Days of Uncertainty and Dread

The Ordeal Endured by Citizens at Gettysburg

Jerry Bennett

Introduction to Gettysburg

Incorporated in 1800 Population Diversity Economic Diversity Advanced infrastructure & services Geographic location

James Getty

Economic Diversity
County seat Higher education Agriculture and manufacturing Retail merchandise

Population Diversity
2400 people Professional: doctors, lawyers, teachers, bankers Merchants: shop owners Skilled labor Unskilled labor

Advanced infrastructure/services
450 major buildings 2 institutions of higher learning 2 banks 3 weekly newspapers 8 churches Railroad service Telegraph service Gas company Water company 5 hotels

Chambersburg St.

York St.

Baltimore St.

Carlisle St.

Lutheran Theological Seminary

Pennsylvania College
N. Washington St.

Geographic Location
Only 40 miles from Potomac River and the Confederacy Subjected to numerous alarms that The Rebels are Coming all but one were false No prior experience to prepare them to cope with what engulfed them

June 15-30

Unmistakable signs
Early warnings of Confederate Invasion The town takes action to protect itself The first Confederate occupation of Gettysburg An emotional seesaw precedes the arrival of contending armies

Early warnings of Confederate Invasion

June 12- Gov. Curtin issued a state wide warning of possible invasion June 16- The first of alarms that Rebels are coming Anxiety escalated to panic Fugitives from Chambersburg actually reported Rebel atrocities

Sallie Myers The town was in a perfect uproar. The excitement was intense for awhile but gradually subsided when the alarm proved false.

Fannie Buehler
When the Rebs did not come we lost faith in their coming We tried to make ourselves believe that they would never come.

The town takes action to protect itself

June 17 A group of 83, mostly college and Seminary students, enlist in the 26th Pa. Emerg. Vol. Inf. They became Co. A and left immediately for Harrisburg. They would return in the morning of June 26 Second call for local volunteers results in cavalry company under Capt. Bell They begin patrolling roads west and find Confederate scouts above Cashtown, 8 miles from Gettysburg. Both parties turn away and retreat.

Chambersburg Pike
Looking west from McPhersons Ridge

Chambersburg Pike Confederates First View of Gettysburg

Chambersburg Street at Buford

The Gettysburg Compiler Their deportment generally was civil.

Fannie Buehller agreed: They were civil and well behaved.

Catherine Foster

The suspense grew intolerable to which the battle proved a relief.

Intersection with Chambersburg St. to Seminary Ridge

South Washington Street

Bufords Entry into Gettysburg

Albertus McCreary

Not anyone even dreamed that a great battle would be fought near us.

July 1

An Awful Reality
A normal day turned upside down The wounded and the humanitarian response by Gettysburgs women Varied behavior among many citizens

Violent fighting in Gettysburgs streets

Union soldiers hidden at great risk by citizens

Scott/McAllister House - 1st Block Chambersburg St. #43-45

Christ Lutheran
1st block Chambersburg St. 1st Church opened for a hospital

John Burns

North End Washington Street 1st Corps Retreat

Baltimore Street
Looking north from Cemetery Hill 11th Corps retreat route

Home of Professor Jacobs

Catherine Garlach Alex Schimmelfennig

Garlach woodshed

Alice Powers

At night all was quiet but the tramp of guards reminded the town that its citizens were prisoners.

July 2nd

O How I Dread Life under enemy occupation Tomorrow

Citizens mobility not evenly accessible in Living in a combat zone No one is safe from errant artillery

Gettysburg,

A rare night battle spoils sleep for the town

Baltimore St. from Jennie Wade

Union Skirmish Line

Intersection of Baltimore Street. & Steinwehr Ave.

Jennie Wade

July 3rd

The Heavens and Earth Were Crashing Together

A putrid atmosphere
Putting forth all their might

The Confederates were sullen and gloomy

Sarah Broadhead
We knew that with every explosion human beings were hurried through excruciating pain into another world and many more were mangled and lying in torment worse than death. The thought made me very sad. We knew that the Confederates were putting forth all their might and it was a dreadful thought that they might succeed.

Henry Jacobs
It was such a duel as forced the sense of hearing to grope amid the thundering chaos and to leave the mind almost dazed by the concussions.

Albertus McCreary

The vibrations could be felt and the atmosphere was so full of smoke that we could taste the saltpeter

Stoever House

July 4th
Resurrected From An Untold Ordeal
I knew we were now safe Serious dangers still prevailed a dreadfully long day

Serious dangers still prevailed

A dreadfully long day

Day is ended and all is quiet, and for the first time in a week I shall go to bed feeling safe -Sarah Broadhead

July 5th

The People Of Gettysburg Assisted In Everyway

A second invasion Debilitating conditions Aftermath

A second invasion

tis not the same quiet old place as it was.