Emmitsburg in the Civil War

Cavalry Operations of Emmitsburg 1863

John Allen Miller

On June 15, 1863 one of the biggest cavalry battles of the Civil War occurred in Virginia at a cross road named Brandy Station. This was where the Confederate Cavalry's reputation as being invincible began to crumble. The Federal soldiers were beginning to out perform General Jeb Stuart's cavalry. The Federal Cavalry had younger boys in the saddle who were not afraid of battle and the old commanders were being replaced by newer ones who could do the job. Compared to the Confederates the Federals had the advantage of more fire power. Typical Confederate guns were shot guns or sawed off Enfield, which held fewer rounds, verses the Federal Sharps Carbines. As the battles occurred in the Shenandoah Valley, the main Confederate Army was making its way into the North for its second invasion known as the Gettysburg Campaign.

The last days of June were crucial to both armies. General Hooker, the commander of the Army of the Potomac was relieved of command and General George Meade stepped in. The Federal position at this time was located about 35 miles south in Frederick, Maryland. Confederate James Longstreet was informed that the Federal Army was not in Virginia but in Maryland. The Confederate Cavalry kept the Federal Cavalry engaged, while General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was crossing the Potomac River near Hagerstown, Maryland. At this time the Federal Army could not pinpoint General Lee's location, he had used the Catoctin and South Mountains as cover. During the last days of June, the Confederate Army moved about 50 miles into south-central Pennsylvania reaching from Chambersburg. Parts of the southern army made their way to York even as far as the Susquehanna River outside of Harrisburg.

While, General JEB Stuart remained in Maryland, the Confederate Cavalry crossed the Potomac River near Seneca Mills outside of Urbana, Maryland. General Stuart had orders from General Lee to scout the Federal positions and report back as soon as possible. In Rockville, Maryland General JEB Stuart captured a wagon train from the Federal Cavalry. General Stuart was slowed by his prizes, which he lost in the skirmishes that took place in the next few days. On June 28th, General JEB Stuart was in Westminster, Maryland where he engaged in his second major fight while in Maryland. Subsequently JEB Stuart made his way through Union Mills where he camped on the night of the 29th. 

Two weeks earlier on June 15 a major fire had started in the town of Emmitsburg, destroying about three of the four blocks. More than fifty homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Some speculation and rumors stated that it was set on fire by parts of the Confederate Army or by some southern sympathizers. The fire was started in the loft of the Beam and Guthrie Stable around eleven o' clock on a Monday night. The fire then spread eastward up along Main Street, involving the North East, North West and South East blocks around the old water hole. 

As the Union Army received its orders to march onward toward Gettysburg, General Alfred Pleasonton issued his orders to the Army of the Potomac's Cavalry Divisions.  The orders are as follow:

"Special Orders, Headquarters Cavalry Corps, Numbers 99. June 29, 1863.

I. The First Cavalry Division will move immediately on the receipt of this order as follows: Two brigades and a battery by the way of Peaksville [Beallsville?], Weedsville [Wolfsville?], and Chewsville, to Emmitsburg, and from thence to Gettysburg by tomorrow night; one brigade and battery with trains to march, by way of Frederick City, Adamsville, Lewistown, and Catoctin Furnace, to Mechanicstown, where it will encamp for the night, protecting the rear, and bring up all stragglers. Headquarters tomorrow night at Middleburg. A staff officer will be sent to headquarters to-morrow night for orders from the headquarters of the division, which will move with the two brigades to Gettysburg. A staff officer will also be sent tomorrow night from the brigade at Mechanicstown to headquarters Cavalry Corps at Middleburg, for orders. The left of the infantry corps will rest to-morrow night at Emmitsburg. The two brigades at Gettysburg will cover and protect the front, and communicate all information of the enemy rapidly and surely. The Third Cavalry Division will be to-morrow at Littlestown.

II. The Third Cavalry Division, commanded by General Kilpatrick, will move by 8 o'clock this morning as follows: First Brigade and a battery, Brigadier-General Farnsworth, will move, by way of Woodsborough, Bruceville, and Taneytown, to Littlestown. Second Brigade and a battery, Brigadier-General Custer, will move by Utica, Creagerstown, and Graceham, to Emmitsburg; from thence to Littlestown. The trains of this division will move with the First Brigade, and will encamp near headquarters of the corps, at Middleburg. A staff officer will be sent by the commander of this division to the headquarters of the corps at Middleburg to-morrow night, for orders.

III. The Second Cavalry Division, Brigadier-General Gregg, will move to-morrow as follows: Two brigades and a battery from Ridgeville, by the way of Carter's, to Westminster, where they will encamp to-morrow night; one brigade and battery from Frederick City, by the way of Liberty and Unionville, to New Windsor, where it will encamp for the night. The trains of this command, on arriving at Liberty, will be sent to encamp near headquarters Cavalry Corps at Middleburg. A staff officer will be sent to-morrow night by General Gregg to headquarters at Middleburg, for orders. He should arrive at 7 p. m. This command protects the left flank and front, connecting with the Third Cavalry Division at Littlestown.

IV. Captain J. M. Robertson will move with the three batteries of his brigade to Middleburg, where he will encamp for the night. He will report in person to these headquarters at Middleburg, upon arrival. He will commence moving at 8 a. m.

By command of Major-General Pleasonton: A. J. Alexander, Chief of Staff, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

As the Confederate troops reached toward Gettysburg, skirmishes developed around Emmitsburg at Fountaindale, PA. where on June 28th, parts of Albert Jenkins Cavalry ran into Cole's Cavalry. On June 30th, eight miles north of Emmitsburg, about 3,000 Confederates skirmished with parts of Buford's Union cavalry at Fairfield PA. This skirmish did not last long, as the patrols broke off the engagement with the Confederates to retreat to the main position of General Burford. General Buford entered Emmitsburg around nine o'clock in the evening. 

