Gettysburg and Boots

[Wild Bill]

I'm not sure about the shoe factory, it was an early rationale among writers of the battle, but both times the Confederates went through Gettysburg, Early on June 26 and Heth on July 1, they tried to requisition shoes. The town pleaded poverty to Early and allowed him to plunder through local dry goods stores and Heth was sidetracked by the battle itself, although Early had pretty much sacked everything already. Gettysburg was a road junction (at least 12 roads converged there) and both sides expected to find the other there. Coddington, The Gettysburg Campaign