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 General Lee and (he Battle of Gettynlumj. 257

more, as well. He thereupon sent to General Ewell, at Carlisle, the following order, found on page 943, Part 3, Volume XXVI I, of the War Records :

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

CHAMBERSBURG, June 28, s86j.

1. icu tenant -( General R. S. Ewe//, Comma nding Corps:

GENERAL, I wrote you last night, stating that General Hooker was reported to have crossed the Potomac, and is advancing by way of Middletown, the head of his column being at that point, in Fretie- rirk county. I directed you in that letter to move your forces to this point. If you have not already progressed on the road, and if you have no good reason against it, I desire you to move in the direction of Gettysburg via Heidlersburg, where you will have a turnpike most of the way, and you can thus join your divisions to Early' s, which is east of the mountains. I think it preferable to keep on the east side of the mountains.

R. E. LEE, General.

I do not think this feature the first order mentioned in the above for Ewell to retire from Carlisle on Chambersburg has ever been noticed by historians. General Ewell, "having no good reason against it," on receipt of this order at once headed the divisions of Rodes and Johnson towards Gettysburg. General Early, at page 467, Part 2, Volume XXVII, War Records, notes the receipt at York, through General Ewell, of a copy of the foregoing order of General Lee, with verbal instructions to move back, and began his march toward Heidlersburg, to join the other divisions at daylight on the 3Oth. On the 28th Hill's Corps, from the vicinity of Cham- bersburg, had stretched out on the road to Gettysburg, and that evening was encamped near the town of Fayetteville, about eight miles east of Chambersburg. General Hill reports that he was directed to co-operate with Ewell, and, "accordingly, on the 29th, moved General Heth's Division to Cashtown, some eight miles from Gettysburg, following on the morning of the 3oth with the division of General Pender." General Longstreet reports that he received orders at Chambersburg on the 2gth to follow Hill and encamp at Greenwood.

Meanwhile the advancing Federals, moving northward more rap- idly under their new commander, General Meade, than anticipated by the Confederate chieftain, had occupied the town of Gettysburg, 17