During my
research on the history of our farm and the lands and
families surrounding it, I stumbled across Emile and
Mary Nakhleh's book, EMMITSBURG: HISTORY AND SOCIETY.
The Nakhleh's book is a highly detailed account of the
history of Emmitsburg. In the seven years I have lived
here, I had never heard the stories written in this
fascinating collage of Emmitsburg's rich history. In
every American history class, the Battle of Gettysburg
is portrayed as a high water mark for the Confederacy;
however, little if anything is ever said, nor do I think
many of our newer residents know, of the pivotal role
Emmitsburg played in that historic battle.
As we sit in our yards listening to
the sounds of cannons booming, troops clashing, and the
poignant refrain of bugles calling the troops to battle
during the annual re-enactment of the Battle of
Gettysburg, I believe it is important to remember our
role in this battle. To this end, I would like to share
with you excerpts of key sections from EMMITSBURG:
HISTORY AND SOCIETY and James A. Helman's: HISTORY OF
EMMITSBURG, as well as other information that I have
collected through interviews and research which deal
with Emmitsburg and its role in the Battle of
Gettysburg.
While comparatively little actual
fighting occurred around Emmitsburg during the Civil
War, Emmitsburg was always on the perimeter of the
battlefields: first Antietam, then Gettysburg and
finally Monocacy. The town often saw cavalrymen from
both armies scouting their opponents or in pursuit of
foes they knew had passed through or were encamped
nearby.
Stuart's Confederates passed through
Emmitsburg on Oct 11, 1862 on their way back to Virginia
from the their raid on Chambersburg, following the
battle of Antietam. According to reports fielded by
Stuart, his troops were hailed by the residents of
Emmitsburg with enthusiastic demonstrations of joy.
Emmitsburg’s first encounter with troops in large
numbers occurred just before the Battle of Gettysburg
when as many as 25,000 troops were either stationed in
or around the town.
The town’s first real taste of the
effect of war occurred on June 15, 1863, two weeks
before the Battle of Gettysburg, when a nighttime fire
destroyed most of the town's center. Folklore has it
that 'The Great Fire,' as it was known, was started by a
Union sympathizer to prevent advancing Confederate
forces from drawing upon supplies in the town. The fire
began at 11:00 PM in the town’s livery stable and was
not brought under control until 7:00 the next morning.
In all, fifty houses were destroyed. According to James
Helman, people for miles around Emmitsburg heard the
church bells ring for help but feared to come into town
as they thought the Rebel army had fired it, as they had
Chambersburg a few days earlier.
Originally it was Lee's intention
that the invasion of Pennsylvania should be staged
partly through Emmitsburg. On June 28, 1863, there was
scattered fighting at Fountain Dale, about seven miles
west of Emmitsburg. In his official journal, Confederate
Col. John Mosby noted that this encounter was between
his and General Buford's Union Cavalry.
After this short
engagement, Buford withdrew through Emmitsburg towards
Gettysburg. While in Emmitsburg, Buford reported on the
results of his scouting expedition to General Reynolds',
who had set up Union headquarters in Emmitsburg. Up
until he moved to Gettysburg on July 1st, Reynolds's
directed Union efforts from Emmitsburg’s Lutheran
parsonage, St. Joseph's Rectory, and the present funeral
home.
In the book, THE STORY OF THE
MOUNTAIN, a contributor noted that "The Army of the
Potomac was truly a beautiful sight" and describes
as grand but horrible the passing of "the wagons,
ambulances, cannons, etc, which were coming early dawn
till nightfall. ... They camped around Emmitsburg. Their
campfires, as viewed from the college windows, almost
led one to imagine that this section for miles had
received in one shower all the stars of the
heavens."
The Union believed Lee's invasion of
Pennsylvania was a feint and that his true goals were
Washington and Baltimore, upon which he must descend
from Pennsylvania, passing, of course, through
Emmitsburg. However, it was crushing the Union Army, not
capturing Washington and Baltimore, that was Lee's true
goals. Lee's plan of operation was to fall upon the
advance of the Union Army, when and wherever he found
it, crush, and hurl it back on the main body, press
forward and beat that before its Commander could have
time to concentrate his whole force.
Emmitsburg might well have been the
site of this impending battle. When Lee learned of the
approach of the Union forces from the south, he
concentrated on attacking them from the north. As fate
would have it, it was General Reynolds, in Emmitsburg,
who formed that advance of the Union army, which Lee
wanted to crush, with the rest of Meade's army scattered
far behind him.
Reynolds wrote to Meade on the 30th:
"I think if the enemy advances in force from
Gettysburg, and we are to fight a defensive battle in
this vicinity, that the position to be occupied is just
north of the town of Emmitsburg. Lee will undoubtedly
endeavor to turn our left flank by way of Fairfield and
the mountain roads ... near Mount Saint Mary's
College." In preparation for this, Reynolds
stationed two divisions behind Marsh Creek, one on the
road to Gettysburg, and the other on the road leading to
Fairfield; a third division was placed on the road to
Chambersburg, behind Middle Creek.
