Recollections of Visitations at Gettysburg After the Great Battle in

“. . . we witnessed many touching scenes.”
I n T h e i r Wo r d s :
R e c o l l e c ti o n s o f Vi s it a ti o n s a t G e tt y s b u rg
A f t e r t h e G r e a t B a tt l e i n J u l y, 1863
INTRODUCTION
by Silas Felton
Sometimes the lead to a subject for “In Their
Words” is as exciting as the article itself. In an
unscheduled early morning visit to discuss some
of the previous research, the indomitable Adams
County Historical Society director, Wayne Motts,
was present and at his normal hyper speed. After
a brief discussion of what we had reviewed the
previous evening, Wayne said “I’ve got an article
that I think you have to use.” He gave me a fullblown account of the article as he ran the copy, and,
more importantly, the reason why we should use
the account now. The Rev. Franklin Jaco b Fogel
Schantz in this account twice visits the Spangler
Farm, which was the site of the Eleventh Corps
hospital during and after the battle. He delivered
relief supplies and comfort to the wounded in
the week after the battle, and again at the end of
July. The Gettysburg Foundation purchased the
Spangler Farm in 2008. The farm has four original
buildings includ ing house and barn. There is little
change in the landscape from the time of the Civil
War. Extensive restoration work will be required to
restore the barn and remove non-period buildings.
So, for you who love the Gettysburg Battlefield,
here’s a chance to help fund the restoration of a
near pristine site. 1
The article that Wayne copied for me, originally
appeared in the magazine of the Lebanon County
(Pennsylvania) Historical Society in 1963. It was
a copy of the manuscript of a speech the Reverend
Schantz gave repeatedly in the 1890s. Professor
Ralph S. Shay edited the manuscript and added
an introduction with a biography of Schantz. The
manuscript was provided to professor Shay by
two of Reverend Schantz’s granddaughters, Miss
Agnes S. Haak and Miss Mildred C. Haak. 2
For Schantz, the visits were a return to the
Gettysburg of his seminary training, just six years
previous, and friends from his student d ays. He
was quite familiar with the town in its pre-battle
condition. His German heritage served him well
106
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Silas Felton is a retired USAF colonel.
Pennsylvania born and raised, he graduated from
Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania. He is
married with four children.
Wayne E. Motts is the executive director of the
Adams County Historical Society and a Licensed
Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military
Park. He is the author of Trust in God and Fear
Nothing the only published biography of Confederate
General Lewis A. Armistead who died at the George
Spangler farm. He wishes to thank Dr. Charles
H. Glatfelter and the late Arthur Weaner for their
tireless efforts in researching the Spangler property,
most especially its early history.
Acknowledgements
Once again, I owe many for help to bring this
article to fruition. First, thanks to Wayne Motts,
Director of the Adams County Historical Society,
for bringing the original article to my attention,
and providing the in-depth history of the Spangler farm. His enthusiasm is contagious. Next to
Brian Kissler and the Archival Board of the Lebanon County Historical Society for permission to
reprint the text of Franklin Jacob Fogel Schantz’s
speech. Then to Cindy Small, Communications
and Marketing Manager, and Joanne M. Hanley,
President of the Gettysburg Foundation for access
to the Spangler farm and information on plans for
the farm’s future. Cindy escorted us around the
farm and patiently answered all our questions and
then arranged for time with Joanne to answer the
questions of where to with the farm? And finally,
to Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter for the fine details of
names and history provided at a distance through
Wayne Motts. To all, thanks for your help taking
another walk back into history.
1 . C o n t r i b u t i o n s w o u l d b e w el co m ed at F r i en d s of G ettys burg/
Gettysburg Foundation, PO Box 4629, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
T h ey sh o u l d b e d esi g n at ed f o r t h e G eo rg e S pangler f ar m.
2 . T h e o r i g i n a l p u b l i c a t i o n o f R e v. F. J . F. S c h antz’s speech
w a s e d i t e d b y P r o f e s s o r R a l p h H . S h a y a n d published as
“R ef l ect i o n s o n t h e B at t l e o f G et t y sb u rg , ” i n the Lebanon
C o u n t y H i st o ri ca l S o ci et y, v o l . X I I , n o . 6 , (1963), pp.
2 7 5 - 3 0 3 . P a g e s 2 7 5 - 7 7 a r e P r o f e s s o r S h a y ’s introduction
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
and hospital, including his research on the changes
on the house in the postwar period. So here we
offer you his expert history of this exquisite site.
We return here to a subject raised earlier.
There is a wonderful opportunity to assist in the
restoration of an important hospital, the nearest to
the Civil War condition remaining. Please consider
contributing to assist in this valuable e ffort.
Franklin Jacob Fogel Schantz 3
Courtesy of Archives and Special Collections,
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Rev. Franklin Jacob Fogel Schantz
as he was bilingual and could speak and preach to
the many German-speaking wounded both at the
Eleventh Corps hospital and in the hospitals in the
Seminary buildings. He returned in November for
the dedication of the cemetery and included that
trip in his narrative.
Reverend Schantz gives vivid accounts of
his observations, including pithy words on the
conduct of some of the surgeons. He gives a good
account of the efforts of the civilians in h is home
area to raise relief supplies and the problems of
getting them transported to the wounded. In all,
an interesting and different view of the post-battle
efforts to ameliorate the chaos left behind.
Something new with this article is the addition
of a co-author. As we got deeper into the subject,
we arranged a visit to the farm for photographs and
to pick the mind of Cindy Small of the Gettysburg
Foundation on the history and status of the farm.
Wayne Motts accompanied us on the visit, and in
fact, helped set up the visit. It was obvious that he
had far more knowledge of the farm and hospital
than I could possibly obtain, so with some further
discussion, he agreed to do a section on t he farm
Issue Number Forty-six
Franklin J. F. Schantz was born January 8,
1836, at the family home of Jacob and Sarah
(Fogel) Schantz in the quaintly named village of
Schantz’s Mill, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He
attended school in the local system and moved
on to Allentown Academy, Allentown Seminary,
and finally to Franklin and Marshall College,
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he graduated
in 1855. That same year he enrolled at the
Gettysburg Seminary as one of four in that class
and graduated in 1857. He was licensed as an
Evangelical Lutheran minister, and ordained in
June 1858, serving initially at Trinity Lutheran
Church in Reading. Reverend Schantz married
Cordelia S. Saeger April 29, 1858. In 1861 he
moved on to Catasauqua where he served multiple
congregations: St. Paul’s Church, Catasauqua;
South White Hall Church nearby; and St. Thomas’
Church, Altonah. Subsequently he moved to the
Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, in 1867 and
served there until his death January 19, 1907.
Schantz was active within the church
community as an agent for Muhlenburg College
and the Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary
in Philadelphia and was a founder and president
of the Pennsylvania German Society. An active
writer and lecturer in both religion and history, the
text of this article is the manuscript of a speech he
gave repeatedly in the 1890s.
The Schantz’s raised three sons and three
daughters. Mrs. Schantz proceeded her husband in
death in June 1889.
The Eleventh Army Corps Hospital
at the George Spangler Farm:
A Short History
by Wayne E. Motts
a n d t h e b i o g r a p h i c a l m a t e r i a l o n R e v e r e n d Schantz. The
r em ai n i n g p ag es ar e t h e t ex t o f S ch an t z’s sp e ech.
3 . T h i s b r i e f b i o g r a p h y i s a c o m p o s i t e o f m a t e rial from two
s o u r c e s : S h a y, “ R e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e B a t t l e o f Gettysburg,”
p p . 2 7 5 - 7 7 , an d A r d el R o ss Wen t z, co mp. and ed.,
G et t ysb u rg L u t h era n T h eo l o g i ca l S em i n ar y, 2 vols.
( H a r r i s b u rg , P e n n s y l v a n i a : T h e E v a n g e l i cal Press, c.
