Evening star., 1938-06-28
----- 75 Years Ago Today --
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
Confederate Army Menaces Key Cities of North

This Is the first In q sertes OF
sepen daily dispatches from the
front" telling the etory ot the bat
tie OF Gettysbnro a. II the CoRted-
crate and Union Armies pere drdsp-
ing together noso instead .of rs
years ago today. The Correspond
ent" 10 editor Of the Richmond
Netos Leader, author Of the PuHt-
ser-prise biography "R. =. Lee"
and an expert on military tactics.
The story Is rounded out BY "bulle-
tins" from Northern headQuarters.
BY DIR. DOUGLAS s. FREEMAN.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NOR
THERN VIRGINIA, CHAMBERS
BURG, Pa. June 20, 1863 q pm)-
Lees reorganized divisions, even strong
er and more confident than after their
triumph at Chancellorsville, are now
on the soil Of Pennsylvania and are
determined to remain in the enemy s
country until they win = decisive VIC
tory. or, at the least, until they have
insured Virginia against further in
vasion this year
Army headquarters are in a grove.
known As Skaters Woods, on the road
from Chambersburg to Gettysburg.
Gen. Lee is there in person and is
directing operations. The veteraN lst
Corps Of the Army, under 1t. Gen.
James Longstreet, Is encamped close
by. Under 1t. Gen. A. P. Hill. the new
Sd Corps Of the Confederates Is in
supporting distance.
Gen. Lee has issued the most
stringent orders for the protection Of
private property and has posted guards
on all the roads that lead into Cham
bersburg. No ofiicer below the rank of
general is permitted to enter Cham
bersburg otherwise than on pass
signed by Lee himself. In order that
the non-c -combatants may not be dis
turbed In their homes. the general Is
refusing to issue passes.
Lee Would Divide the North.
The I'd Corps of the army, which
"stonewall" Jackson led in the great
hank movement at Charlottesville,
preceded Longstreet and Hill into
Pennsylvania and now Is we'll in ad-
vance of the main force. Utmost
secrecy concerning the movements Of
this corps is preserved. Couriers ar
riving from its commander, 1t. Gen.
r. s. Ewell, are conducted directly to
Gen. Lees headquarters and are for
hidden to talk.
The belief prevails in the army that
Ewell Is moving northward IN two
columns and that his objective is Har-
risburg.
Oficers who know something Of
the plans of the commanding gen.
eral predict that Ewell will reach Har-
risburg and will cut railway commune
cations across the Susquehanna be-
tween the east and west. As the B.
Il o. Railroad already is within -ee's
lines and Is severed. Confederate Of
ncers are hopeful that this bold move
into the "enemys country" will isolate
the east and will prevent the dis
patch Of reinforcements from the
west.
Lee TO Turn East.
The assumption Is that after Ewell
takes Harrisburg. Lee will turn east
and will march on Baltimore or on
Capture Of those cities
will force the evacuation Of Washing
ton and will strengthen the peace
party in the north, which Is anxious
to end this fratricidal war.
The boldness Of Gen. Lees inva-
sion Of Pennsylvania is we'll illustrated
by the admitted fact that he has
his communications with
Virginia. He is not even attempting
to bring supplies down the Shenan-
doah Valley and northward to his
army by way. of Williamsport and
He is living of the
Confederate quartermasters
and commissaries are sending armed
squads to all the farms, mills and
stores around Chambersburg. and are
ouy1ng supplies Tor which they Oner
to pay in Confederate money. If this
is refused. officers take what
they require for the troops and Is
sue receipts.
Where Is Jeb Stuart?
While. the utmost confidence pre-
walls at the headquarters of an army
which manifestly believes itself in
there is evidence of some
over the continued absence Of
the cavalry corps. Gen. "Jeb" Stuart
was detached before the Army of
Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac
and was given the discretion usually
allowed him by Gen. Lee. Presumably,
Gen. Stuart rode around the rear of
the Army of the Potomac and inter-
posed his seasoned brigades between
Gen. Hooker's forces and Washington.
So great Is the army's faith in Gen.
Stuart that all Confederates insist he
is performing valuable service and may
already be on the fiank of Gen. Ewell's
columns. but there Is no
denying the fact that the absence Of
Stuart Is depriving Gen. Lee of much