Union Mills in Maryland is an easy ride from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania or Frederick, Maryland. It is a sixteen mile ride from Gettysburg taking about 25 minutes on Route 97. From Frederick it is a 50 minute ride. As you enter Union Mills from the south you will be following the path that Stuarts Confederate Cavalry used on his advance towards Gettysburg. The Confederate Cavalry halted at Union Mills on June 30, 1863 J.E.B. Stuart was hosted by the Shriver family and fed by these owners of the mill. The next day, James Barnes of the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac arrived and he was also hosted by the Shriver family.
Although Union Mills is close to several population centers, the hamlet itself only has a few residents with no stores in the area. The old Mill has been restored as have several other buildings nearby. You can see the places where the Confederate cavalrymen rested and follow the road north where they road.
Union Mills was established by the two Scriver brothers in 1797. According to the Civil War Trust sign at the site:
“In 1863, brothers Andrew K. and William Shriver resided on either side of the Littlestown Turnpike here and likewise were divided in their loyalties, with William supporting the Confederacy and Andrew the Union. When officers at the head of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry command confronted Andrew Shriver here late on June 29, he staunchly proclaimed, “I can tell you I’m a Union man!” Shriver, a slaveholder, had a son in the Union army. Soon his land, including his yard, gristmill, sawmill, tannery, and orchard were filled with Confederate cavalrymen. The remainder of the column stretched for miles along the turnpike. That night, Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee slept under an apple tree in the orchard behind the house.
Just hours after the Confederates departed the next day, Gen. George Sykes’s footsore and fatigued Union V Corps marched into Union Mills from Frizzelburg and camped in the fields and meadows nearby along Big Pipe Creek. A lieutenant in the 4th Michigan Infantry wrote home that he “washed in a rapid stream at Union Mills,” indulging in a brief respite from the heat.
When 62-year-old Gen. James Barnes needed a bed for the night, Shriver gave him the room once occupied by Washington Irving decades earlier. On the morning of July 1, V Corps marched north across the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania.”
While much of the Mill is in its original condition, the water wheel and race are new and in working condition.
The mill was used to grind corn into cornmeal and wheat into flour. While many of the other buildings on the site were built after the Civil War, the old mill remains in good condition as it appeared when Stuart’s cavalry occupied the site.
Across from the mill is the Miller’s Cottage. This building was built during Reconstruction. It was originally to house B.F. Scriver and his family but by the 1880s it became an apartment for the hired miller.
At the front of the homestead there is an antique sign put up by the State of Maryland explaining the Mill’s historical significance.
The Mill is just a hundred yards from Big Pipe Creek, shown above. On June 28th, 1865, General George Gordon Meade issued the “Pipe Creek Circular” in which he sketched out his plans to contain Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania. Meade had only been in command of the Army of the Potomac for two days when he issued this plan. Here is what it said:
“From information received, the commanding general is satisfied that the object of the movement of the army in this direction has been accomplished, viz, the relief of Harrisburg, and the prevention of the enemy’s intended invasion of Philadelphia, &c., beyond the Susquehanna. It is no longer his intention to assume the offensive until the enemy’s movements or position should render such an operation certain of success.
If the enemy assume the offensive, and attack, it is his intention, after holding them in check sufficiently long, to withdraw the trains and other impedimenta; to Withdraw the army from its present position, and form line of battle with the left resting in the neighborhood of Middleburg, and the right at Manchester, the general direction being that of Pipe Creek. For this purpose, General Reynolds, in command of the left, will withdraw the force at present at Gettysburg, two corps by the road to Taneytown and Westminster, and, after crossing Pipe Creek, deploy toward Middleburg. The corps at Emmitsburg will be withdrawn, via Mechanicsville, to Middleburg, or, if a more direct route can be found leaving Taneytown to their left, to withdraw direct to Middleburg.
General Slocum will assume command of the two corps at Hanover and Two Taverns, and withdraw them, via Union Mills, deploying one to the right and one to the left, after crossing Pipe Creek, connecting on the left with General Reynolds, and communicating his right to General Sedgwick at Manchester, who will connect with him and form the right.
