26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia

tlyne

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Apr 25, 2016
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Cambridge, OH
26th Emergency Militia


The monument to the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Infantry is on the west side of Gettysburg at the intersection of Chambersburg Street, West Street and Springs Avenue.

The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Infantry was organized at Harrisburg on June 22nd in response to Lee’s invasion of the north. Commanded by Colonel William S. Jennings, a factory owner and personal friend of Pennsylvania’s Governor Curtin, it consisted of 750 hastily trained farmboys, college students and middle aged shopkeepers sprinkled with a handful of veterans. One company was from Adams County, including a group from Gettysburg.

The clashes of the untrained militiamen with Jubal Early’s veteran rebel cavalry and infantry west and north of Gettysburg turned out as badly as could be expected. Several Pennsylvanians were shot and more than a hundred rounded up as prisoners. The latter were paroled after a stern lecture from Early himself, who told them, “You boys ought to be home with your mothers and not out in the fields where it is dangerous and you might get hurt.”

The survivors of the regiment pulled back to defend Harrisburg, but they were spared further conflict when the rebels withdrew to Gettysburg. The 26th Militia were mustered out on July 31.


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They were called to fight a small battle in history and they held the Confederates to one day advance. Never give up.
Even though they were a small force they won a battle.
 
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