1 9 6 5 ) , v o l . 2 , A l u m n i R eco r d , p . 4 4 .
107
Engulfed by the events of 1863, forty-sevenyear-old Adams County resident George Spangler
and his family f ound themselves in the middle of
the aftermath of the greatest battle of the Civil War.
It is doubtful Spangler was aware of the complete
history of his farmstead, which nearly a century
and a half later was purchased with an eye toward
preservation. While much has been discovered
about Spangler ’s farm and family, there remain
many unanswered questions. A focused effort by
several historians and an historic preservation
team have recen tly added to our understanding of
the history and significance of this vital piece of
land related to the Battle of Gettysburg.
The farm of George Spangler is lo cated a
short distance south of Gettysburg between the
Taneytown Road and Baltimore Pike. In 1781
John Fleming, a son-in-law to Samuel Gettys, was
taxed for 165 acres, a grist mill, and two stills
which were loca ted on land south of what became
the town of Gettysburg, and east of what is now
the Baltimore Pike. This was the famous mill and
property later acquired by James McAlister in
1827. 4
John Fleming died in 1783 and not long after,
his wife, Elizabeth Gettys Fleming, also passed
away leaving four children, none of whom were
of majority age. The estate was, therefore, placed
in trusteeship for the Fleming children and at one
time James Gettys, brother-in-law to the late John
Fleming and founder of the town of Gettysburg,
managed the property. By 1798, the Fleming
family holdings in this section of Cumberland
Township had grown to just under 300 acres,
including acreage west of Baltimore Pike. Ten
years later the family managers decided to split
the property holdings along the Baltimore Pike
into two sections and sell the land. Accordingly,
the western half of the acreage, some 140 acres
which was the future site of George Spangler ’s
farm buildings, was sold to Alexander Cobean
(1767-1823). 5
Cobean was a man well-known in Gettysburg
and the surrounding area. During his lifetime
he was involved in many activities, including a
stint in the state legislature, and an officer in the
local militia. He amassed a significant amount
of land holdings up to the time of his death, but
the economic downturn which affected the entire
country in 1819 struck Cobean hard. Several of
his properties were sold by the sheriff to satisfy
his debts. Included among the properties for sale
was the land Cobean owned west of the Baltimore
Pike. 6
An advertisement for the sale of the property
appeared in the local paper and once sold the
sheriff received $800 for Cobean’s p arcel. The
purchaser was the Bank of Gettysburg. The sheriff
described the land sold as “a tract of land situated
in Cumberland Township Adams County adjoining
lands of Daniel Heck, William Clark and others
containing one hundred and thirty acres more or
less on which are erected a stone dwelling house, a
stone still house and stone barn.” This description
of the property is significant because when
Cobean acquired the tract in 1808 there was no
mention of a house or other structures. Sometime
between 1808 and 1823, Cobean erected the
buildings noted. These included the stone house
which George Spangler inhabited with his family
during the battle. Despite an exhaustive search of
the historic records related to the property and
the thorough analysis of the physical structure by
the historic structures team, no exact date for the
erection of the stone house has been found. The
stone barn listed by the sheriff and still house
were removed sometime between 1823 and the
battle. 7
In 1827, the Bank of Gettysburg sold the
Cobean property to a Gettysburg weaver named
Henry Bishop, Sr. (1786-1862). There is no known
deed of this transaction, but there is a transfer of
the real estate in the tax records for Cumberland
Township from the Bank of Gettysburg to Bishop.
Bishop kept the property for twenty-one years and
may have been the owner who oversaw the erection
of most of the structures on the homestead during
the Civil War and the removal of the still house and
stone barn. We simply do not know. In 1848 Bishop
sold eighty acres, which encompassed the house
and barn, to George Spangler. Once again there
is no known deed for this transaction. Curiously,
the first identified deed for the farm was dated
April 20, 1905. This deed mentions the sale from
Bishop to Spangler in 1848, but unfortunately no
specific month or day is listed for the transfer of
ownership. 8
Who were George Spangler and his family?
The Spangler family was one of the fir st families
of German decent in what is now Adams County.
George was the eldest son of Abraham and Mary
108
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
4 . C h a r l e s H . G l a t f l e t e r w i t h a s s i s t a n c e f r o m Arthur Weaner
a n d Wa y n e E . M o t t s , “ T h e L a s t Tr y Tr a c t i n the Manor of
t h e M a s k e , ” J u l y 1 2 , 2 0 11 , S p a n g l e r F a r m Vertical File,
A d a m s C o u n t y H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y ( A C H S ) , Gettysburg,
P en n sy l v an i a.
5 . I b i d.
6 . I b i d.
7 . I b i d. R e c e n t l y i t w a s d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e s t o n e house on the
p r o p e r t y w a s e n l a rg e d a f t e r t h e C i v i l Wa r b y Spangler.
8 . Tax List, 1827-1828, Cumberland Township, Adams County,
A C H S ; To m b s t o n e C a r d , H e n r y B i s h o p , S r., ACHS; Tax
L i s t , 1 8 4 9 , C u m b e r l a n d To w n s h i p , A d a m s C ounty, ACHS;
A d a m s C o u n t y D e e d B o o k 6 0 , p . 4 8 4 , A C H S.
The George Spangler farm, circa 1890.
K. Spangler. Abraham and his wife had a large
family of eleven children. In 1827, Abraham
bought a 205-acre farm with the house located on
the east side of the Baltimore Pike not far from
the current limits of Gettysburg. This house, built
of logs, still stands north of the intersection of
Hunt Avenue and Baltimore Pike. It was owned
by Abraham during the battle, although he and
his wife rented it to their son Henry, a brother
to George, while Abraham and Mary resided in
a farmhouse along Chambersburg Pike, west of
Willoughby Run , in the heart of what bec ame the
first day’s battlefield. 9
George Spangler was born in Straban Township,
Adams County, on December 19, 1815. By age
twelve, he moved with his father to the farm on
Baltimore Pike and spent his early years there
where he received a common school education.
With so many brothers and sisters one might
wonder about th e financial status of the Spangler
family. It appears from the records George, even
as a young man, did quite well financially as a
farmer. He was married on March 25, 1841, to
Elizabeth Brinkerhoff, the daughter of Cornelius,
who resided in nearby Mount Pleasant Township.
This union produced four children: Harriet Jane
(1842-1904), Sabina Catherine (1844-1924), Daniel
Issue Number Forty-six
Gettysburg National Military Park
E. (1845-1932), and Beniah J. (1848-1932). All
four children lived to adulthood and three of the
four resided all their lives in Adams County. Only
Daniel Spangler left the area, settling in Kansas
and working as a carpenter. The youngest son,
Beniah, was born on the property while the other
three children moved there when George purchased
the property. 10
After two years on the property, George and
his family were slowly building the capacity of the
farm and with it the wealth of the family. The 1850
census listed George as a farmer with an estate
valued at $2,500. The agricultural census taken
the same year noted the Spangler farm consisted
of eighty improved acres and twenty-two acres of
unimproved land. The cash value of the farm was
listed at $2,500. The farm machinery was valued
9 . Ti m o t h y H . S m i t h , F a r m s a t G e t t y s b u rg : The Fields of
B a t t l e S e l e c t e d I m a g e s f ro m t h e A d a m s C o u nty Historical
S o ci et y ( G et t y sb u rg , P en n sy l v an i a: T h o m as P ublications ,
2007), pp. 43, 7.
