The next morning in Union Mills Maryland, General Jeb Stuart received word from his Scouts that a large force of union calvary had been spotted in the vicinity of Littlestown , a local teenager a 16-year-old Herbert Shriver volunteered to guide the Confederates on a detour around Littlestown by way of Hanover. Stuart did not know that Kilpatricks forces were already on the move to Hanover, General Kilpatrick was also unaware of Stuarts detour to Hanover and both were quite suprised when they clashed in what was known as the Battle of Hanover.

After learning that Stuarts Troops were defeated at Hanover General Slocum's Corps of 13,000 infantry entered Littlestown that evening and was dispatched to Gettysburg the next day. General Sedgewick's Sixth Army Corp of 15,000 also passed through Littlestown on thier way to the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Robert Cruikshank Letters - 123rd New York

Tuesday, June 30, 1863

Dear Wife,
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We started on our march this morning a little after three o'clock, marching very rapidly through Taneytown. We were pushed forward all afternoon not halting to get anything to eat. When within two miles of Littlestown, Pa., we received an order to halt, draw the charges that the men had in their guns to see that their guns were in good order and to reload and prime. Ammunition was also inspected. While we were doing this the artillery went dashing past us, the horses on the run. We now expected work ahead. As soon as the artillery had passed we were ordered to move forward on a double quick, which we kept up for three miles, passing through Littlestown in this way. The people were out at their doors passing to the men as they ran by such provision as they had in their houses,with water. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and cheered us on. Some were in tears and some in smiles. At the hotel a number had gathered and were singing patriotic songs. If I ever felt I wanted to fight the enemy it was here where those ladies were calling us to drive the Rebels back into Virginia where they belonged. Then, too, I remembered the patriotism of that state,- the thousands it had fed while going to the front and the care it had given to the sick and wounded returning to their homes. This all passed through my mind and I felt I wanted to meet them in this free, hospitable, patriotic state. We did not slacken our pace until we were a mile beyond the town, when we were marched into a large field, formed in a line of battle and rested. Our cavalry had run into the Rebel cavalry and had a skirmish at this place but had driven them back. The cavalry lost three men killed. A strong picket line was put out and then we pitched our tents for the night and had our supper.

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July 2, 1863
Instead of turning to the left last night, we should have turned to the right, and by the time we were fairly started on the right road, it was daylight. At 8:30 this morning we crossed the line into Pennsylvania, and at 10 A.M. we passed through Littlestown. The civilians along the line of march could not do enough for us. Most every household standing ready with water buckets dealing out water to the boys as we marched along, and the Stars and Stripes hanging out in all directions. It made us feel as if we were home once more, and the citizens of Southern Pennsylvania, through their kindness to the soldiers have put new life into us.

COMMEMORATING GETTYSBURG:

Elisha Hunt Rhodes Diary
July 2nd 1863

"On the morning of July 2nd we heard the firing in front and then we understood the reason for such great haste. I was taken sick upon the road and fell helpless to the ground. The Surgeon, Dr. Carr, gave me a remedy and a pass for admittance to an ambulance. I lay upon the road side until several Regiments had passed when I began to revive. I immediately hurried on and soon came up with my Co. "B". The boys received me well, and I went on without further trouble. The firing in our front grew loud and more distinct and soon we met the poor wounded fellows being carried to the rear. At a place called Littlestown we saw large numbers of our wounded men, and all kinds of carriages were being used to take them to hospitals. At about 2 o'clock PM we reached the Battlefield of Gettysburg, Penn. having made a march of thirty-four miles without a halt. The men threw themselves upon the ground exhausted, but were soon ordered forward. We followed the road blocked with troops and trains until 4 PM when the field of battle with the long lines of stuggling weary soldiers burst upon us. With loud cheers the old Sixth Corps took up the double quick and were soon in line of battle near the left of the main line held by the 5th Corps. The 5th Corps were in reserve, but as we took their place, they moved forward and took part in the fight. Our Division was finally sent to the front and relieved Gen. Sykes Division of Regulars. Picket firing was kept up until long after dark, when we were releived and returned a short distance. The men threw themselves upon the ground, and oblivious to the dead and dying around us we slept the sleep of the weary."

