Gettysburg Campaign

    Date Event
    The War Department sets up two new Army Departments for the defense of Pennsylvania
    - In western Virginia, the second Battle of Winchester ends in heavy Union defeat
    - General Albert Jenkins' Confederate cavalry occupy the Pennsylvania border town of Chambersburg
    In Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Confederate cavalry burn the Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge at Scotland
    In Virginia, a future director of the Metropolitan Museum wins the Medal of Honor while under arrest
    In Virginia, future founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra left for dead on the battlefield
    Union cavalry try to break through the Confederate cavalry screen at Aldie in Loudoun County, Virginia
    In Pennsylvania, New York militia move south from Harrisburg to defend Chambersburg
    - The Second Corps of the Army of Virginia crosses the Potomac and marches on Pennsylvania
    - Baltimore barricades itself against the Confederate advance
    Near Upperville, Virginia, Union cavalry again clashes with the Confederate cavalry screen
    Near Greencastle in Franklin County, a Union cavalry probe meets Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania
    Twenty year William H. Rihl becomes the first Union soldier killed meeting Lee's invasion
    In Pennsylvania, New York Militia units prepare a defense of Carlisle against the Confederate advance
    In Pennsylvania, Confederate soldiers destroy the iron works of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens
    In Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the Barracks garrison and New York militia units evacuate the town
    Outside of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, raw militia cavalry clash with veteran Confederate horsemen
    Major General N.J.T. Dana named as the commander of the defenses of Philadelphia
    - In Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Confederate troops occupy a town familiar to some of their officers
    General George Meade appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Joseph Hooker
    In York County, Pennsylvania, Hanover and Hanover Junction suffer a visit from Virginia cavalry
    - In Carlisle, Rodes' infantry enjoy a brief but comfortable respite at the U.S. Army Cavalry School
    - Around Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Confederate advance units skirmish with Union troops defending Harrisburg
    Confederate patrols reach the Perry County line, the northern limit of the Pennsylvania invasion
    Three young Union cavalrymen are promoted as brigade commanders, including one named Custer
    Union defenders retreat across the Susquehanna burning the Wrightsville Bridge behind them
    - Confederate infantry occupy York, Pennsylvania
    Confederate cavalry occupy Mechanicsburg, just nine miles from the Pennsylvania state capitol
    Reconnoitering Confederates reach the Susquehanna, across from the Pennsylvania state capital
    Heavy fighting with Union cavalry at Hanover, Pennsylvania again delays Stuart's Confederate cavalry
    North Carolina cavalry leader experiences an undignified capture in the streets of Hanover
    The leading First Corps of the Army of the Potomac camps four miles west of Gettysburg
    In Pennsylvania, the Confederate Second Corps begins to pull back to concentrate on Gettysburg
    Volunteer Philadelphia Artillery battery, full of distinguished Philadelphians, goes into action at Carlisle
    John Burns, 69 year-old War of 1812 veteran, picks up his flintlock and joins the Iron Brigade
    General John Reynolds killed in action within two hours of battle commencing at Gettysburg
    Attack of Confederate infantry on dismounted Union cavalry begins the collision of armies at Gettysburg
    Stuart's cavalrymen destroy the U.S. Army's Cavalry School at Carlisle Barracks
    Major General W.F. Smith's Union troops arrive in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to an enthusiastic welcome
    At dawn, the last Confederate occupiers of Carlisle, Pennsylvania leave the town
    - Battle of Gettysburg
    Shells from General J.E.B. Stuart's horse artillery rain down on Carlisle in an evening bombardment
    After midnight outside Carlisle, General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry is ordered to concentrate on Gettysburg
    At Gettysburg, V Corps troops hold, just, the threatened right flank of the Union line at Little Round Top
    At Gettysburg, Union General Daniel Sickles disregards orders and loses much of his III Corps and his right leg
