‘During this tumultuous period, several companies of African Americans arrived in Harrisburg to offer their services. One group from Philadelphia arrived but was turned away. “[A]fter referring the matter to some of the chief executive officers of the state,” recalled Couch, “I was informed that their presence would cause serious disturbances amongst state troops[.] Secretary of War Stanton had authorized Couch to “receive troops without regard to colour” but cautioned, “If there is likely to be any dispute about the matter… It is well to avoid all controversy in the present juncture, as the [coloured] troops can be well used elsewhere.’
Cooper H Wingert, The Confederate Approach on Harrisburg: The Gettysburg Campaign’s Northernmost Reaches, (2012) – Chapter 2 Defenses of Harrisburg (Kindle)
The Confederate Army and Cavalry units attacked the area around Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) on June 29th, 1863. This was the furthest the Confederate Army penetrated into territory controlled by the Union – and was a minor military adjunct to the decisive Battle of Gettysburg which unfolded between July 1st-3rd, 1863. Despite the propaganda that now dominates the Confederate and Union Causes – this skirmish is an interesting assessment of “White” attitudes towards Black people in the North. As the Confederate Army could attack anywhere in the general vicinity of Gettysburg – there was a sense of fear and anxiety throughout the area. As the Union had already massed its forces to oppose this threat, there were very few men left to dedicate to local defence. At one-point a thousand White volunteers from Harrisburg joined a large group of Black people to dig trenches and build ramparts around the geographical extremities. After one day, 700 of the White people returned home – saying the labour “hurt their hands” – whilst the other 300 acted as foremen directing the Black labourers (as if they were slaves). Black people built the defences of Harrisburg – but by and large were excluded from defending the place on the grounds that Black men carrying guns (and acting “free”) would scare the women and children. The situation was a little more nuanced than this, however, as NO White person from Harrisburg possessed the courage to join a local militia to defend the place they lived in. This led to the local authorities agreeing to arm a small company of local Black men that everyone knew – who had to drill away from the sight of ordinary people from Harrisburg. Meanwhile, thousands of White volunteers poured into the area to offer their services in defence of the place (risking their lives) – but were met with indifference and hostilities from the locals. Shop-keepers, hoteliers, and bar-owners put up their prices by ten or twenty times (even charging for a glass of water) – asking for excessive amounts of money for the smallest necessity of life. This led to widespread discontent amongst the White volunteers. The Black soldiers, however, who were used to this type of abuse whilst living in the North, knuckled-down and got on with their duties. Of course, their efforts were ignored at the time. Northern capitalism met Northern racism. In brief, the skirmishing in and around Harrisburg can be summed-up as follows:
Confederate Army captures Mechanicsburg (June 27th, 1863)
Confederate and Union Troops skirmish at Oyster Point (June 28th, 1863)
Confederate Cavalry reconnoitres the area around Harrisburg (July 29th, 1863)
Small Confederate force repulsed – Battle of Sporting Hill (June 30th, 1863)
Union troops mass and clear-out Confederate Army – Shelling of Carlisle (July 1st, 1863)
As all this coincided with the events unfolding in Gettysburg – Confederate casualties around Harrisburg are not clearly known. Compared to the carnage in Gettysburg, however, the numbers of dead and wounded were extremely low – trivial in fact – from a military point of view. Of course, this observation is no comfort to those brave individuals killed and wounded on both sides. It would seem that local farmers living around Harrisburg reported that they found between 15-20 dead bodies of Confederate soldiers on their respective properties after each battle – whom they respectfully buried (on their land). Union casualties may have been as light as one-dead and 17-wounded. Obviously, the Confederate dead being unnamed – their families would never know what had become of them – and they still lie where they fell to this day. On top of this, around 25-30 Confederates were wounded during each engagement. So rapid and fluid were these manoeuvres that dead and wounded Confederate men were left behind as the situation quickly changed. Although I know that Black, Indian, and Chinese men fought in the Confederate Army – I spare a thought for the Black soldiers of the North and what they went through. Finally, as there was a hotch-potch of militias, guards, and all kinds of part-time soldiers that came to support the Union banner at Harrisburg – the furthest point North the Confederate Army got during the war – uniforms were at a premium. This is why the North had to resort to kitting some men out in captured Confederate “grey” – as this was the only supplies that were available. To add confusion to all this – some of the Confederate units that habitually wore “blue” were also present on the battlefield!
English Language Text:
Cooper H Wingert, The Confederate Approach on Harrisburg: The Gettysburg Campaign’s Northernmost Reaches, (2012) (Kindle)
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 