Sunday dawned bright and early on June 28. Most townspeople in York went about their daily routines, including dressing nicely for worship, strolling the sidewalks, and visiting friends and relatives. While church was in progress at St. Paul's Lutheran, the vanguard of the Confederate division of Jubal Early marched into York, preceded by the pioneer corps and advance pickets from the 31st Georgia. Rebels hauled down the large flag in the Center Square, as well as a smaller one from a nearby shop. York was now under Confederate control. The lead brigade, the Georgians of John Gordon, moved on to Wrightsville, while Jubal Early ringed York with artillery and established a series of camps.

Posted in Civil War people Civilians Confederates Dillsburg Emigsville Gettysburg Campaign Hanover Wrightsville Yankees York York Haven

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Background post: Introduction.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, more than 10,000 individual Confederate soldiers and troopers passed through York County, roughly half infantry and half cavalry as a general breakdown. They were from a variety of states, from South Carolina (the cradle of Secession) to one of the last states to secede, Virginia. Among these soldiers was the division of Jubal Early, which occupied York from June 28 - June 30. Infantrymen from North Carolina and Virginia artillerymen were stationed downtown at the Fair Grounds and/or Penn Commons, with Louisianans lounging in the creekside area west of today's Harley-Davidson factory and on the hills just west of the Codorus. Virginians were in Emigsville, Frystown, and East York, along with a company of Maryland cavaliers. More Virginia artillery crowned the imposing Webb's Hill south of town. Georgians camped at first near Wrightsville, and then along the Carlisle Pike in western York.

Scores of men took the welcome break to write home; many of these letters have been preserved. As mentioned in the introductory post, a packet of letters never made it back to Dixie and was captured near Hanover. Here are excerpts from one of these lost letters, perhaps from a cavalryman who accompanied Gordon's column to the river....

Posted in Confederates Emigsville Gettysburg Campaign York

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