The Robert Cruikshank Letters - 123rd New York

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July 6, 1863
We marched only about four miles today. We passed through Littlestown and went into Camp in a piece of woods two miles to the south. The town looked deserted as we passed through. Doors were locked and blinds closed and when any of the men were admitted into a kitchen and bought a loaf of bread he was charged fifty cents for it and the same for a bowl of milk. We could hardly believe that these were the same people who sang and cheered us on when the enemy were near and they wanted protection. It looked as though they wanted to make up for what they had given away when we had passed through before.

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Your affectionate husband,

R. Cruikshank

Mountjoy Township:
Samuel D. Reck, Henry M. Bishop, Wesley Lynn, Edmond Arntz, Peter Lawrence, Washington Keefer, Joseph Orndorff, Bernhart Brown, David Kyholtz, Henry Schwartz, James Wintrode, Jacob W. Rider, Harrison Wilson, Alfred Harner, Isaac W. Hankey, James Spaulding, Abraham Harner, Jacob Forney, Emanuel Feaser, Smith Barr, Cornelius Trostle, John A. Kuntz, James Topper, Sames [sic] Noel, McAllen S. Horner, Jacob Bowers, Jacob E. King, Peter Bushey, Hugh G. Scott, Henry Bucher, Edward Spangler, Wesley Wintrode, John Rodkey, Howard Wirt, John A. Orndorff, John L. Allison, Robert Newman, Levi Swartz, Christian Harman, David P. Beitler, John A. Hankey Ð 41.

Mountpleasant Towndhip:
John May, Agidious Noel, Samuel Little, John ? Kuhn, Ephraim Welsh, William Sheely, Levi Stock, James C. Duttera, William Young, George Ginter, John Staub, Jesse W. Nary, Peter G. Smith, Samuel Menges, Jacob Lott, Edward McSherry, Lewis McMaster, Jacob Gosman, Henry Byers, James Shilt, Mathias Noel, Richard Wolf, Jacob Creager, John Rebert, Emanuel Ginter, Peter Miller, John Carbaugh, Joseph Shultz, John S. Eckenrode, Henry Olinger, Peter Rimbaugh, John Yohe, George A. Weigert, George Myers, Upton F. Forrest, Anthony Smith, Francis A. Noel, Joseph J. Hemler, Samuel Hildt, Charles Orndorff, Jeremiah Oaster, Emanuel Rudisill, David Lint, Ephraim Wildt, Joseph Sheely, Samuel Lilly, Jacob Parr, Jeremiah Weaver, John A. Arntz, Daniel Sheely, James Small, John Haines, David B. Smith, John Kerrigan, George Keitel, Jacob Lawrence, John Wolford, Alfred Peters, Sebastian Weaver, William F. Kuhn, John J. Clapsadle, George Gulden, Robert S. Lott, Jesse Diehl, William Parr, Peter K. Smith, Franklin B. Hagerman, George Y. Hoffman, Joseph Bederman, Anthony Little, George Y. Hemler, Henry Showalder, Alexander Little, Emanuel Gulden, John L. Jenkins, Ephraim Miller, Samuel A. Smith, John E. Taney - 78.

Union Township:
Christian Welsh, Jacob Kale, William Bentzell, Valentine Shippert, Isaac M. Bartley, John Eltz, Andrew Sell, George Kale, Peter Stonesifer, Daniel Palmer, Martin Messinger, Jonas Drepler, Daniel M. Gobrecht, Anthony W. Klunk, Abraham Rife, Jacob Fox, John Rife, George W. Shue, William Unger, Jr., William J. Bart, Henry Bollinger, Levi D. Maus, Jesse Hilbert, Urias Yingling, John Gephart, Philip Sterner, Jacob Kump, George D. Basehor, William Unger, Samuel Irvin, Augustus Maring, Rudolph Clauser, Edward Rebert, Peter Rusher, John Unger, Henry Hoff, Samuel Basehor, Levi Spangler, Adam Harket, Henry Weaver, Andrew Gerich, Frank Steiner, Adam Leas, Anthony Kale, John Spangler, John M. Zinn, Solomon Shippert, Jacob Miller Ð 48. Gettysburg Compiler - October 1862