GENERAL IMBODEN IN CHAMBERSBURG.

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man dashed up and handed Jenkins an envelope. Hastily opening it, he said, "Mr. Hiteshew, the Army of the Potomac is at Gettysburg now." The order to mount was quickly given, and in a short time the whole command was en route for the scenes of strife, where, during that same afternoon, Jenkins received a slight wound by a piece of a shell grazing the top of his head..

The withdrawal of Rodes and Johnson from the valley left it open to an advance of the Emergency men, congregated at Harrisburg, upon Lee's communications, and the cavalry brigades of Generals W. E. Jones and Beverly Robertson were left to prevent this. General Imboden was also ordered from Mercersburg to Chambersburg to relieve Pickett, who was to proceed to Gettysburg. About four o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, July 1st, Imboden's force entered Chambersburg, and shortly afterward an official requisition was made upon the citizens for a large amount of provisions, among which were five thousand pounds of bacon. As the people were utterly unable to comply with this new demand, the Confederates became indignant and threatened to break open every store and house and institute a vigorous search. The consternation produced by these men exceeded any the people had suffered up to that time during the war, and had not some sudden emergency called them away scenes of violence would doubtless have taken place. In the midst of their threats, and when squads were already going in different directions to execute them, to the people's great relief they quickly withdrew from the town and proceeded out toward Gettysburg. The cause of their sudden departure has been given by General Imboden himself in

an article contributed to the Galaxy of April, 1871, which is as follows: "That night (Wednesday, July 1st,) I received a brief note from General Lee, expressing the apprehension that we were in danger of being cut off from communication with him by the Union cavalry, and directing us to move next morning as far as South Mountain on the road to Gettysburg, and keep it open for Generals William E. Jones and Beverly Robertson, whose brigades of cavalry were in the direction of Shippensburg." Evidently the points where danger to the communication between Chambersburg and Gettysburg was apprehended, were at Greenwood and Newman's Pass, near the top of the mountain, where roads from down the valley intersected the pike. At these places a comparatively small force could have effectually prevented the passage of troops, and Imboden at once moved out to these points and remained there until Pickett's division passed on the ensuing day-Thursday- and the cavalry brigades of Jones and Robertson, just before midnight, after which he followed on to Gettysburg. The two named brigades of cavalry-Robertson in advance-were the last of the Confederate army which passed through Chambersburg to Gettysburg.

Having given an account of the concentration of Lee's army we turn our attention to the front and notice an event which transpired there on this day-June 30th. About half past nine o'clock in the morning a detachment from Heth's division under General Pettigrew left their encampment at Cashtown and advanced upon a reconnoisance to within about one mile of Gettysburg. They had with them a number of wagons, and it was supposed

POSITION OF THE CONFEDERATES, JUNE 30TH. 233

that they intended to enter Gettysburg and fill these wagons with plunder. Approaching the town, this detachment halted, and after a careful observation by the officers, through their field-glasses, they withdrew and encamped at Marsh Creek.

As we are now upon the eve of the first day's battle, it is important that the reader have a correct knowledge of the position of the various corps and divisions of the Confederate army at the close of this day. The following statement will give this information: the divisions of Heth and Pender of Hill's corps were at Marsh Creek, four miles west of Gettysburg; Anderson's division of the same corps was at Cashtown, four miles further west. The divisions of McLaws and Hood, of Longstreet's corps were about Fayetteville and Greenwood, and Pickett of the same corps, near Chambersburg. Early and Rodes of Ewell's corps were at Heidlersburg, ten miles north of Gettysburg, and Johnson of the same corps was at Greenwood, sixteen miles west of the last-named place. Jenkins' cavaly was below Carlisle; the brigades of Jones and Robertson, about Shippensburg; Imboden's at Mercersburg, and Stuart was somewhere north-west of York.

Leaving these troops to rest during this eventful night, we will next turn our attention to the Federal army.

CHAPTER V.

THE ADVANCE OF THE FEDERAL ARMY.

N a previous chapter, the daily movements of the Army of the Potomac from June 11th, when it left its encampment about Falmouth and started northward to checkmate Lee, until Sunday, 21st, when it had reached Fairfax, Centerville, and Leesburg, were given. Upon that day the different corps of that army were so posted that all the approaches to Washington south of the Potomac were completely covered. Besides this the gaps of the Blue Ridge were so strongly held that Lee was shut in the valley, and could cross the Potomac only to the west of the mountain instead of to the east, as originally intended. And now, having traced out the lines of march of each corps and division of the Confederate army in its northward movement, up to the evening of Tuesday, June 30th,-the night previous to the first day's engagement at Gettysburg, I will resume the daily record of the movements of the Federal army from the point where I left off until I shall have brought it face to face with its foe.

The paramount purpose of General Hooker was to secure the safety of the National Capital, and to effect this he was not to be diverted either by the strategy of Lee or the clamors of the people. In accordance with this purpose he tarried in the position he had taken, covering