His long train of captured wagons seriously hindered the rapid movement of his horsemen, but he was unwilling to abandon these supplies that he knew were so greatly needed by Lee’s army. If, however, he could have foreseen the events of the next few days he would have burned the wagons and hurried by forced marches to join General Lee who had to fight the first two days’ battle at Gettysburg without the valuable aid of Stuart and his cavalry. But Stuart acted in the light of what he knew and did what seemed best at the time, holding on to his valuable prize in spite of the fact that it delayed his march to York nearly two days. On the morning of June 30, Stuart had a sharp encounter with cavalry, at Hanover, Pennsylvania, and at one time it seemed that he would have to give up his captured wagons. He already had them parked, so that they could easily be burned if he was compelled to leave them, but Hampton’s and Fitz Lee’s brigades, which had been guarding the wagons in the rear, came up and the Federals were dislodged. Stuart remained at Hanover until night, in order to hold the Federals in check, while the wagon trains were sent toward York under the protection of Fitz Lee’s brigade. [Illustration: A FEDERAL WAGON PARK Wagons containing valuable supplies for which Stuart risked so much in his daring raids] Major McClellan tells us that this night’s march was terrible to both the troopers and the drivers of the wagons. The men were hungry and exhausted, and so were the mules. Every time a wagon stopped, it caused a halt along the whole line, and as the drivers were constantly falling asleep, these halts occurred very frequently. It required the utmost vigilance on the part of every officer on Stuart’s staff to keep the train in motion. When Fitz Lee reached the road leading from York to Gettysburg, he learned that Early had already marched westward. When Stuart arrived at this point, he sent out couriers to find Early and locate the other Confederate forces. He then pushed immediately on to Carlisle where he hoped to obtain provisions for his weary and hungry troops, but when he reached Carlisle, he found it already in possession of the Federals. Smith, the Federal general in command, was summoned to surrender, but he replied, “If you want the city, come and take it.” Stuart was preparing to storm the city when he received orders from General Lee to move at once toward Gettysburg.