The Skirmish of Littlestown was a Pennsylvania military engagement before the Battle of Gettysburg in which "a few companies of skirmishers" of Union infantry defeated a Confederate detachment of J.E.B. Stuart's Cavalry Division.
Background On the night of June 29, 1863, the Army of the Potomac was deployed in the Pipe Creek defense in northern Maryland with cavalry divisions north of the state line at Fairfield and at Littlestown (Coddington footnote 100 cites "OR, XXVII, pt. 1, p. 144; pt. 3, p. 375.") (Farnsworth's Brigade of Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division left Littlestown for Hanover in a light rain). Stuart's Confederate cavalry had encamped just south of the Mason–Dixon line: "Before dawn on the last day of June, scouts returned with word that enemy cavalry was operating northwest of Union Mills just across the Pennsylvania line at Littletown" , Not in source: The quoted Bowden and Ward statement has the footnote number "98" which cites "OR 27, pt. 2, p. 696." However, the Official Records of the American Civil War pages 695-6 instead have a less-specific claim with a different time: "It was ascertained here that night by scouts that the enemys cavalry had reached Littlestown during the night, and encamped. Early next morning (June 30), we resumed the march dire". and Stuart's forces "marched by crossroads to Hanover"--meeting the Union cavalry in the Battle of Hanover.
Engagement Behind the Confederate cavalry was Union infantry which when at Union Mills, identified a Confederate cavalry detachment at Littlestown. Three brigades of the Union "Third brigade at the rear of the division" advanced through the Federal column to proceed ahead to Littlestown, where their skirmishers "brushed away"/"warded off" the cavalry detachment. (Also at Littlestown, Candy's Brigade of the XII Corps, 2nd Division, skirmished with Confederate Cavalry.)
The 123rd NY Regiment of the Union XII Corps followed through Littlestown on June 30 to encamp at Two Taverns, Pennsylvania, before engaging in the Battle of Gettysburg.
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