GDG- ISusquehanna River

[atmackeyjr at aol.com]

Some interesting points: Jackson had family who lived in the area and had visited the Harrisburg area prior to the war.  He was familiar with the area and with the Susquehanna.  One can be forgiven for wondering what kinds of discussions the two had in the winter of '62-'63 and in the weeks prior to Chancellorsville regarding the possibility of capturing Pennsylvania's capital city.

Best Regards,
Al Mackey


-----Original Message-----
From: George Connell georgeconnell at mac
To: GDG <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 5:11 pm
Subject: Re: GDG- ISusquehanna River


Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
eter,
Some relevant items from my Gettysburg notes:
	• During the Antietam Campaign when General John Walker, just up from Richmond 
ith his two-brigade division, reported to Lee at Frederick, he says Lee told 
im that the Army was going to Harrisburg, destroy the Pennsylvania railroad 
ridge, and then go to Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington. (B&L, vol. 3). 
ee also R. E. Lee, Vol II, pp. 360-1 for on his thoughts on operating east of 
he Susquehanna during this campaign.
	• Dorsey Pender, June 28, 1863, June 28, 1863: "I hope we may be in Harrisburg 
n three days..." Lee's Lieutenants, Vol III, pp.76-77.
	•  Lee to Ewell:  “If Harrisburg comes within your means, capture it.” O.R., 
7, pt.3. p.914
	• ..."orders were...issued to move upon Harrisburg. O.R., 27, pt. 2, p.. 316.
	• June 28: Ewell ordered Rhodes to cross the river and capture Harrisburg. Rich 
ohr, Gettysburg LBG, 8/6/6
	•  Lee’s orders to Hill on June 28 were to follow in trace of Early, cross the 
usquehanna downstream from Harrisburg, and seize the railroad between 
arrisburg and Philadelphia. James Robertson, General A. P. Hill, p. 204
	• "Then 'Jeb' started the entire column for Carlisle, vis Dillsburg. He chose 
his objective because he reasoned that if the SOuthern infantry had advanced to 
he Susquehanna and were not in the vicinity of York, they must be around 
arlisle or Harrisburg." Lee's Lieutenants, Vol III, p. 137.
	• Lee: “To-morrow, gentlemen, we will not move to Harrisburg as expected, but 
ill go over to Gettysburg and see what General Meade is after.” Gettysburg 
obody Knows, pp 110-111.
	• Lee was going to Harrisburg. So say the document and spontaneous utterances. 
e changed his mind because of a lack of cavalry to block the passes. Tony 
icastro, LGB, in a lecture to the Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide class, 
/27/6
	•  In Lee’s perfect world: he would dig in at Cashtown, block the passes, wait 
or Stuart, and head for Harrisburg if possible. Tony Nicastro, LGB, in a 
ecture to the Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide class, 6/28/6
Now that's ten citations from eight respected sources; I have more but it gets 
epetitious. 
You can moan, you can grumble, and you can speculate, but what you cannot do is 
oubt any longer. Lee was going to Harrisburg (and other points east of the 
usquehanna)--and he was taking a lot of infantry with him.

Regards,
George
6ª11'56"N   81ª48'19W"