After remaining in camp here three or four days, we moved on towards Hagerstown, which place we passed through, and encamped a short distance beyond.
By many of the citizens of Hagerstown we were heartily received; others again scowled fiercely upon us, and no doubt wished every rebel son of us to the devil.
On the morning of the 23d of June we left our camp near Hagerstown, and crossed the Pennsylvania line, and passed through Greencastle, where Steuart’s brigade was detached from the division and ordered to proceed to Chambersburg by way of Mercersburg, McConnelsburg, &c., and we arrived on the evening of the 26th without an incident worth mentioning.
After crossing the Pennsylvania line, the most prejudiced observer could not help being struck with the perfect discipline that pervaded the entire army. There was not a single straggler to be seen upon the road, for under no circumstances was a man suffered to leave the ranks, except when at a halt, which was ten minutes in every hour, and then he was limited to one hundred yards from his command. There was no running about the country pillaging and robbing and burning; no defenceless women insulted and outraged, as had been the case hundreds of times in our own country when invaded by the hireling hordes of Yankeedom. Oh, no, the army of Gen. Lee was composed of different material and was commanded by a Christian soldier, who held such hellish acts, and the instigators of them, in abhorrence.
On the morning of the 27th we passed through Chambersburg and took the turnpike to Carlisle, and on the afternoon of the 28th of June the worn and wearied division went into camp a short distance to the right of the road, and about three miles distant from that town. The day had been excessively warm, and our march a long and tedious one, but stimulated with the hope of soon having in our possession the capitol of the great Keystone State, and proud to know we were invading the enemy’s country, not a complaint was heard nor a straggler to be found.
The order to “break ranks” had been obeyed with alacrity; and as the dusk of evening came on hundreds of fires could be seen throughout the woods at which the hungry troops were busily engaged cooking their meat and boiling their coffee. A night of refreshing sleep followed the repast, and at reveille every man was promptly at his post, and prepared, nay impatient, to resume the march to Harrisburg, which town we cherished the fond hope of reaching that day.
But hour after hour sped by and no order to “pack up” was given. What could it mean? For days we had taken up the line of march at sunrise. Twelve o’clock, and no order. One, two, three o’clock, and an aid was observed to dash up to brigade headquarters, and in a few minutes the welcome command to “fall in” was heard throughout the vast encampment.
All was bustle and excitement, and many were the speculations indulged in by both officers and men, as the companies formed, as to the cause of our delay and our probable destination that day.
“It is my impression,” observed one, “we will go no farther than Carlisle, where Rhodes is encamped, join him, and make the attack upon Crouch’s forces about midday to-morrow.”
“There is where you are mistaken,” was the reply of a comrade. “You see the different corps and divisions have been marching on converging roads. Well, we are almost up with Rhodes, and our delay of a day was evidently occasioned by Ewell’s being ahead of time. Now mark me, we will make a forced march to-night and begin the attack at daybreak in the morning. General Lee can spare no more time, in my humble opinion. Already he has lost too much, and the next thing we know, Hooker will be at our heels, and between him and Crouch we will have a devil of a hot time of it.”