1 0 . H i st o ry o f A d a m s C o u n t y P en n syl va n i a (Chicago:
Wa r n e r B e e r s & C o m p a n y, 1 8 8 6 ; r e p r i n t , Gettysburg,
P en n sy l v an i a: A d am s C o u n t y H i st o r i cal S ociety, 1992) ,
p p . 4 0 3 - 4 ; S p a n g l e r F a m i l y F i l e , A C H S ; To m bstone Cards,
H a r r i e t J a n e , S a b i n a C a t h e r i n e , a n d B e n i a h J. Spangler,
A C H S ; 1 8 8 0 F ed era l C en su s, A b i l e n e , D i c k i nson, County,
K an sas, p . 5 4 ; G et t ysb u rg Ti m es , D e c e m ber 29, 1932
( o b i t u ar y o f B en i ah J. S p an g l er ) .
109
at $150. Spangler also owned three milk cows, two
horses, and four pigs. The Spangler farm produced
150 bushels of wheat, 125 bushels of oats, and 50
bushels of Indian corn. 11
In the 1860 Agricultural Census the farm
was listed as eighty-five improved acres and
fifteen unimproved acres. In the decade since the
previous agricultural census the Spangler farm
had doubled in value from $2,500 to $5,000. The
value of Spangler ’s farm machinery had also
doubled from $150 to $300. On the eve of the
Civil War, Spangler owned seven milk cows, six
horses, three sheep, and thirteen pigs. In addition
to his livestock the farm produced 180 bushels of
wheat, 600 bushels of Indian corn (twelve times
more than he produced ten years earlier), and 202
bushels of oats. The farm also had hay, butter,
buckwheat, sweet potatoes, and Irish potatoes. 12
On March 29, 1861, George expanded his land
holdings and purchased sixty-five acres of land
north of his own tract from Peter Weike rt. This
land was north of modern Granite School House
Lane and included Power ’s Hill, a vital Union
artillery position during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Thus, during th e battle George Spangler owned
166 acres in Cumberland Township. What was on
his property during the battle? While no map or
precise contemporary description of all the farm
buildings by type, location, and construction
from 1863 exists, the Warren Map surveyed in
1868-1869, along with eyewitness accounts of
the activities on the property while a hospital,
and investigation by the team hired for the
historic structures report, together give us a good
indication of buildings on the property when the
armies concentrated at Gettysburg. Certainly the
stone house, summer kitchen, smoke house, and
barn are origina l from the time of the bat tle. The
date of construction of all these buildings is not
definitely known. 13
While Spangler must have known of the
proximity of the Union and Confederate forces
by late June 1863 from the earlier Southern
movement through the town on June 26, and the
arrival of Union cavalry under the command of
John Buford four days later, he elected to remain
on his farm with his family during the subsequent
battle. Geography favored Spangler and his family
with a large, wide, flat plane which surrounded
his home and barn. The farm also possessed an
excellent well and was only a stone’s throw from
Rock Creek, one of the area’s most significant
watercourses. These same features made the
Spangler homestead an ideal location for the
treatment of wounded Union soldiers. By the
afternoon of the first day of battle, the surgical
staff of the Second Division of the Union Eleventh
Corps took over the farm and immediately set
about their work. Within a few days the property
served as the field hospital for the entir e Eleventh
Corps with the consolidation of the First and Third
Division hospitals. Unfortunately, no complete
and/or official listing of the wounded at the farm
is known to have survived. Such a list did exist,
and at one time was noted in the holdings of the
adjutant general’s office in Washington , D.C., but
the ledger book of wounded present at the farm
is no longer extant. We, therefore, must rely on
military service records, newspaper accounts,
pension applications, eyewitness accounts from
the personnel stationed there, visitors, and patients
who survived the ordeal. 14
110
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
Courtesy of Wayne E. Motts
Detail from the Warren Survey Map of 1868-69
showing the Spangler farm buildings.
According to a report filed by J. H. Douglas of
the United States Sanitary Commission on August
15, 1863, there were 1,800 Union wounded at the
farm and approximately 100 Confederates being
treated there. So many wounded soldiers occupied
the place that not all of them could fit inside
the small number of buildings. Therefore, tents
were erected, most likely in the meadow north of
Spangler ’s house and barn, to accommodate not
only the wounded, but also to shelter the many
1 1 . 1 8 5 0 F ed era l C en su s , C u m b er l an d To w n s hip, A dams
C o u n t y, P en n sy l v an i a, p . 1 2 ; 1 8 5 0 A g ri cu l tur al Cens us,
C u m b er l an d To w n sh i p , A d am s C o u n t y, P en n sylvania.
1 2 . 1 8 6 0 F ed era l C en su s , C u m b er l an d To w n s hip, A dams
C o u n t y, P e n n s y l v a n i a .
1 3 . A d a m s C o u n t y D e e d B o o k 6 0 , p . 4 8 4 , A CHS; Warren
S u r v e y M a p , 1 8 6 8 - 1 8 6 9 , c o p y a v a i l a b l e a t ACHS.
1 4 . G r eg o r y A . C o co , A Va s t S e a o f M i s e r y : A History and
G u i d e t o t h e U n i o n F i e l d H o s p i t a l s a t G e t t y sburg, July 1
- N o vem b er 2 0 , 1 8 6 3 ( G e t t y s b u rg , P e n n s y l v ania: Thomas
Publications, 1988), pp. 105-7.
civilian and government workers laboring at the
site. Conditions there quickly deteriorated. 15 Philadelphia surgeon, Daniel G. Brinton wrote shortly
after the battle:
The wounded soon began to pour in,
giving us such sufficient occupation that
from the 1st of July until the afternoon of
the fifth, I w as not absent from the hospital
more than once and then but for an hour or
two. Very hard work it was, too, & little
sleep fell to our share. Four operating
tables were going night and day. On the 4th
of July, which in its surroundings gloomy
enough, was enlivened by our belief that
we had gained a victory, the number in
the hospital was about 1000. A heavy rain
came over in the afternoon and as we had
laid many in spots without shelter some
indeed in the barnyard where the foul water
oozed up into their undressed wounds, the
sight was harassing in the extreme. We
worked with little intermission, & with
a minimum amount of sleep. One day I
arose at 2 AM & worked incessantly till
midnight. I doubt if I ever worked harder
at a more disagreeable occupation. On
the afternoon of the 3rd we are exposed
to a sharp fire of shells. Several horses
and one man were killed close to the
hospital. Shells fell within 20 feet of the
room where we were, and we were much
in fear that the barn would blaze, which
would have been an unspeakable frightful
casualty. 16
During the fighting, the wounded and hospital
workers natural ly feared for their safety from
stray Confederate artillery shells given that the
Spangler farm was only a short distance from the
main Union battle line on Cemetery Ridge.
While many of the names of the wounded at the
Eleventh Corps hospital have been lost to history,
there are several documented prominent soldiers
who were treated at the farm. These include Brig.
Gen. Francis C. Barlow, wounded on July 1; Capt.
Fred Stowe, son of author Harriet Beecher Stowe,
wounded on July 3; and Pvt. George Nixon, greatgrandfather of President Richard M. Nixon, of
Company B, 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who
died at the hos pital two weeks after the battle
from wounds received while skirmishing on July 2.
The best known patient at the Spangler farm was
Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead, mortally wounded
in Pickett’s Charge. He died at the hospital on
July 5. 17
Issue Number Forty-six
In the middle of this mess was George Spangler,
his wife, and children. No writings concerning
the hospital ordeal from any member of the
Spangler family have been found, but after the
war, George did file several damage claims with
the Federal government for his losses. To what
extent the family assisted the hospital personnel
in caring for the wounded troops there, we cannot
say. Spangler noted his home at the time of the
battle had six rooms and that the doctors at the
site allowed his family to occupy on e room of
the building while wounded were treated in the
house, barn, and fields. Most of his crops were
completely destroyed. Fence posts were taken and
wood was cut from his timberland. We also know
his neighbor Jacob Hummelbaugh (1813-1872)
stayed at the Spangler farm during the fighting.
Courtesy of Wayne E. Motts
Detail of the Elliott Burial Map showing the
George Spangler farm.
In the end Spangler claimed $3,044 in damages.
