M.A. Kleen

On June 29, 1863, Gen. Robert. E. Lee issued his fateful order to concentrate the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania. His cavalry commander, Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, was still trying to link up with his army somewhere south of Harrisburg. Stuart’s goal was to disrupt Federal logistics behind the lines, so he sent Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s brigade to the important railhead at Westminster, Maryland, ten miles from the Pennsylvania border. A small detachment from the 150th New York Infantry Regiment had been guarding Westminster all June. On June 28th, Companies C and D of the 1st Delaware Cavalry joined them. Their commander was Maj. Napoleon Boneparte Knight. Twenty-five-year-old Charles Corbit was his regiment’s senior captain. They had a grand total of 108 men to the 150th NY’s 15.

Around 5pm the next day, Fitzhugh Lee approached Westminster from the south with 1,653 veteran troopers. They snatched up a handful of Union pickets, and a local farmer rode into town to warn their compatriots. Capt. Charles Corbit mounted up and formed their small force into rows. Not knowing the size of their enemy, Corbit ordered a charge headlong into the advancing Confederates. A brief but fierce fight erupted. The local postmaster called it “an almost suicidal bravery”. The results were, perhaps, predictable, but Corbit’s daring actions delayed J.E.B. Stuart’s advance another day. Corbit was captured, and the small Federal force was all but annihilated. Only 43 of the combined force of 123 escaped. Both sides suffered two killed.