The Emmit House as it appears today |
During the morning hours of July 4th, General Robert E. Lee's mangled
army began its withdrawal from Gettysburg. The main portion of the
Confederate Army would march to Fairfield where it would cross over
the mountain at Monterey Pass traveling toward Waynesboro and then
onto Hagerstown and Williamsport. There it would meet up with General
Imboden who was to lead a wagon train of wounded men through Cashtown.
Being detached from Jenkins’ Cavalry Brigade, the 36th Virginia
Cavalry would go through Monterey Pass and guard General Ewell’s wagon
trains near Waterloo, Pennsylvania. The rest of the Jenkins’ Brigade
would patrol around the wagon train that was in Fairfield or ride with
General Stuart’s Division, as the 14th Virginia Cavalry followed
General Imboden’s column of wounded. Sometime during the morning a
portion of Jenkins' Cavalry came into Emmitsburg. While watering their
horses, Emmitsburg residents, who were curious about the outcome of the
battle of Gettysburg asked the troopers who won, their reply was that
the Confederates had won.
On the morning of July 5th, General JEB Stuart made his way from
the fields of Gettysburg to Emmitsburg. General Stuart came to the
town of Emmitsburg during the dawn hours with the 34th Virginia
Cavalry under Lt. Colonel Vincent Witcher leading the advance into
Emmitsburg. There was a sharp skirmish fought near the town's square
as seventy Union men and their captain were taken prisoner.
Among the prisoners was a photographer from Mathew Brady’s
Photography Firm. Three photographers named, Alexander Gardner,
Timothy O'Sullivan, and James Gibson all were traveling to Gettysburg
when they came to Emmitsburg on the night of July 4th. Gardner himself
stayed at the Hoffman Inn (Emmit House). Which one
of the three photographers that Stuart captured is not known however,
evidence may suggest it could have been Gardner himself. Gardner's
fifteen year old son Lawrence was attending a boarding school just outside of
Emmitsburg and his father may have been assuring his son’s safety
while he was held in captivity. Once the photographer was released the
three men headed on to Gettysburg.
On July 7th, Gardner and his crew came back into Emmitsburg on
their way to Washington. While in Emmitsburg, the photography crew
produced seven negatives of different scenes in Emmitsburg. One is a
picture of the Hoffman Inn taken sometime in the afternoon on July
7th. Their works on the Gettysburg battlefield and also those taken in
Emmitsburg would become some of the most famous photographs that
future generations would marvel upon.
At Samuel McNair's funeral, Major Oliver Horner recalled this story
about his comrade, McNair and their time in Cole's Cavalry. "After
rendering General Buford valuable service during the battle, McNair
and some of his companions on Saturday night, July 4th found their way
back into Emmitsburg. Stuart’s cavalry dashing into the place on
Sunday morning captured them with others at Hoffman’s hotel. McNair
and Gwinn were taken over the mountain but during the first night,
when about Boonsboro, they made their escape and came back to
Emmitsburg finding their horses had been saved to them by Harry
Hoffman."
Emmitsburg became a landmark for those in blue since other roads in
poor condition could not handle the huge army. Poor conditions and
detours caused the armies to split up their columns in pursuit of
General Lee. A drummer boy named Bardeen purchased a fair amount of
green peas at a price of ten cents at Emmitsburg’s General Store that
was located across the street from the Hoffman Inn.