According to records at the National Archives he
was allowed $60 for six tons of hay appropriated
for use by the hospital’s chief surgeon James A.
Armstrong. While the records show Spangler was
to be awarded this modest sum for his claims,
there is no indication he ever received payment. 1 8
1 5 . I b i d. , p . 1 0 5 .
1 6 . D . G . B r i n t o n T h o m p s o n , “ F r o m C h a n c ellorsville to
G et t y sb u rg , A D o ct o r ’s D i ar y, ” P e n n s y l v a nia Magazine
o f H i st o ry a n d B i o g ra p h y, v o l . 8 9 , n o . 3 ( July 1965), p.
313.
1 7 . I b i d. ; Tr a n s c r i b e d n o t e s f r o m t h e E d w i n D w ight Northrup
P a p e r s , # 4 1 9 0 , D e p a r t m e n t o f M a n u s c r i p t s a nd University
A r c h i v e s , C o r n e l l U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r i e s , I t h a ca, New York,
c o p i e s c o u r t e s y o f M a r k H . D u n k e l m a n ; J o hn W. Busey,
T h ese H o n o red D ea d : T h e U n i o n C a su a l t i es a t G ettys burg
( H i g h t s t o w n , N e w J e r s e y : L o n g s t r e e t H o u se, 1988), p.
1 8 1 ; T. C . H o l l a n d , “ Wi t h A r m i s t e a d a t Gettysburg,”
C o n f ed era t e Vet era n, v o l . 2 9 , n o . 2 ( F e b r u ary 1921), p.
62.
1 8 . To m b s t o n e
Card,
Jacob
H u m m e l b a u gh,
ACHS;
Q u ar t er m ast er C l ai m s f r o m t h e C i v i l War, Recor d G r oup
9 2 , E n t r y 8 1 2 , C l a i m N - 1 8 9 2 , W- 2 1 9 , R - 2 41, and Entry
111
Courtesy of the Adams County Historical Society
Dr. John W. C. O’Neal recorded Confederate
burials in the area.
The hospital at the farm was finally closed the
second week of August 1863. Wounded soldiers
still in need of care were transferred to the general
hospital, Camp Letterman, east of Gettysburg on
the road to York. Even though the military activity
around the farm ceased, Spangler still had plenty
to deal with, not the least of which were the graves
of Union and Confederate soldiers who succumbed
to their wounds at his farm. These men were buried
in a field just south of the house. Elliott’s Burial
Map, published in 1864, illustrated many Union
graves on the site and at least twenty Southern
burials are also noted there. Union soldiers on
the property were removed to either the newly
112
established Soldiers’ National Cemetery for
reburial, or in a few cases to a home cemetery by
a family member or friend of the deceased. With
a few exceptions, the Confederate soldiers buried
at the Spangler farm remained at the location until
the general removal of Southern burials in 1872.
Thanks to the lasting record of local Gettysburg
physician Dr. John W. C. O’Neal, preserved at the
Adams County Historical Society, we do have at
least some information about a few Confederates
buried at the farm. 19
After the fighting, O’Neal made his rounds
around Gettysburg and the vicinity recording
Confederate burials in his pocket physicians’
handbook. When O’Neal visited the Spangler farm
a short time after the conclusion of the battle, he
noted there were at least six unmarked C onfederate
graves and four whose names were known. He
penned the names of four of the Southe rn soldiers
buried there in his handbook: Thomas McCarty,
Company I, 8th Louisiana Infantry; Cameron
L. Leonhardt, Company I, 11th North Carolina
Infantry; William M. Moody, Company A, 2nd
Mississippi Infantry; and James W. Russel,
Company G, 6th North Carolina Infantry. As far
as is known, all four of these men were later
removed from their temporary graves and moved
elsewhere, most likely to Hollywood Cemetery in
Richmond, Virginia. General Armistead is also
listed as buried at the farm by O’Neal. His body
was removed in October 1863 and is now buried at
Old St. Paul’s Cemetery in Baltimore. 20
With no federal agency to turn to for help in
1863, George Spangler and his family did all they
could to again establish a workable farm and put
back in order their lives and property. It appears
they were successful in their labors, for seven
years after the battle, in the 1870 Agricultural
Census, the Spangler farm was listed as having
120 improved acres and 46 unimproved acres. The
farm was valued at $9,000. This was $4,000 more
than its valuation ten years earlier. The value of
the Spangler ’s farm machinery increased from
$300 to $500 in the same period, and the value
of his livestock nearly tripled from $530 in 1860
to $1,390 in 1870. For the rest of his l ife George
Spangler followed his chosen vocation of farming.
8 1 7 , C l a i m 2 1 4 - 9 5 8 , N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s , Washington,
D.C.
1 9 . I b i d. ; E l l i o t t ’s M a p o f t h e B a t t l e f i e l d o f Gettysburg,
P en n syl va n i a, co p y at A C H S .
2 0 . H i st o ry o f A d a m s C o u n t y, p p . 3 6 7 - 6 8 ; S t a r and Sentinel,
A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 1 3 ; O ’ N eal F am i l y F i l e, A C H S ; P hys ician’s
H an d b o o k , Jo h n W. C . O ’ N eal , 1 8 6 3 , A C H S; A r mis teadG o r d o n F am i l y L et t er B o o k Tr an scr i p t i o n s, tr ans cr ibed
l e t t e r f r o m C h r i s t o p h e r H u g h e s A r m i s t e a d to John W. C.
O ’ N eal , O ct o b er 2 7 , 1 8 6 3 , i n t h e au t h o r ’s p o s s es s ion.
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
Despite the hardships of life in the nineteenth
century, most especially the days of 1863, he died
in his home at the ripe old age of eighty-eight
years, one month, and eight days on January 27,
1904. Ironically, he passed away at the same age
of his father. Three years later on May 27, 1907,
George’s wife Elizabeth died at the home of her
son Beniah on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. She
was also eighty-eight. Both George and Elizabeth
are buried in Gettysburg Evergreen’s Cemetery. 21
Courtesy of the Adams County Historical Society
Detail from Dr. O’Neal’s 1863 handbook documenting the burial of Lewis Armistead. The note
reads: “Gen. Armisteads body with propper [sic]
care can be gotten for $125 A zinc coffin sealed and
outside common case”
Courtesy of the Adams County Historical Society
Detail from Dr. O’Neal’s 1863 handbook showing the burials of Southern soldiers at the Spangler
farm.
After their deaths, the Spangler farm passed
to their daughter Sabina who married a neighbor,
William Patterson, on November 9, 1869. Sabina
and William owned the property until 1911 when
they sold it to Jacob and Mary Group. From 1911
until 1953 the Spangler Farm passed through a
series of owners until eventually it was acquired
by the Andrew family. For most of the late
twentieth century the farm was inhabited and
owned by Kenneth R. Andrew and his wife Frances.
After Kenneth’s death in 1998 the property was
transferred to their children and spouses. On April
28, 2008, the farm was bought by the Gettysburg
Foundation. Physically the homestead and its
original buildin gs have changed little from the
days of the Civil War, and while it remains one of
the most pristine hospital sites from the fighting at
Gettysburg in 1863, it nevertheless needs a “major
facelift.” The passage of time has taken its toll on
the structures. The planned rehabilitation of the
farm by the Gettysburg Foundation represents a
milestone in the history of the parcel and preserves
this significant place for generations to come. 22
RECOLLECTIONS OF VISITATIONS AT
GETTYSBURG AFTER THE GREAT BATTLE IN
JULY, 1863
By the Rev. F. J. F. Schantz
Gettysburg was known prior to July, 1863,
to pastors and members of the Lutheran Church
Issue Number Forty-six
as a seat of learning. Pennsylvania College and
the Theological Seminary of the General Synod
of the Lutheran Church are located at the same.
