CIVIL WAR - Week of July 23, 1863 - Wrap Up of The Battle of Gettysburg & Local Soldier Letters Home - Regimental Organization of 54th Pa. Co. A

 

This was a disastrous month for the Confederacy, which sustained decisive defeats at two key points that permanently turned the tide of the war. The largest battle ever fought in North America took place, and relentless Federal operations continued in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Charleston Harbor. Meanwhile, the North was torn by dissent over the new military draft.

The Battle of Gettysburg

Advance elements of the Federal and Confederate armies clash in southern Pennsylvania, beginning what would grow into the most terrible battle in American history.

Day 2

The Federal and Confederate armies gather south of Gettysburg, where Robert E. Lee launches ferocious attacks on both Federal flanks.

Day 3

Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia launches a massive, desperate charge to destroy the Federal Army of the Potomac once and for all. 

Heading Back South

Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia begins retreating from Gettysburg, but the swelling Potomac River threatens to trap Lee in hostile territory Confederate officials arrive off Hampton Roads, Virginia, to negotiate prisoner exchange terms with the Federals. They are also unofficially authorized to negotiate a possible end to the war.

Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia reaches the Potomac River, while George G. Meade, commanding the Federal army, is reluctant to pursue. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia prepares for a battle against George G. Meade’s Federals while still stranded on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.

George G. Meade’s Federal Army of the Potomac misses its final opportunity to destroy Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, ending the Gettysburg campaign.

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The Confederate soldiers and residents under siege in Vicksburg are on the verge of being starved into submission. John C. Pemberton’s Confederates formally surrender on Independence Day, transferring the mighty stronghold of Vicksburg to Federal hands. Federal occupation forces complete the parole process at Vicksburg, establish medical relief, and regulate slave relations as news of the city’s capture reaches Washington.

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Capt. Litzinger's Company - 54th P.V.M. Co A

Capt. W.R. Roberts, Lt. Adam George, Lt. Wm. C. Barbour

Sgt: R.E. Jones, N.S. George, Gilbert A. Barker, Hartman Barrick, J.F. Chickey

Corporals: H.H. Pringle, John Wendelhoth, D. Morris Kiel, John Brown, S. McMonigle, Emanuel Crom, Philip Sherbine, Sylvester Crum

Musician - Joseph Hamilton

Privates: Fred Aronfield, B.F. James, B.F. Ash, Charles Johnson, John Barrick, John Keating, Andrew Beek, John W. Long, Peter M. Brown, Elias Lower, David W. Brendlinger, Stephen McIntyce, Daniel Berkstresser, David McMonigle, Wm. Berkstresser, Henry McMonigal, Harrison Burkhardt, Martin Miller

Samuel Byers, John W. Mulholland, Wm. K. Carr, Thos. J. Nelson, Aug. Chestnutwood, John Noel, David Coulter, Elias Paul, David Davis, Wm. H. Paul, Emanuel Dellinger, John Plummer, Enos Ellis, Jacob W. Pringle, Ressler Emigh, David W. Scott, David Farber, Hervey Sharp

John Feeny, Theodore Shaw, Henry Fick, Wm. T. Sidman, John Fish, Thomas Stineman, Henry Flenner, Wm. Stonebaker, John Grew, John Weaver, Jas D. Hamilton, Albert Wilson, F.K. Herlinger, Christian Smay, Jacob Stineman

12th Pa Cal. 

Sgt. E.R. Smith - 27th Maine and T.P. Fenlon

CIVIL WAR - Week of July 16, 1863 - Letter From Our Soldiers - Capt. Litzinger's Company In Bedford County, Soldier Obituary & Some Local Gettysburg Wounded

CAMP JUNIATA

HUNTINGDON, Pa

July 12, 1863

Frederick J. Evans - 11th Pa - Co. A

Thomas Deveraux - 133rd

11th Pa - Co. A

Lt. D. Jones, John Keough, John Stevens and Edward E Davis

 

CIVIL WAR - Week of-July 9, 1863 - Sending Local Troops to Bedford - Local Newspaper Coverage

 Defensive Measures – Gettysburg Campaign Trenches

In June 1863, as Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee advanced toward Gettysburg, fear spread through Pennsylvania. After the Union’s defeat at the Second Battle of Winchester, General Robert Milroy retreated to Bloody Run (now Everett) in Bedford County.  Concerns over the strategic Railroad hub of Altoona led local militia, organized by Colonel Jacob Higgins, to construct defensive earthworks and stone-filled cribs at key mountain passes and streams. These trenches, built by about 1,500 men using local resources, are among the few surviving defensive works from the Gettysburg Campaign and are now a historic site in Bedford County 

Cambria and Blair County Troops sent to guard parts of Bedford County from a possible Rebel Invasion. 

