[2] On June 27, 1863, Confederate Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia stopped at Carlisle en route to Harrisburg and requisitioned supplies, forage, and food from the populace.

Ewell, as well as some of his officers, had been stationed at the Carlisle Barracks prior to the Civil War when they were still members of the United States Army.

During the early evening of July 1, Stuart led two brigades of cavalry, which had just completed a raid in Maryland and Pennsylvania, to Carlisle.

[3][verification needed] A third brigade, under Wade Hampton, remained behind in York County to guard a train of 125 captured Federal supply wagons.

In addition to minimal Union and Confederate casualties, a lumber yard and the town gas works were destroyed after being set ablaze.