In June 1863, Harrisburg braced for an invasion as the Confederate troops of Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell steadily moved toward the Pennsylvania capital.

Capturing Carlisle en route, Ewell sent forth a brigade of cavalry under Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins. After occupying Mechanicsburg for two days, Jenkins's troops skirmished with Union militia near Harrisburg. Jenkins then reported back to Ewell that Harrisburg was vulnerable. Ewell, however, received orders from army commander Lee to concentrate southward--toward Gettysburg--immediately. Left in front of Harrisburg, Jenkins had to fight his way out at the Battle of Sporting Hill. The following day, Jeb Stuart's Confederate cavalry made its way to Carlisle and began the infamous shelling of its Union defenders and civilian population. Running out of ammunition and finally making contact with Lee, Stuart also retired south toward Gettysburg. Author Cooper H. Wingert traces the Confederates to the gates of Harrisburg in these northernmost actions of the Gettysburg Campaign.

Cooper H. Wingert is a Civil War historian based in Enola, Pennsylvania. Since 2011, he has given talks at the Hershey Civil War Round Table, the Camp Curtin Historical Society and Civil War Round Table, and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. Gettysburg Magazine featured Wingert's article, "Master's of the Field: A New Interpretation of Wright's Brigade."

Scott L. Mingus, Sr. is a Civil War historian, author, and tour guide based in York, Pennsylvania.