infomanpa
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
- Location
- Pennsylvania
Another view looking west on Chambersburg Pike. You can see the monument in the center, next to the mailbox.
I almost always drive past the Cashtown Inn coming into Gettysburg. Most people are totally unaware of this small marker that talks about action on June 26. It is a worthwhile 2 minute stop to describe this action that few know about. Cool photos guys and thanks for posting it.
I need to do this. I've never been west of the "first shot" marker.
I find this monument to the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Infantry particularly interesting. When I take people to Gettysburg, I frequently make a very quick stop at this monument to explain the brief action that occurred on June 26, 1863. Most people when they visit Gettysburg think of action only on the first three days of July.
Early had burned Thaddeus Stevens' Iron works in nearby Caledonia that morning, then marched through Cashtown. The 26th Pa arrived in Gettysburg via train on June 26th. Within an hour of arrival, they met up with Captain Robert Bell's militia cavalry and marched west on the Cashtown Pike to look for Confederates. Look at Greg's Google map photo and imagine them marching west going past the pinned first shot marker.
They halted near Marsh Creek on the Samuel Lohr farm. Some of Bell's men were sent ahead to scout the road. They saw the advance of Early's men and quickly fell back. However they were spotted and 40 men were captured by the Confederates as the balance fell back to Gettysburg. One of Bell's men in an attempt to escape was killed along the Baltimore Pike. That man has lived on in Gettysburg trivia history to be the first Union soldier killed in and around the Gettysburg Battlefield. He was Private George Washington Sandoe.
I almost always drive past the Cashtown Inn coming into Gettysburg. Most people are totally unaware of this small marker that talks about action on June 26. It is a worthwhile 2 minute stop to describe this action that few know about. Cool photos guys and thanks for posting it.
And actually, the Rebels at Marsh Creek had an interesting history as well.
The 35th VS Cavalry battalion ( never big enough to be rated a regiment) began as border raiders on Loudon County VA, a role they seem to have drifted into and out of
They also served under Stonewall in the Valley and under Stuart at Bristow Station and had lately been under Grumble Jones which is why they were at Gettysburg instead of off far to the east.
They were screening Ewells force when they ran into the 26th at Marsh Creek.
Most significantly, they were the first Confederate unit to enter Gettysburg.
Later they rode all the way to the Susquehanna, burned a bunch of bridges and was the unit which captured Hanover PA.
Afterwards they participated in several famous campaigns including Mine Run.
They served as the rear guard unit for the AoNV on the retreat from Richmond, were the ones who escorted Grants messengers during his exchange with Lee and refused to participate in the surrender at Appomatox.
Instead they snuck around the Union lines and returned home without paroles.