Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/131

 The Battle of Gettysburg li!l

pitched near the road, for a night halt. He called me to where he was seated, and unfolding a map of Pennsylvania, asked me about tin- topography of the country east of the South Mountain in Adams county and around Gettysburg. He said with a smile, " as a civil engi- neer you may know more about it than any of us." After my des- cription of the country and saying that "almost every square mile contained good positions for battle or skillful maneuvering," he re- marked (and I think I repeat his words nearly verbatim) " Our army is in good spirits, not over fatigued, and can be concentrated on any one point in twenty-four hours or less. I have not yet heard that the enemy have crossed the Potomac, and am waiting to hear from Gen- eral Stuart. When they hear where we are they will make forced marches to interpose their forces between us and Baltimore and Philadelphia. They will come up, probably through Frederick; broken down with hunger and hard marching, strung out on a long line and much demoralized, when they come into Pennsylvania. I shall throw an overwhelming force on their advance, crush it, follow up the success, drive one corps back on another, and by successive repulses and surprises before they can concentrate; create a panic and virtually destroy the army."

When asked my opinion, I said the plan ought to be successful, as I never knew our men to be in finer spirits in any campaign. He said: "That is, I hear, the general impression."

At the conclusion of our interview, he laid his hand on the map, over Gettysburg, and said hereabout we shall probably meet the enemy and fight a great battle, and if God gives us the victory, the war will be over and we shall achieve the recognition of our inde- pendence. He concluded by saying General Swell's forces are by this time in Harrisburg; if not, go and join him, and help to take the place.

June 28th, Sunday. Reached Carlisle. General Early had been sent to York, but no force against Harrisburg. Told General Ewell it could easily be taken, and I thought General Lee expected it. I volunteered to capture the place with one brigade, and it was ar- ranged we should start before day Tuesday morning. That night, Tuesday, General Ewell received by courier from General Lee a with an order to cross at once the South Mountain, " and march to Cashtown or Gettysburg, according to circumstances." These were the \\-ords.
 * tch that the enemy had crossed the Potomac 26th and 27th

Tuesday, June 3Oth. Ewell started from Carlisle with Rodes'