I spent two years in the Theological Seminary
from the fall of 1855 to the fall of 1857. They
were two very pleasant years of my life. When
I was graduated in the Theological Seminary I
was certainly the second honor man of my class
if not the first, for the simple reason that there
were only two members in the class! 23 Since the
great battle in July, 1863, Gettysburg has become
so well known that today few American children
would be unable to answer the question, “Where is
Gettysburg and for what is it celebrated?”
Nearly twenty-seven years have passed since
the great conflict which resulted in the glorious
victory of the Union Troops and the repulse,
defeat, and return of the Rebel Troops from
Pennsylvania soil. No wonder that soldiers and
citizens show today an ever increasing interest
in the battle field on Pennsylvania soil, and that
each year is marked by the erection of additional
monuments to commemorate the heroic valor and
brilliant achievements of brave Union Soldiers.
Gettysburg presents no scenes today like those in
July, 1863. Visitors of the present day return to
their homes and will tell you of their trip over the
2 1 . 1 8 7 0 A g ri cu l t u ra l C en su s, C u m b er l an d To w ns hip, A dams
C o u n t y, P en n sy l v an i a; C o m p i l er, F e b r u a ry 3, 1904;
C o m p i l er, M a y 2 9 , 1 9 0 7 .
2 2 . A d a m s C o u n t y D e e d B o o k 6 0 , p . 4 8 4 , A CHS; Adams
C o u n t y D e e d B o o k 6 6 , p . 5 3 9 , A C H S ; A d a m s County Deed
B o o k 1 5 8 , p . 5 3 0 , A d a m s C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e, Gettysburg,
P e n n s y l v a n i a ; A d a m s C o u n t y D e e d B o o k 246, p. 143,
A d a m s C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e ; A d a m s C o u n t y Deed Book
3 3 6 , p . 6 6 9 , A d a m s C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e ; Adams County
D eed B o o k 5 , 1 9 8 , p p . 7 7 - 8 1 , A d am s C o u n t y Cour thous e.
2 3 . T h er e w er e f o u r sem i n ar i an s i n t h e cl ass en t e r ing in 1855.
O n l y t w o o f t h e f o u r g r ad u at ed i n 1 8 5 7 . Wen t z, Gettysburg
T h eo l o g i ca l S em i n a ry, v o l . 2 , p p . 1 8 5 5 - 5 6 .
113
famous battle field and will grow eloquent in their
description of the beautiful monuments that have
been erected.
On Tuesday, June 16th, 1863, I made the
following entry in my private journal which I
kept: “Great excitement today on account of
the advance of the Rebels in Pennsylvania.
War Meeting in town.” I resided at that time in
Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. 24 These few lines recall
the intense excitement that prevailed among the
citizens of Pennsylvania. Meeting after meeting
was held, stirring addresses were de livered,
having been received that the Rebels were rapidly
approaching Harrisburg. On Tuesday, June 30th,
at 2 P.M., Capt. M. H. Horn and 130 men left
Catasauqua for Reading to serve as Militia. 2 5 Rev.
M. Earl, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and I
accompanied the men to Camp Hiester at Reading.
We spent Tuesday evening and Wednesday with
the men on the Fair Ground. On our return to
Catasauqua, I delivered a great many letters
written by the soldiers. The next day I spent in
visiting other families of soldiers who had left
their homes, to console those who were full of
anxiety in view of the absence of their beloved.
The First Visit: July 7-9, 1863
Lambert and Reinhard, A History of Catasauqua
in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 1914
Col. Melchior Horn commanded the 38th
Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia. Schantz spent the
evening with the 38th and preached a sermon to the
men.
The news of the great battle at Gettysburg had
reached us early on Monday, July 6th. I left home
for Reading, prepared to go on to Gettysburg.
On my way to Reading I saw [Maj.] Gen. [Franz]
Siegel on the train. I spent the afte rnoon and
evening in Camp Hiester with the 38th Regiment of
Pennsylvania Militia, Col. Horn in command. The
Regiment included Catasauqua and Ho kendauqua
men. Four Regiments were encamped in Camp
Hiester, east by southeast of Reading. I supped
with a number of the soldiers (James Fuller, John
D. Snyder and others). At 7:30 P.M. I preached
a sermon. The men were very attentive. I cannot
forget the hearty singing. It was dusk before the
service ended. On my return to Reading, whilst
at the Mansion House to see some friends, some
one told me that Rev. A. [Aaron]. S. [Siebert]
Leinbach, Pastor of the Reformed Church at
Reading, had repeatedly inquired for me and left
word that I should hasten to his house to be ready
to leave the same night for Gettysburg. 2 6
Shortly after midnight, Pastor Leinbach, Mr.
Hartman, a farmer, Mr. William Geiger, a merchant
in Reading, and I left for Harrisburg, which
was reached shortly after 2 A.M. We spent the
remaining hours of the night as best we could and
as soon as day had come two of our number were
left in charge of our baggage and the remaining
and men were urged to join in the formation of
companies to march to the defense of the soil of
Pennsylvania against the invasions of the Rebel
Army. On Sund ay, June 28th, no services were
held in the churches of Catasauqua. There was
great excitement on account of the war, the news
2 4 . C at asau q u a i s a v i l l ag e o n t h e n o r t h er n o u t skir ts of A llent o w n , b u t i n N o r t h a m p t o n C o u n t y w h i l e A l l e ntown, across
t h e r i v er, i s i n L eh i g h C o u n t y.
2 5 . M e l c h o i r H . H o r n , c a p t a i n , C o m p a n y B , 3 8 t h Pennsylvania
Vo l u n t e e r M i l i t i a . P r o m o t e d t o c o l o n e l J uly 3, 1863.
S am u el P. B at es, H i s t o r y o f P e n n s y l v a n i a Volunteers,
1 8 6 1 - 5 , 5 v o l s . ( H a r r i s b u rg , P e n n s y l v a n i a : B. Singerly,
1869), vol. 5, p. 1261.
2 6 . B o o k o f B i o g r a p h i e s : T h i s Vo l u m e C o n t a i n s Biographical
S ket ch es o f l ea d i n g ci t i zen s o f B erks C o u n t y, PA. (Buffalo,
N e w Yo r k : B i o g r a p h i c a l P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y, 1898), p. 52.
T h i s r e f e r e n c e f r o m R e t r o s p e c t P u b l i s h i n g , Alexandria,
Vi rg i n i a, d i sc B 1 8 3 , B erks C o u n t y—T h e P eo ple.
114
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
two left the Hotel to engage some one to take us to
Gettysburg by conveyance. We were very fortunate
in securing the services of a man who had a large
butcher ’s wagon and two horses. He promised to
take us to Gettysburg and back to Harrisburg for
$30.00—or at the rate of $10.00 per day and pay
for horse feed. We were among the early birds
and considered ourselves fortunate in securing
so good a conveyance! Some time was needed
by our driver to prepare his wagon and horses.
We breakfasted at the Hotel. We then walked to
the Bridge crossing the Susquehanna. Here we
waited a long time for our driver. We began to fear
that other parties had induced him to forget his
engagement with us. He was, however, true to his
promise and at about 9 A.M. we were glad to find
him approaching the Bridge. John Peter Jackson,
a lawyer of Newark. N.J., the son of the President
of a New Jersey Rail Road, leading from Camden
to Amboy, had joined our party, which consisted
then of two clergymen, one lawyer, one farmer,
one merchant and the driver. We had a ride of 11
hours and reached Gettysburg a little after 8 P.M.
[Tuesday, July 7].
The driver remained in charge of the horses
and the wagon. He slept in his wagon a nd next
morning [Wednesday, July 8] he found a number
of graves of rebel soldiers near the place where
his wagon stood. Our party of five kept together.
