Stuart-Kilpatrick Hanover

[neyankee61]

After the fighting at Hanover on June 30, Stuart slipped away that towards York. Kilpatrick did not pursue. He had two brigades with him Farnsworth and Custer. Farnsworth did the bulk of the fighting in the morning while Custer fought that afternoon. Neither were used up.
Geary's 12th Corps division was within a mile of Hanover while Gregg's troopers were coming up. Stuart was encumbered with those captured wagons and his men and their mounts were worn out. It seems Kilpatrick missed a great opportunity here.
What were his options? Pursue Stuart to York? Have Gregg move towards York and Kilpatrick move between Stuart and rebels in the Cashtown area? (Did he know that the rebels were there?) Get Geary involved? I think we all can agree that he should have done something.
Was Pleasanton part of the problem?

 

[JerryD]

Great question. It seem knowing Stuart was located behind the lines and had to keep moving, the smart move would have been too stay on his heels and deny him any rest. Always wondered what Kilpatrick's thoughts were on this.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Things got dicey out on that far flank of both armies where I believe there was a time when Kilpatrick himself could have been scooped up!

 

[MRB1863]

Neither side had fully accurate intelligence as to the size, location and availability of additional opposing forces.

 

[neyankee61]

It seems Pleasanton mis-read some information and was of little help in understanding the situation. Also since Kilpatrick job was to locate rebel forces like Stuart, he was somewhat successful at Hanover. Have establish contact, he then let Stuart slip away and lost contact.

 

[W Charles Young]

Here is another twist to the Battle of Hanover. Members of Early's Division heard the cannon fire as they marched west 12 miles to the north. With orders to look out for Stuart, Early marched on to Gettysburg. I wonder who he thought was fighting out there.

 

[neyankee61]

Early believed that it was only militia doing battle. Which begs the question...Who were the militia fighting?

 

[trice]

IMHO:

• Kilpatrick accomplished a good deal at Hanover by blocking Stuart and forcing him to detour.
• Early deserves a black mark for not at least trying to find out what that firing was about.
• Stuart gets too much blame for keeping the 125 wagons.
• If Stuart had gotten to Hanover a little earlier (1 hour? 2 hours?), he might have been able to hold a blocking position against the Yankees and get the wagons to the north of Hanover -- which would have changed everything that followed.

The 125 wagons contained grain for Stuart's horses (which was mainly consumed by the cavalry as they marched.) Hauling the wagons slowed Stuart's march rate -- but without the wagons, Stuart's horses would need forage. A horse living off grass needs to graze about 10-12 hours a day IIRR. If he doesn't have the grain, Stuart needs to stop and let his horses graze more, slowing down his column (or to spend a lot of time grabbing grain in every town and farm he passes). It is questionable if Stuart could move faster with or without the wagons.

IIRR, Early has at least a little cavalry with him that could be sent out to see what was going on (White's battalion?). If an attempt had been made to establish contact with whoever was out there, Stuart would probably have been in contact with Early's force late on the 30th, and if so probably would have been leading the advance of Early's column down the York Pike towards Gettysburg on July 1st.

If Stuart had gotten through Hanover, around mid-day of June 30th, I think the chances of him discovering where Ewell/Early are a lot better (more daylight to look and question locals near the York Pike). Also probably no need for the night march that takes him to Carlisle.

All just speculation, but hopefully not too far out there in the what-if world.

 

[rpkennedy]

Kilpatrick and Pleasonton correspondence for the battle of Hanover from the ORs:

