Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[125] division of the Sixth corps on the same pike from Westminster, at two P. M.

The battle opened about four P. M. Found our wagons early in the afternoon. As soon as the surgeons had decided upon the different points where the corps hospitals were to be formed, Mr. Hoag moved the wagons to them at once, and commenced to issue our stores, which consisted chiefly of concentrated beef-soup, stimulants, crackers, condensed milk, concentrated coffee, corn-starch, farina, shirts, drawers, stockings, towels, blankets, quilts, bandages, and lint. We hastened from one hospital to another, as rapidly as possible, issuing to each a proportion of our stores, until the supply was nearly exhausted, when, upon consultation with Mr. Hoag, it was decided that I should start for the nearest point from which a telegram could be sent to Washington, ordering up more supplies. Frederick was spoken of, but upon inquiry at different points, it was considered unsafe to go there, as the rebel cavalry were in possession of the roads in that direction. I then decided to go to Westminster, learning that several of the New-York newspaper reporters were about starting for the same place, and learning that the telegraph was in operation from that place to Baltimore. I left the battle-field late in the evening, arrived in Westminster early in the morning of Friday, and soon learned, to our disappointment, that no telegraph was there, and the first train did not leave for Baltimore till twelve M. Arrived in Baltimore just in time to take the expresstrain to Washington. Found that a car had already been loaded with stores and started for Westminster, under the direction of Messrs. Hovey and Bacon.

This car arrived at Westminster Saturday, July fourth, when Mr. Hovey procured three government wagons, and that evening started with three full loads of stores, arriving early next morning, (Sunday,) at the First, Second, and Third corps hospitals. By your orders I left Washington by the eleven A. M. train, July fourth, arriving at Relay in time for the two P. M. train for Westminster. Owing to a misunderstanding between the two conductors on the road, the trains waited for each other at either end of the road, so that we did not get started from the Relay until eight o'clock Sunday morning, arriving at Westminster at ten A. M., where I found Mr. Bacon in charge of the remainder of the car-load of stores. About noon our four-mule team came in from Frederick, in charge of Mr. Gall. It was immediately loaded, and early in the morning I left with it, in company of Mr. Gall, Mr. Bacon still remaining in charge at Westminster.

A school-house was taken on the Baltimore pike, near the different corps hospitals, and about three miles out from Gettysburgh, and from it our stores were thereafter issued, until the opening of the railroad permitted our reaching the field by that route, when, on Tuesday morning, July seventh, a store-house was taken in town, and the school-house closed.

In the mean time, Mr. Hoag had been to Frederick with the two wagons, and had returned with full loads to the school-house, where the stores brought by him were issued.

Mr. Hovey, after delivering his loads to the three corps hospitals, returned to Westminster and took three more loads, and Mr. Gall made a second trip with the four-mule team, which took the remainder of the first car-load sent from Washington.

Twelve wagon-loads of extra governmental supplies were therefore taken on to the battle-field previous to the opening of the railroad to Gettysburgh, and before they could reach the wounded from any other direction. Of these, eight wagonloads were taken from Westminster, and four from Frederick, including the two which were on the field during the battle, and the supplies from which were issued under fire, and to the hospitals the nearest to the line of battle. The last of these stores were given to a hospital to the left of our line, just in the rear of Weed's Hill, where General Weed fell.

The second car-load, sent up in care of Mr. Edgerly, was by him transferred to Mr. Bacon, who, after unloading it, had it reloaded, and by the advice of Major Painter, Post-Quartermaster, sent around by rail to Gettysburgh.

On Monday, July sixth, I left Washington for Baltimore to meet yourself and Mr. Knapp. Upon consultation, it was deemed advisable that I should proceed at once to Gettysburgh. In company, therefore, with Mr. Bullard, Mr. Murray, Mr. Barton, and two Germans, sent to our aid by Mr. Hitz, of Washington, I left Baltimore on Monday evening, upon a freight-train, containing two loaded cars for the Commission.

Heavy trains, heavy grades, delays of all kinds, prevented us from reaching Gettysburgh before late Tuesday afternoon. The temporary terminus of the railway was then over a mile from the town, and to this terminus crowds of slightly wounded men came, limping, dragging themselves along, silent, weary, worn. The moment the cars stopped, the crowd of weary and wounded soldiers accumulated there, indicated that point as a place for a relief lodge. I immediately had two of our largest tents, together capable of sheltering seventy-five men, pitched, stoves erected, and a lodge established. The wise foresight of Mr. Knapp had included these articles among the first invoice. The two Germans, whose names I have unfortunately lost, volunteered as cooks. That night our tents were full, and we had the great satisfaction of not only affording shelter and attention to the wounded, but also supplying good nutritious food to those within our tents, and those who had taken refuge on the cars.

While our tents were being raised, Mr. E. B. Fairchild rode down from the village to ascertain if there had been any arrivals by the train, and found us in the midst of our preparations. He reported the arrival of Dr. Bellows and Dr. Ag. new from Harrisburgh, the position of our fieldstation at the school-house, and the presence of Messrs. Johnson, Biddle, Edgerly, Hoag, Gall Paige, and Hovey, (relief agents,) at our storehouse