Had I been alone, I could have slept in a bed in
the house of my dear friend, Rev. Dr. C. [Charles]
F. Schaeffer, Professor of German in the College
and Theo. Seminary. 27 But the Doctor could not
accommodate five men. He had Col. Lucian
Fairchild, who had lost an arm in the first day
of the Battle, in his house. 28 Another room was
occupied by a student of the College who was
bound to witness the fight in the streets of
Gettysburg and was favored with a bullet from the
rifle of a sharp shooter, which lodged in one of
his limbs and kept him from further sightseeing.
Our party slept on the floor of the parlor in the
house of Mr. Mickley, adjoining the residence of
Dr. Schaeffer. I had my valise for my pillow and
for mattress and cover my old shawl, which I had
taken along to serve as a blanket in case I should
have such use for it.
Next morning we breakfasted at Dr. Schaeffer ’s
on part of the contents of our well filled haversack
which we had brought with us from Reading. We
also had a good supply of segars. I gave some
to Col. Fairchild and his attendant. Seldom was
I more acceptably rewarded for a kind act to
others. When w e were making ready to start to
see the battle field, it was raining. Col. F airchild
instructed his attendant to tender me the use of
Issue Number Forty-six
Library of Congress
Col. Lucius Fairchild, 2nd Wisconsin, loaned
Schantz his raincoat to tour the battlefield in the
rain.
his rubber coat. Col. Fairchild was a ta ll man and
his rubber coat was of fitting length for him, but
not for me, a Zaccheus in height. What was to be
done? I secured a strong cord and bloused it as
the ladies would say! As the morning was very
unpleasant on account of rain, one of the party
was glad to have the use of my shawl to protect
him in part from the rain.
We first visited Penna. College which we
found filled with wounded rebel prisoners. Thence
we went to the Theological Seminary filled with
wounded Union Soldiers. We saw the effects of
bullets and shells on Professors’ Houses and
Seminary Building, as also on fences and trees.
The fields bore evidence of the march and conflict
of the troops engaged in battle. We returned to
the town and visited the churches which we
2 7 . C h a r l e s F. S c h a ff e r s e r v e d a s p r o f e s s o r of German
l a n g u a g e a n d L i t e r a t u r e a t P e n n s y l v a n i a College (now
G e t t y s b u rg C o l l e g e ) f r o m 1 8 5 6 - 6 4 . C h a r l e s H. Glatfelter,
A S a l u t a ry I n f l u en ce: G et t ysb u rg C o l l eg e, 1832- 1985,
2 v o l s . ( G e t t y s b u rg , P e n n s y l v a n i a : G e t t y s burg College,
1987), vol. 1, p. 87.
2 8 . L u c i u s F a i r c h i l d c o m m a n d e d t h e 2 n d Wi sconsin, First
B r i g a d e , F i r s t D i v i s i o n , F i r s t C o r p s , Army of the
P o t o m ac.
115
found filled with wounded soldiers. We walked to
Cemetery Hill. Broken fences and railings, injured
monuments and tombstones, the many rifle pits
and scattered accoutrements, the injured cemetery
plots, and trampled fields bore evidence of the
fierce conflict of recent days. We were at Culp’s
Hill—ruined tre es, broken fences, upturned soil,
and the very rocks themselves showed the effects
of the terrible engagements of opposing forces.
We walked from Cemetery Hill along the line of
the decisive engagement as far as Little Round
Top. We found some dead soldiers not yet removed
from the battle field, and also a number of horses
not yet buried. Broken Artillery wagons, scattered
arms and clothing, many rifle pits, earth works
made of ground and stones, and knapsacks filled
with ground and stones were frequently seen. The
beautiful fields with harvest ready to be gathered
were found ruined.
We visited the Hospital of the 11th Army
Corps. Houses and barns, outbuildings and tents
were filled with the sick and wounded. We met
a German Chaplain, Rev. Mr. [John B.] Poerner,
whom Pastor Leinbach and I had known for many
years. 29 He was delighted to see us. He wanted us
to stay and help him in his work. He excused us
after promising that on our return to our homes
we would raise hospital stores and bring them or
forward them to Gettysburg. We saw the many
graves that contained the remains of thousands
who had fallen in battle. We saw much in one day
but a day was not sufficient to see all.
After another long tramp over the Battle field,
we returned to Gettysburg. On one of the streets
we met a large body of Cavalry starting on a
march to join the army which had left Gettysburg.
They left in a heavy rain. One of the men rode
close to the pavement and handed me a large
package of letters with the request that I should
mail the same for him. In Gettysburg we visited
some more Hospitals where we witnessed many
touching scenes. We also visited a number of sick
and wounded officers and soldiers from Berks and
Lehigh Counties who were quartered in private
houses. How glad the poor sufferers were to see
familiar faces from their respective homes.
We returned to the house of Dr. Schaeffer. We
were ready for another portion of the contents
of our haversack. I spent part of the evening at
the house of Dr. Schaeffer who told me of his
family’s and of other families’ experiences whilst
the battle was ra ging. I returned the rubber coat to
Col. Fairchild with many thanks for his kindness
to me.
I have not forgotten what I heard with reference
to the sword of Col. Fairchild. After Col. Fairchild
had been wounded and brought to the residence of
Dr. Schaeffer, Rebel Soldiers came in the evening
and informed Dr. Schaeffer that they must search
his house for hidden arms. Dr. Schaeffer assured
his visitors at the price of his honor that no arms
were secreted in his house. The visitors showed
great respect to the venerable Doctor and withdrew
without searching the house. At a later hour of the
night, rebel soldiers came again and said they had
positive orders to search the house and the Doctor
again assured them that no arms were hidden in
his house. The rebel soldiers would not leave but
commenced to search the house. The Doctor felt
confident that their visit would be in vain and yet
when they came to the cellar of the house one of
their number searched the part under the kitchen
where the ground had been removed only for a
few feet, and the search resulted in f inding the
wounded Col. Fairchild’s highly prized sword!
When the rebel soldiers returned from the cellar,
one of them said to Dr. Schaeffer: “We did not
think this of you, old man.” The venerable Doctor
felt exceedingly mortified for he had felt confident
that his house contained no secreted arms. Col.
Fairchild was so much affected by the loss of his
valuable sword that he was reported as saying that
he would as soon have lost his other arm as that
sword!
After another night’s rest on the floor of the
parlor in Mr. Mickley’s house, our party started
early on Thursday [July 9] morning on our return
to Harrisburg. We had no more rain. But we had
very muddy roads. We met many men on their
way to Gettysburg who had passed through great
dangers in crossing swollen streams of water. We
also met soldiers, who halted men on their return
from Gettysburg and examined their wagons to
learn whether any of the relics carried from the
battle field were such as ought to be taken from
the visitors. Some visitors fared badly and were
obliged to return to Gettysburg. One of our party
had placed a rifle in our wagon and he acted
wisely in tendering the same to the guard as soon
as he approached our wagon. It saved us from a
return to Gettysburg. We carried some mementoes
with us. Our farmer friend carried a solid shot of
considerable weight enclosed in a genuine bandana.
116
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
2 9 . J o h n B . P o e r n e r w a s t h e c h a p l a i n a t t h e E l eventh Corps
h o s p i t a l . H e w a s a m i n i s t e r i n t h e R e f o r med Church,
c l o s e l y a l l i e d w i t h t h e L u t h e r a n s , a n d s e r v i ng at that time
a s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C o m m i ssion. Charles
R h o ad es R o b er t s, et . al . , H i s t o r y o f L e high County
P en n syl va n i a a n d a G en ea l o g i ca l a n d Biogr aphical
R eco rd o f i t s F a m i l i es, 3 v o l s . ( A l l e n t o w n , Pennsylvania:
L e h i g h Va l l e y P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y, 1 9 1 4 ) , vol. 1, p. 791.
T h i s r e f e r e n c e f r o m R e t r o s p e c t P u b l i s h i n g , Alexandria,
Vi rg i n i a, d i sc L 0 5 1 , L eh i g h C o u n t y H i st o ry by Rober ts.
