Hanover, PA- Civil War Sites (self-guided tour)

Hanover was along the route of march of a part of Gordon’s brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah White’s cavalry, as they moved to destroy the railroad depot at Hanover Junction. More importantly, it was the site of a cavalry battle between forces commanded by the Union’s Judson Kilpatrick and the Confederacy’s J.E.B. Stuart on June 30th.

The story of the Battle of Hanover is told using a series of maps from John T. Krupp’s book- A Strong and Sudden Onslaught- The Cavalry Action at Hanover, Pennsylvania followed by the Heart of Hanover Trail tour.

In early June 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee left Culpeper, Virginia and marched northward to Pennsylvania. The Union Army of the Potomac began to move in response to Lee and attempted to stay between the Confederates and Washington, D.C. On June 25th three brigades of Confederate cavalry, approximately 5,000 men, Major General J.E.B. Stuart commanding, left Lee’s main body on a raid to the east, taking them around Union forces. Stuart was to cut telegraph lines disrupting communications from Washington, destroy railroad track, and then join Jubal Early in Pennsylvania. By June 29th, Stuart’s men had reached Union Mills, Maryland, unaware of Lee’s location, but aware that Union cavalry were near Littlestown, Pennsylvania, about 6 miles northwest of them. In an attempt to avoid the Union cavalry, Stuart moved toward Hanover the next morning. What Stuart did not know was that on June 30th Brigadier General H. Judson Kirkpatrick’s 3rd Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac was also headed toward Hanover. At about 8:00 AM on June 30, 1863, the head of Kilpatrick’s cavalry arrived in Hanover. For nearly two hours, the column passed through the town as men, women and children brought food, drinks and gifts to the soldiers.

Initial Encounter– As Stuart with a train of 125 seized Union supply wagons along with 600 mules saddled with supplies, all of which slowed down his progress, approached Hanover he found the Union Army in his path and a fierce cavalry battle ensued. By about 10:00 a.m., most of Kilpatrick’s force had passed through Hanover. A rear guard of about 40 men of the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry regiment, 2nd Lieutenant Henry Clay Potter commanding was still southwest of town. It was here that sixty of Confederate Col. John Chambliss’s cavalrymen ran into the Union rear guard. The Federals retreated up Frederick Street.

1- Potter’s detail encounters leading detachment of Chambliss’s
Brigade near intersection of Westminster and Littlestown Roads.
2- Small unit action flows back and forth on Hanover-Littlestown
Road.

Major Attack Begins– The initial Confederate attack began with the 13th Virginia and elements of the 9th Virginia Cavalry Regiments charging up the same street. Shortly thereafter, the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry Regiment converged on the scene from side streets and alleys to attack the Union column.

**1- Major Confederate assaults begin as 13th VA smashes rear portion of 18th PA. Elements of 18th retreat toward McSherrystown, others toward Hanover with Virginians in pursuit.**
**2- Confederate artillery (likely one section of McGregor’s battery) opens fire from high ground along Westminster Road. Their initial positions may have been closer to Frederick St.**
**3- 2nd NC advances, then strikes the flank of front companies of 18th PA by charging along “alley” and side streets.**
**4- 5th NY moves to Commons area and forms for counterattack.**

Confederates Capture Hanover– During the fighting an artillery shell penetrated the balcony door of the Winebrenner house, went through a chest of drawers, and emerged in a first floor room. The shell struck a brick wall, but failed to explode. Mr. Winebrenner threw it outside into the yard. Disorganized members of the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry fled through the town square toward the railroad depot. The Confederates gained control of the square.

**1-Much of the 18th PA has been shattered. Some companies of the regt. continue to fight on Frederick St. and side alleys.**
**2- Confederates control the center of town. Advance elements of the 2nd NC reach the railroad crossing on Abbottstown St.**
3- 5th NY deploys in the Commons area. They charge from there and strike Confederates in and about the square. Companies D and M of the 1st VT charge advanced elements of the 2nd NC along Abbottstown St.