    In the town of Gettysburg, 20-year-old Jennie Wade is killed instantly, hit with a stray Confederate bullet
    William Miller of Cumberland County disobeys orders and wins the Medal of Honor at Gettysburg
    At Gettysburg, Maryland neighbors meet in heavy combat on Culp's Hill
    Lee's attack on the Union center ends with the failure of Pickett's Charge
    Jennie Wade, killed the morning before, is buried in a temporary grave in Gettysburg
    In torrential rain, the Army of Northern Virginia begins its retreat from Pennsylvania
    - The retreating Army of Virginia reaches the Potomac and finds it flooded and impassable
    - Union forces pursue Lee's into Maryland and Stuart's covering Confederates clash with Union cavalry
    - The Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania ends when Lee's troops slip away across the Potomac in the night
    Federal cavalry defeat the rearguard of Lee's army at Falling Waters but the main force escapes
    Date Title
    New York Herald, “What is the Rebel Army of Virginia About?,” May 31, 1863
    Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, June 10, 1863
    Proclamation by Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, June 12, 1863
    General Order of General Darius Couch, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1863
    Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd Lincoln, June 16, 1863
    Washington (DC) National Intelligencer, “The Alarm in Pennsylvania,” June 16, 1863
    Lowell (MA) Citizen & News, “Points of Present Interest,” June 17, 1863
    New York Times, “Pennsylvania and Her Governor,” June 17, 1863
    Orders of General Robert E. Lee to the Army of Northern Virginia, June 21, 1863
    New York Times, “Telegrams From Carlisle,” June 26, 1863
    New York Times, “A Word to Pennsylvania,” June 26, 1863
    - Recollection of the Confederate Occupation of Carlisle, June 27-30, 1863
    - Report of James Gall, Jr., Confederate Occupation of York, Pennsylvania, June 28-29, 1863
    Reminiscence of General John Brown Gordon, C.S.A., on entering York, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1863
    Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Maj. Gen. George G. Meade,” June 30, 1863
    Letter from Theodore S. Garnett to George W. Wingate, May 31, 1892 on the Shelling of Carlisle, July 1, 1863
    Charles P. Noyes, 22nd New York, diary entry on opening of bombardment at Carlisle, July 1, 1863
    New York Herald, “The Rebel Occupation of Carlisle,” July 1, 1863
    - Recollection in 1864 of the Shelling of Carlisle, July 1, 1863 by George Wood Wingate
    Recollection by C. Stuart Patterson of the Union defense of Carlisle, July 1, 1863
    Cincinnati (OH) Gazette, “Excitement in Lancaster,” July 2, 1863
    Philadelphia (PA) North America and United States Gazette, “A Desperate Battle At Gettysburg,” July 3, 1863
    New York Times, "Carlisle," July 3, 1863
    Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, “The Rebels at Carlisle,” July 4, 1863
    New York Times, “The Campaign in Pennsylvania,” July 4, 1863
    Chicago (IL) Tribune, “A Great Peril Escaped,” July 7, 1863
    Abraham Lincoln, Response to a Serenade, July 7, 1863
    Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “Gen. Lee Again Victorious!,” July 9, 1863
    Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, “Every Man To Duty,” July 9, 1863
    John Keagy Stayman to Edgar Hastings, July 1863
    Carlisle (PA) Herald, “Behavior of Our Citizens Under Rebel Fire,” July 10, 1863
    Carlisle (PA) Herald, "Gen. Ewel [EWELL] Sends His Card," July 10, 1863
    Abraham Lincoln to George Gordon Meade, July 14, 1863
    Carlisle (PA) American, “What Invasion Has Taught Pennsylvania,” July 15, 1863
    George D. Chenoweth to James W. Marshall, July 15, 1863
    Carlisle (PA) American, “Fitzhugh Lee,” July 22, 1863
    Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, “The Skedaddlers,” July 30, 1863
    Michael Jacobs to Abraham Lincoln, October 24, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    David Wills to Abraham Lincoln, November 2, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    Gettysburg Address (Nicolay Draft), November 19, 1863
    Gettysburg Address (Bancroft Copy), November 19, 1863
    Gettysburg Address (Everett Copy), November 19, 1863
    Gettysburg Address (Bliss Copy), November 19, 1863
    Gettysburg Address (Hay Draft), November 19, 1863
    Edward Everett to Abraham Lincoln, November 20, 1863
    Edward Everett to Abraham Lincoln, November 20, 1863, Washington, D.C.
    How to Cite This Page: "Gettysburg Campaign," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/36577.