Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1904-03-10
Just Before GETTYSBURG.

An article which appeared in the
PUBLIC Ledger, and signed by II. c.
Potter at the cavalry engagement al
Hanover, Pa, June 80, 1863, deserves
attention. The facts which governed
the legislative committee of appropri
atoms concerning this battle are
found in volume 81 parts | and H.
war OF Rebellion series, published by
the government. These volumes con.
tain the official reports of the battle,
sent to their superior commanders by
Maj. Gen. Fitzpatrick, on the Union
side, and Maj. Gen. ]. E. B. Stuart,
on the Confederate side. These OFF,
cial reports and those of Gems. Gus
ter and Richmond, each Of whom com.
manded a brigade on the Union side,
and Gems. Chambliss and Fitzhugh
Lee. on the Confederate side, are the
evidences of what took place in Han
over, June 80, 1868, the day before the
battle of Gettysburg opened.
The Union loss, according to these
reports, was ten killed sixty-two
wounded and about 100 captured. Gen.
Fitzpatrick states in his report that
he had 1000 men under his command
of two brigades, each having one bat
terry. Brig. Gen. Pennington, now of
the regular army, commanded the bat
terry belonging to Clusters brigade OF
Michigan cavalry. Farnsworth's
brigade, afterward commanded by
Richmond had also battery of six
guns, in charge of Capt. Elder. Ac-
cording to their own reports, six OF
these guns were planted on the
heights, 200 yards north of Hanover,
and played on the Confederate bat
teries, south of the town for two
hours. Gen. Stuart does not give an
official statement of his loss in this
battle, but Gen. Payne, now residing
in Virginia, told me year ago that
their loss in killed and wounded was
not less than 100 officers and men.
Adjt. Gall of the Fifth New York
cavalry was among the killed. Gen.
Payne, mentioned above, then com
manded the Second North Carolina
regiment, known as the Black Horse
cavalry"
According to his own statement he
was captured while leading a second
charge into the town against Farms
worth's brigade. He was taken as a
prisoner of war to the Headquarters
of Gems. Fitzpatrick and Custer, in
hotel Center Square, Hanover. After
the enemy made the first charge into
the town they held it for one hour,
and were driven out by the commands
under Farnsworth and Custer. When
the fight opened Fitzpatrick. com.
mander of the Union forces, was at
the head of his division, six miles
northeast of Hanover, at Abbotts-
town. When he heard the roar of
the guns, he ordered the whole line,
six miles in length, to countermarch
to the scene of the action. He, him
self, rode across the fields. his horse
jumping the fences, until he arrived
at the edge of the town These are
facts stated by the general himself in
an address delivered to the citizens
Of Hanover shortly before his death.
Gen. Stuart commanded the entire
cavalry corps of the Army of North
ern Virginia, under Gen. Robert E.
Lee. Two-thirds of this force was at
Hanover on June 30, 1863, according
% his own statement, written a few
weeks later. The fighting on the part
Of the Confederates was done by Gen.
Jhambliss' brigade and the brigade
by Fitzhugh Lee. Gen.
Wade Hampton. who brought up the
ear of Stuarts forces at the time OF
he battle of Hanover, was guarding
! train of 100 baggage wagons. which
lad been captured short distance
northwest of Washington a few days
before. He did not participate in the
Engagement at Hanover, but arrived
ust after it had ended. Capt. Cable,
low living in Virginia, was then an
tide on Gen. Stuart's staff He states
hat he was seriously wounded by a
aber cut over the left shoulder. while
eading a charge when the battle be-
an. At the same instant several Con.
ederates We're Killed They were
uried near the spot where they fell,
nj their remains. in 1866, were re
moved by their friends to their for
ler homes in the South
At this time, June 30. 1863. Gen.
tuart was cut loose from communi. (
alton with the Army of Northern
'irginia. under Gen. Lee In order I
, protect his wagon train and his .
lounted men, he made a tour through !
efferson and New Salem. When he I
rrived within siabt of York he heard 4
nat Gen. Early's division. with Q 600 .
zen of Ewells corps. had fallen back
'om York toward Shippensburg. He
roceeded northward with his three
rlgades to Dover, seven miles north.
est of York Here on July | the
ay the battle Of Gettysburg began. he
aroled 40 Union prisoners whom he
ad recently captured az Hanover and
cinitv Il was at this point that
OIL Venable Of Cen Robert T.. Lees
aft attempted 10 reach Stuart at
over and order him to move toward
ettyshurg. but he was unable TO pass
rough Kllpatrick's line. which was a
w miles 60 the west Stuart was
i'll unconscious of the whereabouts
the remaining part OF the Army of
Virginia He proceeded
Drthward through Dillsburg to Car
sic, where his advance under Fitz.
Ugh Lee, shelled that town and
lrned the government barracks
ere. Meantime the battle of Get.