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION,
Hanover, June 30, 1863.
GENERAL: Five minutes after your dispatch saying that Stuart was making for Littlestown, my rear guard was attacked in Hanover, driven in, and a vigorous charge was made upon the rear and flanks of my command; at the same time the enemy opened with artillery from the hills at the right of the town. Brigadier-General Farnsworth quickly threw his brigade into position, and, by quick and vigorous charges, checked their attacks and drove the enemy out of town. The enemy soon showed himself in force on the left of the town, and foolishly put himself in my rear. After a fight of about two hours, in which the whole command at different times was engaged, I made a vigorous attack upon their center, forced them back upon the road to Littlestown, and finally succeeded in breaking their <ar43_987> center. One portion retreated toward York; the other passed to the right, toward Gettysburg. As the enemy was reported to be advancing from the direction of Berlin, I made no further attempts to intercept Stuart's command. I have taken one battle-flag, a lieutenant-colonel, 1 captain, and 45 privates, and upward of 15 of the enemy have been killed. My loss is trifling. I have gone into camp at Hanover. My command will be in readiness to move again at daylight to-morrow morning. We have plenty of forage, the men are in good spirits, and we don't fear Stuart's whole cavalry.
Very respectfully,
J. KILPATRICK,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
Major-General PLEASONTON,
Commanding Cavalry Corps.
P. S.--The enemy was under the command of Stuart, who had with him three brigades--Lee's, Hampton's, and Robertson's.
-----
HDQRS. THIRD CAV. DIV., PLEASONTON'S CORPS,
Hanover, June 30, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that after an encounter with General Stuart's force, I have succeeded in cutting his column in two. One portion, estimated at about 4,000, with from five to seven pieces of artillery, is now encamped in the woods on the left (east) side of the road from Hanover to Baltimore; the other is also in the woods on the right (west) side of the road from Hanover to Littlestown. I am not informed as to its strength. I have sent out scouts to ascertain the exact position of the first division, and intend, if possible, to attack their camp at daybreak; otherwise I expect to be attacked by them.
A strong column of the enemy's forces left York at daybreak this morning, to march to this place, from which circumstance and other information I conclude that they are concentrating at Gettysburg. They have with them 15 wagons; also about 113 mules. They spoke in their camp to-day of burning these wagons, as they could not carry them out with them. I shall attack them if I can by any means find proper roads. My information is reliable.
Very respectfully,
J. KILPATRICK,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
Major-General PLEASONTON.
[P. S.]--The enemy (Stuart's command) is moving toward York, cutting his way through the fields. I think there is a considerable force at Berlin. I am now midway between Abbottstown and Hanover. I cannot well advance farther and keep communications open with Littlestown. Scouting parties will be sent out in the direction of York, Dover, and Carlisle. Stuart is moving toward York.
-----
HEADQUARTERS, Littlestown, June 30, 1863--6 p.m.
[Major-General PLEASONTON :]
GENERAL: A messenger has just come in from Kilpatrick, asking for re-enforcements. I sent him every cavalryman that I could get hold of. I also informed him of the infantry at this place. I think there is <ar43_988> no doubt but there is a heavy infantry force at Berlin and Gettysburg. Kilpatrick has information that Lee's headquarters are at Berlin. The enemy struck the rear of his column just as it entered Hanover, creating some confusion in one regiment. A charge was, however, immediately made, which resulted in the repulse of the enemy and the capture of about 50 prisoners, one lieutenant-colonel among them. As soon as my horse rests a little, I will come to headquarters.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. J. ALEXANDER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[Indorsement.]
Respectfully forwarded. General Lee's being in Berlin is important.(*)
A. PLEASONTON,
Major-General, Commanding.

Basically, Kilpatrick thought that there were a lot of Confederates in the vicinity of Berlin and was very concerned that he would lose his communications with the rest of the army. He was not the best intelligence gatherer in the Cavalry Corps.

Ryan

 

[neyankee61]

It also seems that Pleasanton was not very good at taken information and coming up with good conclusions either

 

[rpkennedy]

It also seems that Pleasanton was not very good at taken information and coming up with good conclusions either

Pleasonton was a decent administrator and had an eye for talent. As a cavalry officer however, he left a lot to be desired.

Ryan

 

[neyankee61]

If Kilpatrick was supposed to gather info it seems he should have kept contact with Stuart to verify just how many rebs were in the area. Lt Col Andrew Alexander along with 40 troopers of the 2nd US tagged after Stuart following the Hanover battle. It seems Kilpatrick could have sent part of his division, brigades or even a regiment to follow up.
I understand Kilpatrick was in no physical condition to do much following the battle. He spent much of July 1 in an ambulance recovering from his hard ride on June 30.

 

[neyankee61]

"If Stuart had gotten through Hanover, around mid-day of June 30th, I think the chances of him discovering where Ewell/Early are a lot better (more daylight to look and question locals near the York Pike). Also probably no need for the night march that takes him to Carlisle."

The fight of the 1st Del. Cavalry at Westminister delayed Stuart enough that it caused him to arrive at Hanover after Kilpatrick's division arrived there.