Unsure of Lee's intentions, from his
position in Taneytown, Meade instructed Reynolds that,
"With Buford at Gettysburg and Thurmont and a
regiment in front of Emmitsburg, you ought to be advised
in time of their approach. In case of an advance in
force against you, your advance troops must fall back to
Emmitsburg were you will be re-enforced from units
nearest you, which are Sickles' 3rd Corps at Taneytown
and Slocum's 12th Corps at Littlestown ... If it is your
judgment that you would be in better position at
Emmitsburg ... you can fall back [there] without waiting
for the enemy or further orders."
On July 1st, General Sickles, issued
orders to "leave one brigade and a battery on the
heights beyond Emmitsburg, commanding the approaches by
way of Thurmont." This action was taken in response
to Meade's wish that the approaches through Emmitsburg,
not be left unguarded. Sickles was instructed by Meade
to "hold on at Emmitsburg, as it is a point not to
be abandoned, excepting in an extremity." Meade
also ordered Reynolds, who had moved his command to
Gettysburg, "to leave a division of the 3rd Corps
at Emmitsburg, to hold in check any [enemy] force
attempting to come thought there."
Nobody expected that the resistance
offered by Buford and Reynolds on the first day of the
battle would be as great as it was in the face of
overwhelming numbers of Confederate forces who descended
upon them from all directions. Though compelled to
retreat, they found a closer defensive position on
Cemetery Ridge. Not till 7:30 that night, when it was
obvious that too many Union troops were in Gettysburg
and the Union’s plan to retreat and fight at
Emmitsburg was now too risky, did Meade direct Sickles'
remaining men to leave Emmitsburg to "join their
corps at Gettysburg with the greatest dispatch."
Emmitsburg saw both armies again
during Lee's retreat. JEB Stuart directed most of his
cavalry to retreat through Emmitsburg, so as to guard
the southern flank of the main body of the retreating
Confederate forces. According to Stuart's official
reports, "Just at dawn [apparently on July 5th] we
entered Emmitsburg. We there learned that a huge body of
the enemy's cavalry had passed through the afternoon
previous ... I halted for a short time to procure some
rations ... In and around Emmitsburg we captured 60 to
70 prisoners of war and some valuable hospital
stores."
According to reports, when asked by
residents how the battle had turned out, the Confederate
forces claimed victory. Soon after entering the town,
Stuart's retreat was resumed on the road to Frederick,
via Thurmont.
Around 10:00 in the morning on that
same day, the Union Cavalry came dashing into Emmitsburg
in full charge, expecting to find Stuart's forces, which
had already fled. It was these Union forces that brought
the town the first news of the real outcome of the
battle. That evening, amidst the ringing of church
bells, the Union Cavalry went into bivouac near the
town. For the next week or more, Union forces by the
tens of thousands passed through Emmitsburg. General
Meade himself passed through on July 7 and was received
with much enthusiasm by the people.
Residents of Emmitsburg also played a
key role in delaying Lee's retreat to Virginia. While
the Battle raged at Gettysburg, Union Cavalry, including
a company of Cole's Cavalry made up of Emmitsburg
residents, destroyed his unprotected pontoon bridges
across the Potomac.
Emmitsburg saw no more combat until
the Battle of the Monocacy in 1864. During that raid,
the small contingent of Union Cavalry guarding the area
around Emmitsburg, was driven into Emmitsburg by
superior numbers of Confederate forces and were, for a
time, in danger of being cut off. However, the Union
Cavalry held about a mile from the town and Emmitsburg
was once again spared the destruction of war.
While Emmitsburg's luck held out,
there were still many families in the valley who lost
fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands. Samuel Maxell, a
staunch abolitionist and owner of the mill located just
upstream of Four Points Bridge, lost his son on July 5,
1864 during the battle at Piedmont. Samuel was a
passionate advocate of the Union and was very
influential in changing the sentiments of the local
population with regard to slavery.
In 1862, Samuel sons Samuel Jr. and
Thaddeus joined Cole's Cavalry. A Frederick County unit,
Cole's Cavalry was like most units of that time,
consisting of brothers and friends who had enlisted
together to fight. Following the battle of Gettysburg,
Cole's Cavalry joined in the union attack down the
Shenandoah Valley. During their advanced to Piedmont,
Virginia, they collided with a Confederate army under
the command of Jubal Early.
While charging a breastwork,
Thaddeus Maxell was fatally shot by a Confederate
sharpshooter. Samuel Jr. accompanied his brother's body
home where Emmitsburg witnessed his burial at the
Lutheran church where his father served as both a deacon
and an elder. Following his brother's funeral, Samuel
returned to his unit and played a key role in the Union
victory at the Battle of the Monocacy.
The Maxwell brothers represented just
one of the Emmitsburg families who contributed and
fought valiantly in the Civil War. The history of
Emmitsburg and our community is rich with stories of
everyday sacrifice and valor. When the cannons sound
this July 1, 1997 - take a minute to remember the words
of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
On this green bank, by this soft
stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When like our sires, our sons are gone.
Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
It is up to us, the living, to
remember the role the founding families of this
community and the role Emmitsburg has played in the
history of our country. This valley has a rich heritage
and stories that deserve to be told and remembered.