About 38,000 Union troops from three corps passed through Saint Joseph's Valley during the five days before the Battle of Gettysburg, and to the sisters "the grounds around were actually covered with Soldiers." Emmitsburg was placed under martial law, and the priests at St. Joseph's Church in town needed passes to come there. Generals John Reynolds and Oliver O. Howard stayed at St. Joseph's Rectory, while General Daniel Sickles camped north of town. General Carl Schurz stayed in the White House completed in 1810 for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and her community. On June 28, St. Joseph's farm manager Joseph Brawner prepared to harvest a clover field but found it barren after the 5th and 6th Michigan Cavalry troopers, who had arrived the night before, turned their horses loose to graze, and the officers gave the sisters a voucher to pay for the clover. Sister Mary Jane Stokes, who had charge of the farm and farm workers at St. Joseph's Central House, recorded feeding soldiers she said looked "half-starved, lank as herrings, and barefoot," as the sisters cut bread through the late afternoon and evening and gave it to them as fast as they came for it, though there was still bread left for the sisters' supper. On July 1, 1863, Colonel Régis de Trobriand used the Motherhouse belfry for surveillance.
