The Route of United States Army Despatch Riders / Confederate So
The Route of United States Army Despatch Riders
who entered Perry County through this pass, known as Sterrett's Gap (originally Croghan's Gap, named for George Croghan, pioneer trader and Indian intepreter), later crossing the Juniata River at Reider's Ferry (now Newport), bearing orders from the United States War Department to the forces at the front of the Canadian border during the war with Great Britain (1812-1814).
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Confederate Soldiers Farthest Advance
into the North during the Civil War (1861-1865) was on this road to Carlisle, one and one-fourth miles southwest of this marker on June 27, 1863, four days before the Battle of Gettysburg. At that time Perry Countians swarmed to the mountain pass here, hastily fortified it and awaited the Confederates.
Marker is on Spring Road (Pennsylvania Route 34) near Sunnyside Drive, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
