attacked by Stuart's cavalry, which had been moving on a road that ran parallel to the one used by the Union column. The 18th was thrown into momentary confusion; as a result it was driven through the town before it could rally. Then it turned and rapidly drove the enemy back to the cover of its artillery.
In the meantime, the head of Kilpatrick's column had rested and was on the move again. When Kilpatrick heard the Confederate artillery, he turned the head of his column and formed a line of battle on the hills south of town, while the Confederates occupied the heights to the north and the 18th occupied the town. The artillery firing and skirmishing continued till dark when the enemy retreated.
This cavalry clash at Hanover turned Stuart back south and prevented him from reaching Lee in time to warn him of the movement of the Union Army towards Gettysburg.
On July 1st, General Kilpatrick moved to Berlin, where the cannonading at Gettysburg could be heard faintly in the distance. On the 2d, he turned through Abbottstown and New Oxford, to confront the rear of the enemy's left wing. The rebel cavalry charged, but was handsomely repulsed by Custer's Brigade, and a brisk cannonade was kept up until dark. At evening the 1st brigade moved to the rear of the Union lines, on the extreme left of the field, beyond Round Top (Bushman Hill).
At daylight on the July 3d, it struck the enemy's right wing, and was hotly engaged the entire day. The surface of the country was rought here, and unfavorable for the handling of cavalry, but towards evening Kilpatrick, who was ever eager to strike when an opportunity presented, ordered the First Brigade to charge. Led by Brigadier General Farnsworth, the brigade, including the 18th, succeeded in driving the enemy in upon his main line, but was unable to dislodge his infantry from its impregnable position behind stone walls, and rocky, wooded heights. Brigadier General Farnsworth, a gallant officer, was killed. The Eighteenth lost several wounded, but none killed. The cannonading upon the centre of the two armies, which had been heavy beyond example, died away, and the rain poured down in torrents as the brigade retired.
Early on the morning of the 4th, Kilpatrick moved towards Maryland, passing through Emmittsburg, and by the flank of Lee's army, struck Confederate General Jubal Ewell's wagon train at midnight as it was crossing South Mountain near Monterey Springs. He immediately charged, scattering the train guard, captured two pieces of artillery, a thousand prisoners, and two hundred wagons and ambulances. The head of the rebel army, which was now in full retreat, was following close upon his path, and Kilpatrick was obliged to drive at a break-neck speed down the narrow mountain road, to escape with his captures. The following day, Kilpatrick's troops managed to hold the enemy at bay until they reached Boonsboro where their prisoners were delivered to General French's command of infantry.
Early on the next day the brigade moved to Hagerstown, where the head of the enemy's column was met. Immediately deploying a lumn, he ordered a charge by two battalions of the Eighteenth, commanded
by Captains William C. Lindsey, and John W. Phillips, and led by Lieutenant Colonel William P. Brinton, in command of the 18th Regiment, and Captain Ulrich Dahlgren, acting as volunteer aid to the commanding general. The enemy was driven through the town, and the Colonel of the Tenth Virginia Cavalry was taken prisoner; but the squadrons lost heavily, in consequence of having to face, with sabres, in a narrow street, an enemy who was using pistols. Captain Dahlgren lost a leg. Captain Lindsey was killed. The color-bearer of company A was shot dead, but fell on his face, and died holding fast to the standard. Sergeant Joseph Brown, of company B, was shot by a woman, who fired from
a window after he had passed.
The town was occupied during the day by troops of both the contending parties, and skirmishing and artillery firing was kept up. In the afternoon the enemy advanced his infantry, which had arrived in large force. A squadron of the Eighteenth, Companies L, and M, was ordered to charge into the town to test the enemy's strength. Gallantly this devoted band responded, and dashed into the heart of the place; but few of its number returned, as the enemy had occupied the cross-streets, and now closed in behind them. Kilpatrick was obliged to retire before the strong infantry columns, but sullenly, contesting every inch of ground until long after night-fall, the enemy making repeated charges upon his artillery, and being as often repulsed. The object of this demonstration was to delay the enemy until Buford could destroy the pontoon bridge at Williamsport.
Following the Battle of Hagerstown, July 6, 1863, Company L records show Lawrence Fiegenschuh as Missing In Action. In fact, he had been captured, and taken as a prisoner of war to Richmond, Virginia, where he was held captive on Belle Isle, an island in the middle of the James River Belle Isle was simply that, an island. There was no housing for prisoners so they were forced to battle the elements, winter an summer, in order to survive.
Eventually Corporal Fiegenschuh was paroled and reported back to the Union Army in Washington. In January 1864, he was Honorably Discharged from Federal Service on a Medical Surgeon's Certificate.
Lawrence Fiegenschuh died of tuberculosis in Philadelphia, November 8th, 1872 at the age of 49 years and 3 months. His place of burial is unknown although it is believed to be in Philadelphia.
Three monuments at Gettysburg memorialize the actions of the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Two are at Big Round Top; one honors the Regiment and one specifically honors the 3rd Division, 1st Brigade. A third is the Pennsylvania State Monument where under the dome the
name "L. Fiegschuh" (missing the "en") appears on the 18th Pennsylvania Plaque.
Recently an inscribed brick honoring Lawrence was placed in the Walk of Valor at the National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA. On three lines it reads:
