July 20. 1863

 

I avail myself of the 1^st opportunity to continue the detailed report of the operations of my command up to the present time.

 

On the 4^th of July, the day following the date of my previous report in obedience to Gen^l Smith's orders, I moved my command, which in conjunction with the other Brigades of the Division, took up the line of march for Mount Holly Gap on South Mountain 7 miles south east from Carlisle. One of my Regiments—the 30^th P.V.M. under Col Momes having on the 3^d been sent back to Mechanicsburg, did not accompany us & it has not since that time been with my command.

 

Receiving orders from the Gen^l cmd I turned off, about noon, to the right, & took the road to Pine Grove iron works, situated about 16 miles from Carlisle, where we arrived late in the day. That part of the march extending from Mt Holly Gap to Pine Grove was performed under a drenching rain over a difficult mountain road, but, though one of great severity to new men, just drawn from civil life & but a few days in the ranks, it was cheerfully borne & the brigade brought up in good order.

 

Through the kindness & munificent hospitality of Mr W^m Watts, the proprietor of Pine Grove iron works, my command, as well as the other Brigades, was refreshed, & on the next day I ascended another of the South Mountain ranges, my course bearing towards Gettysburg, but I was halted near the top of the mountain & finally, under orders, I returned to Pine Grove for encampment that night. On the morning of the 6^th I took a rough mountain road, leading off a short distance from Pine Grove, on the right from the road we had followed the day before, in the direction of Newman's Gap where we arrived at dusk. Abundant traces of the enemy's having passed existed here, & from information gathered / it appeared that Ewell's corps had hastily retreated through the Gap towards Chambersburg & had passed but a few hours before our arrival. I there encamped & the next day moved to Mount Alto near Funkstown. The following day—the 8^th—I marched to Waynes Borough [blank] miles distant & was encamped for four 4 days about two miles to the south west of the town. While at WaynesBorough I had five companies of the Blue Reserve Regiment picketed in the direction of Hagerstown & also posted pickets on the pike leading to Greencastle. On Saturday the 11^th with a portion of my command—the 28^th & 32^d (Grey Reserve) Regiments I made reconnaissance 6 miles out upon the Hagerstown mud road & destroyed a large quantity of grain at Layman's Mills, which was being ground for the Rebels.

 

            On Monday the 13^th, having been ordered by Gen^l Smith to report to the Gen^l in command at Hagerstown in Maryland, I marched my Brigade to that place arriving about 4 O'clock PM & reported to Gen^l Kilpatrick who was at the time in command.

 

            Gen^l Kilpatrick requested that I should furnish him immediately with five hundred men to aid in a reconnaissance which he desired to make upon the right of the town, which formed the extreme right of the line occupied by the Union forces under Gen^l Meade & the enemy's extreme left. I immediately detailed the Blue Reserve Regiment & in less than an hour after Gen^l Kilpatrick met the Brigade on its entrance into town & assigned my position for encampment, the Regiment was advancing under him towards the enemy's entrenchments. 

 

            During the skirmish which ensued ten of the Regiment were wounded—in one case mortally. When the object of the reconnaissance had been obtained by Gen^l Kilpatrick he ordered the Regiment to be called in about 8 O'clock PM & he especially commended to me the bravery exhibited by the officers & men. In compliance with his request that I should furnish him with another force for picket duty, I detailed the 28^th Reg^t P.V.M. for that purpose. No skirmishing was had between them & the enemy & in the morning it was discovered that the latter had retired from our front. Since then I have remained stationary with my command at this place. On the [blank] I was appointed by Gen^l Smith Military Governor of Hagerstown. I have since been constantly employed in the discharge of the functions of that office in addition to the exercise of the proper command of my Brigade. A portion of one of my Regts I employ in Provost duty in the town.

 

In detailing the history of the operations of my command thus far I beg leave to add as a just testimonial from me that I have every reason to feel gratified at the state of efficiency & discipline which it has ever displayed & the high tone of spirit by which it has been distinguished since my connection with it. These qualities have been particularly brought to view during the toilsome marches it has undergone among the mountains in weather of constant inclemency; with its commissariat deficient, with utter lack of transportation, following the enemy through a country which had been stripped by them of every means of subsistence. It is in no invidious spirit I submit that notwithstanding the pressure of all these difficulties the march of no other Brigade in the division has been characterized by as little straggling, nor more cheerfully borne, nor conducted in better order than that of the one which I have the honor to command. 

 

Immediately after passing Mount Holly Gap I was informed by some of our advanced Cavalry scouts that a flag of truce from the enemy accompanying some (words) 2000 Union prisoners whom they had taken at Gettysburg & paroled, was approaching us about a mile out. My Brigade being in the advance I halted the column & gave instructions that the flag should not be permitted to come nearer so as to [?] the escort bearing it an observation of our force. The Gen^l commanding the division arriving in the mean time, I reported to him the orders which had been given by me & they met with his approval.

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