Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/69

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his army across the Susquehannah and puts our army on the defensive on that line, you will readily comprehend the disastrous results that must follow to the country."

Secretary E. M. Stanton to General Dana in command at Phila- delphia, dated \Var Department, June 2gth (408): "It is very im- portant that machinery for manufacturing arms should not foil into tin- hands of the enemy, and that it should be preserved for the use of the government. In case of imminent danger to the works of Alfred jenks & Son, of Philadelphia, who is manufacturing arms for the government, you are authorized and directed to impress steam tugs, barges or any description of vessels to remove the gun- maiuifacturing machines beyond the reach of the enemy."

These extracts indicate what the highest officials of the United States Government thought were some of the possibilities before General Lee, and also that Harrisburg would not have attempted to resist an attack by Ewell. It is presumed that General Lee knew something of these conditions, for he had always heretofore kept himself well-informed in regard to the conditions he had to en- counter. He must have known something of the quality of the militia, for Early' s cavalry had come upon a full regiment of this militia at Gettysburg, which had dispersed so quickly that Jenk- ins could not get in sight of it. York had been abandoned by the military, and the municipal officers met Early several miles from the city to treat for its surrender. Again, at Wrightsville, 1,200 militia had retreated across the bridge and set fire to it, before Gordon could get his brigade in position to attack. General Early writes (p. 467): "I regretted very much the failure to secure the bridge, as, finding the defenseless condition of the country generally, and the little obstacle likely to be afforded by the militia to our pro- gress, I had determined, if I could get possession of the Columbia bridge, to cross my division over the Susquehannah."

EWELL'S POSSIBILITIES.

General Ewell reached Carlisle on the 27th, and writes (p. 443) : "From Carlisle I sent forward my engineer, Captain H. B. Rich- ardson, with Jenkins' cavalry, to reconnoitre the defences of Harris- burg and was starting on the 29th for that place, when ordered by the General commanding to join the main body of the army at Cashtown, near Gettysburg. General Rodes writes (p. 552): "On the arrival at Carlisle, Jenkins' cavalry advanced towards Harrisburg