Battle Field and Prison Pen; Or Through the War, and Thrice a Prisoner in Rebel Dungeons (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1882. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. GEN. LEE'S INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. niRECTLY after the great battle of Chancellorsville, which had resulted so disastrously to the Union cause, it became apparent to Gen. Hooker, then the commander of the Army of the Potomac, that Gen. Lee contemplated an offensive movement and would probably attempt an invasion of the North. The battle of Chancellorsville was undoubtedly the most disastrous defeat the Union army sustained during the war, and as the term of a considerable portion of Hooker's troops was expiring, and the morale of the balance was supposed to be terribly affected by their late defeat, it occurred to the Confederate Government that now would be the appropriate time to make a rapid movement northward, arid by one great blow overthrow the Federal Government and put an end to the war. There was also at this time a considerable opposition manifesting itself in the North in regard to the conduct of the war, and a few prominent men in some of the Northern States, whose sympathy was with the South, but who had not the requisite courage to fight for the principles they believed in, kept up a terrible hue THE INVASION PLANNED. and cry about the shedding of blood, the expense of the war, ?nd in every way possible obstructed the Government in its efforts to put down the rebellion. There can be at least a reasonable supposition that the actions of these men had much to do with bringing about Lee's invasion of the North, for judging from their actions, the rebel commander may well have believed that it was only necessary for him to move North and he would receive substantial aid from these, at least pretended, friends of the South. The rebel authorities appeared to be so confident of success that very little precaution was tak...