Gettysburg Campaign

On
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/index.php/node/36577.