Item description: Diary entry, 30 June 1863, written by Levi J. Fritz, describing his regiment’s march toward the Battle of Gettysburg. Fritz served in the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and wrote the regiment’s song, “My 53rd.”. He was granted a medical leave of absence in December 1864 for haimoptysis (hemoptysis).

Item Citation: Folder 1, Levi J. Fritz Papers, #5442-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Item Transcription:

Tuesday, June 30, 1864

This mong Genl. Hancock issued an order congratult- the troops on the noble manner in which they performed the difficult feat of marching 30 miles in one day, and said that it was only done because the anxieties of the moment required it. Cloudy all day, they[?] rained on in the morning. Troops moving towards. About two o’clock received orders to pack up. Immediately after the order was countermanded.

A report in camp that the was occupied York after a fight with the militia in which the latter suffered a defeat. The 1st Corps is in our rear, at least it so said.