stepped to one side for some purpose, left me in charge of his gun, but as we moved off almost immediately I stood it up against a tree within his sight, but some chap who was passing by managed to exchange it for his own which had a ball firmly wedged in the barrel. Crossing creeks and fields, tearing down the fences and tramping grain and corn, over gullies and hills, but keeping principally to the woods and mountains, we continued our retreat.[1]
I suppose the Colonel had little doubt of our ability to repel the cavalry, but their evident intention was to delay us until the arrival of infantry and other support. General Early had expressed his determination of taking the regiment entire, and that night said in Gettysburg that we had thus far escaped but on the morrow our capture was certain. In circumstances in which there is anything
- ↑ “Hanover Junction, June 27, 9 A. M. The telegraph operator
is still at Hanover. Col. Jenning's regiment left Harrisburg on
Thursday for Gettysburg. The engine ran over a cow, seven miles
from Gettysburg, and the locomotive and several cars were injured,
but no one was hurt. On Friday morning the regiment went to
Gettysburg. The Phila. City Troop and another cavalry company
preceded them * * * at 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon, our
cavalry left Gettysburg as the rebels entered * * * Before
leaving, a train with thirteen freight cars, some with Col. Jennings'
supplies, was run to this side of the bridge at the end of the town.
The bridge and the train were afterwards destroyed by the rebels.”
“York, June 27, 1 P. M. Nothing has been heard yet of Jennings' regiment. The attack on them commenced about three yesterday, by a large cavalry force, and continued to the last advices. The loss is not known, but it is reported that a number were taken prisoners.”
“Harrisburg, June 28th. Col. Jennings' regiment which had the skirmish at Gettysburg arrived here to-day. He lost about three hundred men in prisoners and stragglers. The officers were sent to Richmond and the men paroled. Some of the men have arrived here.”The Press, June 29th, 1863.
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