Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[502] of his troops, to hold Hooker's army in check if the latter should attack him upon ground of his own selection, had caused a portion of the Second corps to cross to the left bank of the Potomac, without, however, moving it away from the river. On the 20th of June, Early, leaving Winchester, took position along the right bank at Shepherdstown, as if for the purpose of menacing Harper's Ferry and watching its garrison; Johnson, crossing the river, had posted himself at Sharpsburg, on that bloody battlefield which contained the bones of so many Confederate soldiers; while Rodes, who was already on the other side, had advanced as far as Hagerstown. This time Maryland was effectually occupied, and the uneasiness which took possession of the public in the North was justified. On the 21st, before knowing the result of the battle of Ashby's Gap, Lee, wishing to take advantage of this uneasiness in order to throw confusion in the ranks of his adversaries, adopted a bold resolve. He ordered Ewell to march as far as Harrisburg and take possession of this capital if possible. By striking Harrisburg his object was to reach the White House and disturb the deliberations of the Federal government. Rodes arrived on the 22d, and Johnson on the 23d, at Greencastle, whilst Jenkins, preceding them, entered Chambersburg, and Early, bearing to the right, occupied Cavetown at the foot of South Mountain. It was on this same day, the 23d, that Lee, being apprised of Pleasonton's retreat, issued marching orders to his other two army corps.

Hill, crossing the Potomac first, reached Chambersburg on the 27th; Longstreet, moving toward the Williamsport ford, and forming the rear-guard on this occasion, crossed the river on the 25th and 26th, and on the evening of the 27th brought his three divisions together a little south of Chambersburg. Lee, therefore, had two-thirds of his army massed near this village, while Ewell was pushing rapidly forward, covering as much ground as possible, driving his troops across the rich section of open country before him with a degree of audacity which was justified by the weakness of the small number of adversaries he was likely to encounter in that direction.

Imboden, who had extended his lines westward as far as the Cumberland Mountains, returned to Hancock to operate on his left and lay other districts in Pennsylvania under contribution: