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Chapter 32: in pursuit of Lee. In camp at Morrisville.
On the Fourth of July the regiment remained all day in line of battle, patiently waiting for a renewal of the fighting but it did not materialize.
The night passed drearily enough, and on the morning of the fifth several details were occupied in burying the dead.
The Nineteenth Massachusetts, First Minnesota and Seventh Michigan were sent out as skirmishers.
They pressed forward, entered the rebel works on
Seminary Ridge and found that the ‘bird’ had flown.
They returned and reported this fact.
Within an hour, the Fifth and Sixth Corps were sent away in pursuit of
Lee. The Eleventh and Twelfth followed in the afternoon and on the morning of July 6 the southward march of the Second Corps began, by way of the
Taneytown Road.
As the regiment filed out of the field at
Gettysburg it was halted and an order from the
President was read, announcing the
fall of Vicksburg.
The news was received with cheers and the men marched on with lighter hearts, feeling that the year of 1863 promised some decisive results in the prosecution of the war.
That night was spent at
Two Taverns and on the 7th march was resumed to
Taneytown.
Frederick City was reached on the 8th,
Burkittsville on the 9th, and at noon on the 10th of July the regiment arrived at
Williamsport, where, after a few hours rest, the men were marched about two miles in the direction of
Hagerstown, and formed in line to the right of the road to repel an expected attack of the enemy.
It remained all night under arms and in the morning moved across the road toward
