Stewarts and Lower Chanceford in the Civil War?

York county is the next county east of Adams county, the county seat of which is Gettysburg.  It's near enough it had a fair amount of Civil War action.  The York blogs have mentioned some of this.  This post at Universal York has a list of names from Lower Chanceford township which were in a hastily-alerted unit mustered during July 1863.  I see several Stewarts, who might descend from Capt. John and Mary Orson.  I also note some surnames which are familiar in NY: Grove, Fulton, Boyd, Smith--I often wonder whether the migration to Geneva, NY accounts for some of the overlap in names between the two areas.

With this number of men from Lower Chanceford, I also wonder how many were away fighting?

For Rippey and Orson Campers

It seems our Rippey and Orson ancestors lived in an area that's now attractive to campers and wildlife enthusiasts. Here's a map of the area with links and here's an overview. The Holtwood Dam is lower on the Susquehanna, and it backs water up to this area. The power company bought land in the area in connection with the dam which is now preserved from development.

As I posted yesterday, George Orson (Mary's brother) may have operated the Shenk's Ferry, presumably from the Orson land on the west bank. Googling "Shenk's Ferry" gave some interesting results. The Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve is on the east side of the Susquehanna. The Urey overlook on the west side of the Susquehanna is near, and possibly on, the Orson land. The Otter Creek area possibly contains old growth forest (i.e., never logged). Follow this link. Finally, "Shenks Ferry" designates a culture of the Woodland Indians, based excavations done in Conestoga Township (east bank).

I've added a line indicating the probable Shenks Ferry route to this
View Chanceford (Rippey/Orson/Stewart) Map in a larger map

Chanceford Township

Bought "A History of Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania, 1747-1997, issued by the Brogue Community Lions Club, November 1997, June R. Grove and Richard Konkel, Esq., editors.

It's well done, with lots of information, but Capt. Rippey doesn't star. There is a mention of an "Orson Mill" and a ferry which George Orson operated in 1783. Captain Reed operated after the Revolution. Doing an Internet search finds a reference to Captain Reed's operating the Orson Mill and having "river rights" and operating a ferry which became known as "Shenk's Ferry".

At the rear there's a section of local genealogies. The one for the Stewarts adds some information for them, including the fact Ernest Stewart wrote a "Stewart Genealogy".

From a York history:

CHANCEFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – This church is located a short distance southeast of the
village of Airville, and its early history was intimately connected with the Slate Ridge
Church, of Peach Bottom Township, the two congregations, being served by the same pastors for
many years.  The exact time of its organization could not be accurately ascertained, through
references are made to it in official records as early as 1760.  The first settlers of this
interesting section were a very worthy class of Scotch-Irish, many of whose descendants are now
members of this church.  The first house of worship was known as “the tent,” which was removed
and a substantial church built.  The present church was built in 1850.  This one is soon to
give place to a new one.