Col Pierce - 12 Pa Cav. Bloody Run - now called Everett.

News from Bedford

Wednesday, July 1, 1863

Bedford, Penna.

Capt. Litzinger of Ebensburg and Capt. Hughes of Wilmore

Col. Higgins - Blair County Militia

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Letter From Our Soldiers

Bedford, Penna.

July 3, 1863

CIVIL WAR - Week of July 9, 1863 - Local Battle of Gettysburg Coverage

Before I begin with Cambria County Newspaper coverage of Gettysburg. I just want to take some time to review the events of the actual battle.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1–3, 1863, was a pivotal Union victory and the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, marking a turning point in the conflict. 

The Battle of Gettysburg occurred when Confederate General Robert E. Lee, after victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, launched a second invasion of the North in June 1863 to pressure the Union and potentially gain foreign recognition for the Confederacy.  Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, numbering around 75,000 men, moved through Maryland into Pennsylvania, aiming for Harrisburg and possibly Philadelphia. The Union Army of the Potomac, under newly appointed Major General George G. Meade, pursued Lee to defend Northern territory and protect Washington, D.C. 

July 1, 1863

The battle began unexpectedly when Confederate forces under Major General Henry Heth encountered Union cavalry led by Brigadier General John Buford near Gettysburg. Union infantry reinforcements, commanded by Major General John F. Reynolds, arrived, but Reynolds was killed in action. The Confederates initially pushed Union forces through the town, but the Union regrouped on high ground at Cemetery Hill, establishing a strong defensive position.

July 2, 1863

On the second day, Lee attempted to flank the Union positions. Heavy fighting occurred at Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Culp’s Hill. Despite significant Confederate gains in some areas, Union forces held key positions, using interior lines to reinforce threatened sectors effectively. Union General Daniel Sickles’ forward movement to the Peach Orchard created a vulnerable salient, resulting in heavy casualties for his III Corps.

July 3, 1863

The final day featured Pickett’s Charge, a direct assault by approximately 12,500 Confederate troops on the center of the Union line at Cemetery Ridge. The attack was repulsed with severe Confederate losses, marking the high-water mark of the Confederacy. Lee’s army, battered and depleted, retreated to Virginia on July 4, ending the battle.

Casualties and Outcome

The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in approximately 46,000 to 51,000 casualties, including killed, wounded, captured, or missing soldiers, making it the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The Union victory halted Lee’s invasion of the North and shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the Union. 

Now onto local Cambria County Newspaper Coverage from "The Democrat & Sentinel" and "The Ebensburg Alleghanian". I don't have access to "The Johnstown Tribune" just yet - so their coverage is missing. Remember these papers were published once a week and given the publish date of July 9th - the news included would already have been a week old. But having said that - let me tell you I was so looking forward to seeing what they both had to say about this important event - but was I in for a let down. Their coverage is underwhelming in the Sentinel at best and basically nonexistent in the Alleghenian. I am just amazed by it all - both papers spent more time fighting with each other - one was a Copperhead paper and the other backed the Union League. 

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First off - this clipping from "The Alleghanian" - dated July 9th. which did their best to down play that there was any kind of battle at all. I just don't get it. And that's it for this paper that backed the Union League. You would have thought they would have been happy about the Union victory. 

The rest of these clippings are going to be from "The Democrat & Sentinel" which backed the Copperhead movement. It reads to me that they aren't completely happy either that we won ...they hate Lincoln and his policies that much....strange to say the least. After this - they published a couple of Official Dispatches for the rest of their coverage - which would have been sent to them by telegraph, 

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