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Francis Barlow Statue On 11th Corps Line, Barlow's Knoll
The weather was cloudy and humid with occasional rain showers drenching the moving column of men and turning the dirt roads into slippery mud. The first several miles of the march were unremarkable-the sultry atmosphere preventing the sound of battle at Gettysburg from reaching the column-and the tedium was only broken momentarily when the head of the column crossed the Pennsylvania border. The Pennsylvania regiments of Schurz's Division beat their drums, dipped their colors, and raised a cheer for their native soil. Then the march resumed its steady, monotonous pace along the muddy road. 2
As Schurz's column cleared Horner's Mill, approximately 5-6 miles southeast of Gettysburg, he was met by a hard riding courier from corps commander Howard. The courier brought news that the 1st Corps was engaged at Gettysburg and that Schutz was to assume command of the corps and bring up his command with all haste. Schurz summoned 1st Brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig, and turned command of the division over to the former Prussian Army officer with instructions to increase the pace to the "double-quick." Schurz spurred on to Gettysburg with his staff. As the cavalcade neared Gettysburg they encountered an increasing stream of civilian fugitives fleeing from Gettysburg. One terrified woman at tempted to stop Schurz, crying out, "Hard times at Gettysburg! They are shooting and killing! What will become of us!"3
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