The time for falling back can only be developed by circumstances. Whenever such circumstances arise as would seem to indicate the necessity for falling back and assuming this general line indicated, notice of such movement will be at once communicated to these headquarters and to all adjoining corps commanders.
The Second Corps now at Taneytown will be held in reserve in the vicinity of Uniontown and Frizellburg, to be thrown to the point of strongest attack, should the enemy make it. In the event of these movements being necessary, the trains and impedimenta will all be sent to the rear of Westminster.
Corps commanders, with their officers commanding artillery and the divisions, should make themselves thoroughly familiar with the country indicated, all the roads and positions, so that no possible confusion can ensue, and that the movement, if made, be done with good order, precision, and care, without loss or any detriment to the morale of the troops.
The commanders of corps are requested to communicate at once the nature of their present positions, and their ability to hold them in case of any sudden attack at any point by the enemy.
This order is communicated, that a general plan, perfectly understood by all, may be had for receiving attack, if made in strong force, upon any portion of our present position.
Developments may cause the commanding general to assume the offensive from his present positions.
The Artillery Reserve will, in the event of the general movement indicated, move to the rear of Frizellburg, and be placed in position, or sent to corps, as circumstances may require, under the general supervision of the chief of artillery.
The chief quartermaster will, in case of the general movement indicated, give directions for the orderly and proper position of the trains in rear of Westminster.
All the trains will keep well to the right of the road in moving, and, in case of any accident requiring a halt, the team must be hauled out of the line, and not delay the movements.
The trains ordered to Union Bridge in these events will be sent to Westminster.
General headquarters will be, in case of this movement, at Frizellburg; General Slocum as near Union Mills as the line will render best for him; General Reynolds at or near the road from Taneytown to l.
The chief of artillery will examine the line, and select positions for artillery.
The cavalry will be held on the right and left flanks after the movement is completed. Previous to its completion, it will, as now directed, cover the front and exterior lines, well out.
The commands must be prepared for a movement, and, in the event of the enemy attacking us on the ground indicated herein, to follow up any repulse.
The chief signal officer will examine the line thoroughly, and at once, upon the commencement of this movement, extend telegraphic communication from each of the following points to general headquarters near Frizellburg, viz, Manchester, Union Mills, Middleburg, and the Taneytown road.
All true Union people should be advised to harass and annoy the enemy in every way, to send in information, and taught how to do it; giving regiments by number of colors, number of guns, generals’ names, &c. All their supplies brought to us will be paid for, and not fall into the enemy’s hands.
Roads and ways to move to the right or left of the general line should be studied and thoroughly understood. All movements of troops should be concealed, and our dispositions kept from the enemy. Their knowledge of these dispositions would be fatal to our success, and the greatest care must be taken to prevent such an occurrence.
By command of Major-General Meade:
S. WILLIAMS ,Assistant Adjutant-General.”
The circular showed that just two days before the Battle of Gettysburg, Meade had no intention of pursuing Lee into Pennsylvania in immediate pursuit. Rather, he intended to stay south of Pipe Creek on high hills where he could frustrate the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia by denying them an easy route back into Virginia.
When I first saw Pipe Creek more than two decades ago, I expected it to be wide and deep. As you can see in the photograph below, it is narrow and shallow in many places.
The Union forces at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 under Bufford and Reynolds, Howard and Hancock moved the Union Army north into Pennsylvania. It was not until July 2 that Meade abandoned his “Pipe Creek Circular” and committed to fighting the Confederates at Gettysburg.
Below are the interpretive signs at Union Mills.
The Union Mills site has the original Mill and the Miller’s House, a tannery and a blacksmith’s shop, as well as the family’s mansion, much of which was added after the Civil War. If you are approaching Gettysburg from the South, from Washington or Maryland, for example, this site should be your list of stops to make on Route 97. The admission is $10. However, if you just want to see the exterior of the buildings, you are free to walk around without paying for admission.
For hours and directions, here is the site’s web site.
All color photos are by Pat Young.
To see more sites Pat visited CLICK HERE
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