JUNE 27, 1863:
Prelude to Gettysburg:
The
Confederate Second Corps, under Confederate General Richard S. Ewell (“Old
Baldy”) had 21,000 men at full strength. Ewell’s troops enter Carlisle,
Pennsylvania on their way to Harrisburg, and demand supplies from the
townsfolk. The forced requisition includes 2500 pounds of bacon, 100 sacks of
salt, 1500 barrels of flour, 25 barrels of potatoes, 25 barrels of molasses,
500 pounds of coffee, 3000 pounds of sugar, and 25 barrels of dried fruit. Ewell had been an anti-secessionist at the
start of the war, and had advocated emancipating the slaves. Later he became a
noted Confederate battle commander, excelling at the Second Battle of
Winchester. He had lost part of his left leg in combat at the Battle of
Grovetown.
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