Gettysburg National Military Park
The George Spangler farm captured by Gettysburg photographer William H. Tipton as it appeared near
the turn of the century.
I do not remember what the other members of our
party had. I had a bible without a cover, a broken
lock of a musket, and a bayonet that was greatly
bent by hard use. I also had an envelope addressed
to a lady: it appeared as if it had been pierced by
a bullet. I subsequently forwarded it to her. She
answered me that her brother who had addressed
it had not been hurt in the battle. On our return
we had great trouble in crossing streams of water,
particularly the “Yellow Breaches.” We often found
the roads approaching bridges flooded to a depth
of several feet. We did not drive to Harrisburg as
we found our d river glad to take us to Carlisle
where after supper we took the train on the Rail
Road for Harrisburg.
At Harrisburg we met many men on their way
to Gettysburg. We also saw many Union Soldiers
who had been wounded at Gettysburg and were
now on their way to Hospitals at different places.
At 1 A.M. a train from Reading brought the 38th
Regiment of Penna. Militia (Col. Horn’s) on its
way to the Cumberland Valley. I met some of the
men whilst the train was held at Harrisburg. It
Issue Number Forty-six
was a strange meeting so late at night. The train
that took us to Reading at 2 A.M. was crowded by
men on their return from Gettysburg. I reached
Allentown and Catasauqua on the same day [Friday,
July 10]. This ended the first trip to Gettysburg
after the battle.
The Second Visit: July 22-27, 1863
The promise which I had given to the Chaplain
of the l1th Corps Hospital was not forgotten.
During the week following my return from
Gettysburg, the good people of the Lutheran and
Reformed Congregations at Catasauqua, White
Hall, and Altonah were busy in preparing Hospital
stores which they collected in promise from me
that I would take them to Gettysburg and see to
their proper distribution. On Tuesday, July 21st,
I started for Gettysburg with 4 1/2 large wooden
boxes of stores from the church at Altonah, 4 1/2
similar boxes from Catasauqua and White Hall,
and 2 boxes and 1 barrel from Coplay Station. I
had also in my charge Miss Eliza Yeager, sister of
117
Lt. Horatio [D.] Yeager, wounded and lying in a
private house in Gettysburg. 30 The Lieutenant was
a nephew of Rev. Joshua Yeager of Allentown. I
was taken by special car to Allentown. East Penn
and Lebanon Valley Rail Road conductors carried
me and goods free of charge. At Harrisburg I
saw to the transfer of goods to depot of Northern
Central Rail Road. Rev. Dr. Henry and I called to
see Dr. King and Major Seiss. 31 I secured an order
for free transportation of self and goods.
I left Harrisburg on July 22nd at 1 P.M. but the
Rail Road Company would take only five boxes. I
was obliged to leave an order to have the balance
shipped by Express! Miss Yeager and I reached
Gettysburg at 5 P.M. I at once took Miss Yeager
to her brother, Lt. Yeager. Subsequently I had
the five boxes brought by porters from the depot
to Dr. Schaeffer ’s house. Part of the rear parlor,
the dining room, and cellar were placed at my
disposal. I was busy to a late hour in unpacking
the goods and assorting them. I have not forgotten
that on withdrawing my right hand quickly from
one of the boxes I found it covered with apple
butter that had resisted close confineme nt! The
unpacking of five wooden boxes was no easy task
and I was glad when I was able to retire.
On the following morning (Thursday [July 23]),
Mrs. Schaeffer, the kind wife of Dr. Schaeffer,
accompanied m e to the Theological Seminary
used as a Hospital. I was introduced to Miss
Bachard, the General Nurse, and later to the Chief
Surgeon. 32 I informed them that I had brought
Hospital stores and the Chief Surgeon promised
to send an Ambulance to Dr. Schaeffer ’s house to
bring some of the stores to the Seminary. Before
leaving, Mrs. Schaeffer and I visited many of the
sick and wounded occupying rooms in the Seminary
Building. In the afternoon I visited a number of
the Hospitals in the town and distributed stores.
I spoke to the wounded soldiers on the subject of
religion. I first went to College Church, thence to
the Catholic Church (in which I found Mr. Seiders
of Reading), then on to the Seceders Church (here
I met Mr. Lewis of Wilkesbarre), and last to the
Presbyterian Church. Here I became acquainted
with a number of Surgeons. In all of these buildings
I found the available rooms occupied by sick and
wounded men.
The evening Rail Road Train brought the six
large boxes and one barrel which I had to leave
at Harrisburg and which I had ordered to be sent
by Express to G ettysburg. I engaged a number of
colored men to bring them to the house of Rev.
Dr. Schaeffer. I was again kept busy in unpacking
the boxes and my private journal states that I
concluded the work after 11 P.M. This was no easy
work on a hot night in July. I was glad when I
could retire for the night.
Early on Friday [July 24] morning, Rev. Dr.
Schaeffer and I walked to the General Hospital
one mile and a half east of the town. It was not yet
completed but we felt convinced that it would be a
fine hospital. The wounded soldiers in Hospitals,
in Churches, in other Public Buildings, and in
private houses were to be subsequen tly moved
to the General Hospital. On Friday afternoon I
had a large wagon filled with Hospital stores and
drove to the 11th Corps Hospital, some distance
south of the town. I shall never forget that ride.
I wore a linen coat and a straw hat and smoked
a clay pipe! Not many persons would have taken
me for a parson. I reached the Hospital without
any mishap. The German Chaplain, whom I had
met when at Gettysburg on Wednesday after the
battle, greeted me most cordially and re joiced that
I had kept my promise to bring stores f or the sick
and wounded. I distributed many articles myself
from tent to tent, assisted by men in service at the
Hospital. Many of the articles were distributed
from the Tent of the Christian Commission. The
men were delighted with what I brought. I had
a large number of shirts, drawers, and wrappers,
and a large supply of lint. The home made bread,
zwieback, butter, pickles, apple butter, canned
fruit, large quantity of dried fruits, and other
articles were very acceptable to the men. 3 3 Many
were the thanks I received to carry with me to the
kind donors in the Lehigh Valley.
In the evening I preached first in German
between rows of tents and subsequently in a large
barn where I found many wounded soldiers lying
in rows on the floor. I shall never forget the sad
scenes in that barn. I heard many of the wounded
soldiers speak of home, of their mothers, and other
friends. I remember the sad plaintive utterances
of many of the poor sufferers. A number of them
gave me their names and the addressee of their
friends and asked me to write to the latter what
they dictated to me. Later I preached in English
between tents. The poor sufferers seemed very
118
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
3 0 . F i r s t L t . H o r a t i o D . Ye a g e r, 1 5 3 r d P e n n s y l v ania Infantry.
Wo u n d ed Ju l y 1 , 1 8 6 3 . B at es, H i st o ry o f Penns ylvania
Vo l u n t eers, v o l . 4 , p . 7 8 0 .
3 1 . P r o b ab l y R ev er en d D o ct o r S am u el H en r y. Wentz, G ettys b u rg L u t h era n T h eo l o g i ca l S em i n a ry , v o l. 2, Alumni
R eco r d , p . 3 3 .
3 2 . S u rg eo n A n d r ew J. War d , 2 n d Wi sco n si n Vo lunteer I nf ant r y, C h i ef , F i r st C o r p s H o sp i t al . G r eg o r y A . Coco, A
Va s t S e a o f M i s e r y : A H i s t o r y a n d G u i d e to the Union
a n d C o n f e d e r a t e F i e l d H o s p i t a l s a t G e t tysburg July
1 - N o vem b er 2 0 , 1 8 6 3 ( G e t t y s b u rg , P e n n s y l v ania: Thomas
P u b l i cat i o n s, 1 9 8 8 ) , p p . 6 , 1 8 5 .