Union Forces Regain Control– Brigadier General Kilpatrick and his Union staff had reached the vicinity of Abbottstown when they heard the sounds of the guns. Kilpatrick turned around and led his men on a brutal eight-mile race back to Hanover. Union Major John Hammond reformed the 5th New York Cavalry in the Commons, publicly owned land around the old rail depot, and directed his 400 New York cavalrymen through side streets to ambush Confederates at the square. Hammond led the charge with drawn sabers. Meanwhile, newly appointed 24-year-old Union General Elon Farnsworth ordered troops of the 1st Vermont and 1st West Virginia into action. A few Union companies of the 18th Pennsylvania regrouped and also aided in the counter-attacks. Along dirt alleys and streets, Farnsworth and Hammond unleashed a sudden and strong onslaught to liberate the square and push Confederates back down Frederick Street and into side streets and surrounding fields. Stuart had to deal not only with Union cavalry but his troops also took fire from citizens who were firing at the Rebels from second floor windows in their homes.

**1- Fighting continues along side streets. The area southwest of the square becomes a melee of mixed units. Companies D, M (1st VT) and elements of 18th PA support the 5th NY.**
2- 13th VA and 2nd NC fall back along roads and through fields as 5th NY presses the counter-attack. The 5th stalls upon receiving fire from the Confederate “reserve”, likely the 9th VA. The New Yorkers regroup, then continue to push the Confederates back to the high ground south of town.
**3-1st W VA races back to the town and takes position on Baltimore Street.**

Stand-off– As the Union reclaimed the square, Kilpatrick ordered his troops, with the help of citizens, to barricade streets with barrels, farm wagons, dry goods boxes and other materials to provide cover. In the afternoon, Kilpatrick established his headquarters on the square at the Central Hotel, whose second floor afforded him a good view of the area. After a prolonged afternoon standoff, around 2 p.m., Stuart’s forces left town.

1- Mounted forces disengage. Union control of the town is consolidated as 1st and 7th MI, and Pennington’s battery arrive. These units are initially positioned between Abbottstown and York Streets. Shortly after, they are ordered to higher ground north of town.
2- Chambliss’s brigade regroups on hills south of town. The regimental positions are conjectural.
3- Artillery fire continues while dismounted skirmishers are en-gaged.

Stuart Withdraws– They traveled south through backroads and farms to Fuhrman Mill Road before heading east and then north.

By 2 AM he was in Dover (shown below). He then traveled north to Carlisle, 30 miles from Gettysburg. The cost in time in delaying Stuart from linking with Lee, as a result of engagements fought in Hanover and Carlisle, would prevent Stuart from participating in the the first two days of the three day Battle of Gettysburg.

**Stuart’s general route shown by broken red line**

Aftermath– Hanover was also George Armstrong Custer’s first battle as a Brigadier General. He was promoted from Captain to Brigadier General two days earlier and given command of the Michigan Brigade. Stuart was nearly captured during the battle. After the initial Confederate attack, he and his staff had ridden into a field on the side of a stream to observe the action, unaware that a Union counterattack was underway and headed toward them. As the 2nd North Carolina broke and retreated under Farnsworth’s charge, Stuart’s party maintained its position, firing with pistols at the enemy. The position soon became perilous for Stuart, whose retreat by the road was now cut off. Riding his favorite mare Virginia, Stuart had no choice other than to leap the stream. He landed safely on the other side and escaped to safety. Estimates vary as to the number casualties at Hanover. Union losses were approximately 19 killed, 73 wounded, and 123 missing. The 18th Pennsylvania had the highest number of Union casualties, with three men killed, 24 wounded, and 57 missing. Stuart’s losses were about as 9 dead, 50 wounded, and 58 missing.

Heart of Hanover Trail
The town of Hanover has recently replaced all of its Civil War tablets and established a new self-guided Heart of Hanover Trail (link to brochure)..

Stop A- Commons on Locomotives, Working on the Railroad/CWT Lincoln in Hanover (This Train is Bound for Glory)/Guthrie Memorial Public Library- 39.8042, -76.9860667-