General George Meade, who was commanding the Federal forces, developed a plan in the event General Lee's Confederates came from the cross roads of those little towns that dotted the PA country side. The Pipe Creek Line was a defensive line about twenty miles long that stretched from Middleburg, Maryland to Union Mills, Maryland. The Pipe Creek Line was about twenty miles long. The Pipe Creek Line was the reason that Federal troops raced to Gettysburg on such a short notice. On June 30th, Taneytown was the headquarters for General Meade as Emmitsburg began to take on the role as a supply base for the Union Troops. The Pipe Creek Line was formed because General Meade thought the Confederate Army might try to invade Baltimore or Washington from the North, and because it provided several tactical advantages. The higher grounds offered a natural barrier and also provided vantage points for lookout posts and signal stations. The roads that ran through the region that would move the troops toward Gettysburg on July 1st were almost parallel to the Pipe Creek.

 During the evening hours of June 30th, Oliver Howard, commander of the Army of the Potomac 11th Corps, made his way from Mount Saint Mary's College to see General Reynolds. During the evening, Howard thought that the General appeared preoccupied. While at the Moritz Tavern General Reynolds wrote an analysis to General Meade proposing that if the enemy advances in force from Gettysburg, and a defensive battle must be fought. The strategy reasoned in the vicinity the best position to be held would be just north of the town of Emmitsburg. General Lee would undoubtedly endeavor to maneuver the western wing by Fairfield and the mountain roads near Mt. Saint Mary's College. The First Corps was encamped close to Gettysburg when the sounds of cannon and gun fire broke through the morning hours of July 1st. General Reynolds was first on the scene around 10:00 a.m. to reinforce General Buford. Shortly after 10:30am General Reynolds gave the orders to his men, suddenly the general fell dead on the battlefield killed by a sharp shooter's gun.  

General Sickles Third Corps marched through Emmitsburg between two and three o'clock that afternoon.  Emmitsburg was now holding troops in reserve for Western Wing of the Army of the Potomac. The town of Emmitsburg was critical to the war efforts. General Meade sent a dispatch to General Sickles and told him to hold Emmitsburg in case of a break through which would have Emmitsburg acting as a road block. General Sickles was subsequently ordered to leave Emmitsburg to rejoin the Army of the Potomac that was heavily engaged at Gettysburg.

On July, 4th General Kilpatrick came into Emmitsburg in search of any rebels.  With him was a young, dashing general, dressed in black velvet with a red scarf around his neck. This young man was of General George Armstrong Custer. He was only 24 when he was promoted to Brigadier General in Frederick only a few days' prior. At Emmitsburg, General Kilpatrick learned of the retreating wagon train upon Jack's Mountain. A midnight battle at Monterey proved to be quite an action according to General Custer.

On the morning of July 5th, General JEB Stuart made his way from the fields of Gettysburg to Emmitsburg. There was a sharp skirmish fought in the town's square as seventy Union men and their Captain were taken prisoners. General Stuart stopped long enough to study maps and feed and water the horses. Supplies were also taken for the wounded Confederates who fought at Gettysburg. At this time JEB Stuart learned that the action of Monterey Gap happened only a few hours prior to him entering Emmitsburg. The route he wanted to take had been closed since General Kilpatrick's men rode out of Emmitsburg to attack the retreating wagon train. Another detour was needed. 

General JEB Stuart mounted up and rode toward Old Frederick Road. This led him and his men to the town of Cooperstown, (Creagarstown as its known today). The Confederate Cavalry divided the column and some wound up in Graceham. Mr. Cramer a resident of Graceham did not have time to hide his horses and the black powder that he kept in his store. Outside of his store troopers and their mounts were thirsty. A girl, Belva Anne Elizabeth Cramer, pumped the water for the horses and men. Tears started to roll down her face as she pumped. A trooper told her ""Don't cry little girl. We're dirty and ragged, but we are all gentlemen and we will not hurt you."" The trooper did not know that Belva had a bad tooth, and pumping the water from the well made the pain worse.

Accounts from the Ladies of Mt. Carmel and George Wireman indicate, that sometime on July 5th, General JEB Stuart made his way from Cooperstown to Mechanicstown. A priest was giving a sermon while the Confederate Cavalry was making its way through the town. As the priest boarded his buggy, General JEB Stuart came along and escorted the priest to Mount Saint Mary's. General JEB Stuart demanded supplies or else he would burn the school down. The priest and JEB Stuart became such good friends that Mount Saint Mary's was spared from the torch. General Stuart even escorted the priest to his sanction.

Emmitsburg became a landmark for those in blue since other roads in poor condition could not handle the huge army. Poor conditions and detours caused the armies to split up their columns in pursuit of General Lee. On July 7th, General Meade himself came to Emmitsburg and was received with much enthusiasm. Many of the townspeople thanked the General for all he did in protecting the town from the Confederates. Members of the Fifth Corps came through Emmitsburg on their way to Utica. By now the last of the Federal soldiers were passing through Emmitsburg. Frederick and Washington Counties became one major battlefield. There are reports of numerous engagements from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Falling Waters, West Virginia. The worst of the war was now gone from these little communities and the rebuilding could begin.

Read other civil war articles by John Miller

Read Mike Hillman's Account of the Emmitsburg role in the Battle of Gettysburg