Hannover, Pa. - Stuart is stalemated by Farnsworth (and nearly captured) and is forced to go around the Federals. (Interesting note: Stuart's train extended for 17 miles. 125 captured wagons loaded with captured supplies)

Cashtown- Heth sent a brigade east eight miles to Gettysburg in search of supplies, shoes especially, that he heard were in the town. When near Gettysburg, the Confederates saw a sizable force of Union cavalry (Buford) and returned to Cashtown without having a fight.

Meade's army was near Emmitsburg, Maryland, he was preparing to set up a defensive position along Pipe Creek just south of the Mason-Dixon line.

I thought Meade was headquartered around Taneytown at this point?

Maximus_Meridius said:

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I thought Meade was headquartered around Taneytown at this point?

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It was, at the Skunk farm. He had just moved from Middleburg, Md. and had just assumed command of the AOP. The AOP was strung out between Emmitsburg to Westminster moving North.

Rabid Cougar said:

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Heth sent a brigade east eight miles to Gettysburg in search of supplies, shoes especially, that he heard were in the town.

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The Army War College historian who led our staff ride last fall said the whole shoes line is a myth. He was quite emphatic in his assertion that the confederates were not looking for shoes. Has anyone read anything saying otherwise?

AEK said:

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Rabid Cougar said:

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Heth sent a brigade east eight miles to Gettysburg in search of supplies, shoes especially, that he heard were in the town.

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The Army War College historian who led our staff ride last fall said the whole shoes line is a myth. He was quite emphatic in his assertion that the confederates were not looking for shoes. Has anyone read anything saying otherwise?

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I remember a footnote in some book I read many moons ago that this was a myth that derived from a real standing order for most Confederate forces throughout the war. Due to the chronic lack of supplies our guys were always on the lookout for possible yankee supply sources for capture and use, unlike the invaders who were always under orders to burn or destroy any Confederate supplies. Lack of shoes was always epidemic for the Southern troops from the very start so it is easy to see how the constant foraging by the Confederate troops and the chronic lack of shoes could morph into the shoe story. There is damn near always some truth behind every myth.

Does that order include the free blacks captured and sent South as slaves during this time?

If we're going to be painting in black and white, let's get the whole story out there.

AEK said:

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Rabid Cougar said:

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Heth sent a brigade east eight miles to Gettysburg in search of supplies, shoes especially, that he heard were in the town.

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The Army War College historian who led our staff ride last fall said the whole shoes line is a myth. He was quite emphatic in his assertion that the confederates were not looking for shoes. Has anyone read anything saying otherwise?

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I've heard that it was a myth as well. It does not seem to appear anywhere until years after the fact when Heth was writing about his experience at the battle. It's hard to say. He may have heard about shoes at a nearby town or soldiers heard some random rumor. There were no shoe factories or stockpiles at Gettysburg. It was just a small farming town with a seminary.

Gettysburg - Morning Fight for McPherson Ridge July 1, 1863

Gettysburg - Defense of Seminary Ridge, July 1, 1863 - 4:00 p.m.

Doubt they were looking for the mother lode of shoes, but pretty good odds some of them needed shoes and the town had people, therefore it had shoes.

Pictures of Calefs battery position on July 1, 1863




Looking toward Chambersburg. Chambersburg pike is just off to the right of the Picture.



Sight where the Iron Beigade went into action July 1





Ewell's Corps coming into action
(If you look closely to the right, Buford's cavalry and Federal Infantry were in line along that road on the right before falling back)