup for a day’s rations for several days; no meat, and pea-bread seems to be out. Various rumors. Tom Meek, Company E, wounded; Jones Greene died of sickness; think the siege of Vicksburg is very nearly at an end.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

July 2. Commences with pleasant but very warm weather; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters; from eleven A. M., until three P. M. firing of heavy guns heard in the rear of Port Hudson; the rebel water batteries firing at lower fleet.

July 2—Part of the day among wounded men. Visited Brigade in town. A fearful fight from 3 till 9 p. m.