facing east, we have Fayetteville, six miles distant, Greenwood-a place of but few houses-eight miles, Cashtown on the east of the mountain, sixteen miles, and Gettysburg, twenty-four miles. A road which runs from Carlisle by Mount Holly and Pine Grove along the South Mountain, comes out into the Baltimore Pike, near the top of the mountain; and roads from both north and south of the pike enter into it at Greenwood. It is these roads that gave this little place, situated at the western base of the mountain, its importance during the invasion. Cashtown on the eastern base of the mountain, like Greenwood on the western, is of value only because of the several roads which radiate from it. Gettysburg, as already stated, is twenty-four miles distant from Chambersburg. It is the county seat of Adams County, and contains about five thousand inhabitants. A theological seminary and college, belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, are located there. Between two ranges of hills, the Catoctin on the east, and the South Mountain on the west, is a narrow valley which, like the Cumberland, west of the mountain, has always been noted for its beauty and fertility. At the head of this valley, on a gentle western slope, and forming a focal center for roads running north, south, east, and west, lies the town of Gettysburg. A mile to the east runs Rock Creek, the chief of the head-waters of the Monocacy. Taking a position now in the historic town of Gettysburg, and looking to the north-east, we have the town of York, distant twenty-eight miles; a little further to the left is Harrisburg, thirty-five miles; and across the South Mountain, in a northwesterly direction, is Carlisle, GOVERNOR CURTIN'S PROCLAMATION. 93 twenty-eight miles. South of Gettysburg, thirty-two miles, is Frederick; Baltimore, southeast, fifty-two miles; and Washington, nearly due south, sixty-four miles. Hagerstown, by way of Fairfield and Monterey Pass, is thirty-two miles distant in a southwesterly direction. Thus it will be seen that Hagerstown, Chambersburg, and Gettysburg form the three angles of a triangle, the South Mountain passing directly through it, and separating the latter from the former. As soon as it was apparent that General Lee contemplated a movement northward, the authorities of our State were notified of the fact, and were assured that the condition was such that the Army of the Potomac could not be divided, and Pennsylvania must furnish her own men for her defense. On the 9th of June two new departments were created: that of the Monongahela, with headquarters at Pittsburg, was assigned to Major-General W. T. H. Brooks; and that of the Susquehanna, with headquarters at Harrisburg, was given to Major - General D. N. Couch. On the 12th, Governor A. G. Curtin issued a proclamation, addressed to the people of the State, telling them of the danger which threatened them, and calling for volunteers to meet the emergency. On the same day General Couch, on assuming command of the department, also issued an address, reiterating what Governor Curtin had said, and calling for a general and speedy enlistment. The responses to these calls not being as general and prompt as desired, the President, on the 15th, specifically called upon the State of Pennsylvania and the States nearest, for the following militia: Pennsylvania, fifty thousand; Maryland, ten thousand; New York, twenty thousand; Ohio, thirty thousand, and West Virginia, ten thousand, a total of one hundred and twenty thousand men. The governors of these States re- echoed the call, but still the responses were weak. The uniformed and disciplined regiments of New York City generally responded and proceeded to Harrisburg, but the number from the other States, including Pennsylvania, who went to meet the foe was but comparatively small. A liberal estimate of the number who responded was about as follows: Pennsylvania, twentyfive thousand; New York, fifteen thousand; New Jersey, three thousand; Maryland, five thousand; Delaware, two thousand, a total of fifty thousand. Those of the number who reported at Harrisburg were organized into two divisions, one under General W. F. Smith, and the other under General Dana. On the same day that the President called for troops, the construction of breast - works and the digging of rifle - pits along the river front, and on the opposite bank of the river, were commenced and carried forward from day to day. At the same time these preparations were being made at Harrisburg, similar activity was manifested at Pittsburg. Thus while the work of preparation for the reception of the enemy was going on, he was pressing toward our border, and soon, as we will show, made his appearance in our midst. The people who lived along the southern border during the war were kept in an almost continuous state of anxiety. The booming of cannon was frequently heard, and the rumors of approaching foes at times threw the whole community into a state of intense excitement. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his notes on Matthew xxiv. 6, as published in Lange's commentary, in a lucid and graphic WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS. 95 manner describes the excitement which prevailed along the border during the week preceding the appearance of the invading army. The doctor, whose ability as a scholar and writer is widely known, resided in Mercersburg, Franklin county, at the time of the war, and the scripture upon which his comments are based is as follows:-"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars." The doctor says: "I beg leave to quote a passage from my diary during the famous Southern invasion of Pennsylvania under General Lee, in June and July, 1863, which may throw some light on this passage (Matthew xxiv:6.) in its wider application to different periods of repeated fulfillment: 'Mercersburg, Pa., June 18th, 1863.-It seems to me that I now understand better than ever before some passages in the prophetic discourses of our Savior, especially the difference between wars and rumors of wars, and especially the force of the command to “flee to the mountains,” (v. 16) which I hear again and again in these days from the mouth of the poor negroes and other fugitives. Rumors of wars, as distinct from wars are not, as usually understood, reports of wars in foreign or distant countries, for these may be read or heard of with perfect composure and unconcern, but the conflicting, confused, exaggerated and frightful rumors which precede the approach of war to our own homes and firesides, especially by the advance of an invading army and the consequent panic and commotion of the people, the suspension of business, the confusion of families, the apprehensions of women and children, the preparations for flight, the fear of plunder, capture and the worst outrages which the unbridled passions of brute soldiers are thought capable of committing upon an unarmed community. Such rumors of wars are actually often worse than war itself, and hence they are mentioned after the wars by way of climax. The present state of things in this community is certainly worse than the rebel raid of General Stuart's cavalry in October last, when they suddenly at Mercersburg, at noon-day, seized a large number of horses, shoes and store goods, and twelve innocent citizens as candidates for Libby prison, but did no further harm and left after a few hours for Chambersburg. But now the whole veteran army of Lee, the military strength and flower of the South |