3 3 . Z w i e b a c k i n G e r m a n m e a n s t w i c e b a k e d . A sweet bread,
b ak ed , t h en sl i ced , t h en b ak ed o r t o ast ed ag a in.
Photo by Silas Felton
The Spangler farm as it appears today. The small building on the right is the smokehouse and the building
in the background to the left of the smokehouse is the summer kitchen.
grateful. I met at the Hospital, Chaplain Poerner,
Dr. Ginkinger (of Allentown), Dr. Cram, Mrs.
Price, Mr. Smith of New Brunswick, N.J., and Mr.
Ludlow of Rochester, N.Y. The German soldiers
appeared very glad for the service in the German
Language. I met a fine Swede. I was for some time
with Louis [Lewis] Bishop of Pittsburgh. 34 He was
the bold soldier who would not give up his flag
when one of his legs was shot off. He stuck to his
flag until he was wounded in the other leg. A sad
case was that of the dying infidel in the barn, who
refused the services of clergymen.
On Saturday [July 25] morning I visited Rev.
Dr. Baugher, President of Pennsylvania College,
and others in town whom I knew well whilst I was
a student in the Theological Seminary. 35 In the
afternoon I took Hospital stores to the Theological
Seminary and visited the many sick and wounded in
the Building. I read Scripture Lessons and prayed
with many of the men. What different scenes from
those of the two years I spent as a student in the
building. Many of the soldiers who had lost an arm
or a leg told me that they still felt sensations in the
parts separated from their bodies. I met a young
soldier wounded and confined to bed who had lost
the upper and lower set of artificial teeth. He had
Issue Number Forty-six
no tooth in his mouth and yet he was cheerful and
managed to live. I was by the bedside of dying
men who departed this life away from their homes
and friends, thus no mother, no father, no sister
or brother, no wife or children near to hear the
last word of their beloved. On my way to town
to the house of Dr. Schaeffer, my mind was busy
as I thought of what I had seen and heard in the
Seminary Hospital.
On Sunday [July 26] morning I left early to
pay a second visit at the 11th Corps Hospital. In
a small stone house some distance south of the
3 4 . S g t . L e w i s B i s h o p , R e g i m e n t a l C o l o r Bearer, 154th
N e w Yo r k I n f a n t r y. F r o m C o m p a n y C . Wo u nded in right
k n e e a n d l e f t l e g w h i l e c a r r y i n g t h e f l a g July 1. Right
l e g a m p u t a t e d . D i e d J u l y 3 1 a t t h e F i r s t C orps Hospital.
Tr av i s W. B u sey an d Jo h n W. B u sey, U n i o n Casualties at
G et t ysb u rg : A C o m p reh en si ve R eco rd, 3 v o ls. (Jefferson,
N o r t h C a r o l i n a : M c F a r l a n d & C o m p a n y, 2 0 11), vol. 2, p.
6 9 0 ; A n n u a l R e p o r t o f t h e A d j u t a n t - G e n e r a l of the State
o f N e w Yo r k f o r t h e Ye a r 1 9 0 4 : R e g i s t e r s of the One
H u n d red a n d F o rt y- S even t y, . . . O n e H u n d red and FiftyF i f t h R eg i m en t s o f I n f a n t ry ( A l b a n y, N e w York: Brandow
P r i n t i n g C o m p a n y, 1 9 0 5 ) s e r i a l n u m b e r 3 9 , p. 1104. This
r ef er en ce sh o w s B i sh o p k i l l ed Ju l y 1 .
3 5 . R e v e r e n d D o c t o r H e n r y L o u i s B a u g h e r, Sr. President,
P en n sy l v an i a C o l l eg e, 1 8 5 0 - 1 8 6 8 . Wen t z, G ettys burg L ut h era n T h eo l o g i ca l S em i n a ry, v o l . 2 , p . 4 .
119
Cemetery Hill I found Six wounded men. One was
a Colonel [Hans A. Boebel] of a German Regiment
of Wisconsin. 36 He told me that he had been four
days among the idiots in the County Poor House
near Gettysburg. After I reached the 11th Corps
Hospital, I visited the men in their tents. Some of
them told me that since Friday they had received
nothing but bread and coffee. I went at once to
the tent of the Christian Commission and had the
balance of what I had brought to the Hospital
on Friday distri buted among the men. After this
distribution I went from tent to tent as far as I
could and read Scriptures, made what I regarded
as suitable remarks, and prayed with the men, who
appeared to be very grateful.
I was creditably informed on the Sunday
morning that a Surgeon had appropriated for his
own use one of the wrappers which I had brought
for comfort of poor wounded soldiers. I dined at
noon in a large tent with a number of Surgeons and
Nurses in Chief. Six of us were seated at a table. I
sat at one end and a Surgeon at the other. On each
side sat a Surgeon and a lady Nurse. In the course
of conversation I remarked that before I had left
home I had often heard that not all the goods sent
for sick and wou nded soldiers reached their proper
destination, that I always had contradicted the
charge that had been made, but that I was sorry to
say that on retu rn to my home I could no longer
contradict such charges for I had been informed
that one of the wrappers which I had brought for
the sick and wounded soldiers had been taken by
some one who was well and receiving good pay.
I said no more but in looking at the Surgeon at
the other end of the table, I noticed that he had
occasion to make a special examination of his
knife and fork and no doubt found some relief in
doing so, instead of looking at me, for he was
the man who had been charged with the base act.
After dinner I p assed the Surgeon’s quarters in a
small wagon shed by the side of a barn and there
I saw one of the wrappers I had brought. I asked
the Surgeon’s attendant where the wrapper was
secured. His brief answer was, “We got it.”
I returned to town and visited the wounded
Lt. Yeager, whose sister had come with me to
Gettysburg. His home was at Catasauq ua. His
uncle, Rev. Joshua Yeager, confirmed me in
the Lutheran Church in Allentown. Later in the
afternoon I went to the Theological Seminary to
hold Service as I had been requested to do by the
Surgeon in Chief with whom I had reason t o be not
well pleased. When I reached the Seminary, he had
a party of men in his room, drinking and singing
negro melodies. I felt sad that this should occur
on the Lord’s Day, in a Theological Seminary, in a
Hospital where some of the sick and wounded were
very low, some dying and one had died shortly
before I reached the Seminary. I met the Surgeon
and told him that I had come to the Seminary to
hold Service as requested by him. He said it was
right that I had done so. At the appointed time for
holding Service, I stood near the stairway in the
second hall of the building. As the noise in the
Surgeon’s room had not ended, I sent a messenger
to inform the Surgeon that I was ready to begin the
Service. His reply, as repeated by the messenger,
was. “I suppose that means that we are to stop our
noise.” Very soon after the messenger returned
to me, the surgeon and his party came from the
surgeon’s room and passed me on a rush down the
stairway and out of the Building. I was glad the
noise of the carousers had ceased.
I conducted the Service and preached a Sermon,
which the sick and wounded could hear in their
rooms, as the doors were open. I preached to an
audience which I did not see, at least only a few
of the same. No thought entered my mind when I
was a student in the Seminary, 1855-1857, and as
a student preached before Professors and students
in Missionary Hall in said Building, that six years
later I would stand where I stood in July, 1863,
and preach a Sermon to sick and wounded soldiers
occupying the same rooms which we had as our
rooms in student years. Many of the poor suffering
soldiers whom I saw after the Service expressed
their gratitude for the privilege of hearing the
word of God.
Before leaving the Seminary Building,
Rev. Mr. [Hans Joachin Hinrich] Lemke, now
of Altonah, at that time a student of the Theo.
Seminary, informed me that in one of the rooms
there was a Major of the Confederate Army who
had been formerly on Gen. (Stonewall) Jackson’s
Staff. 37 He told me that the Major was the son of a
Reformed Minister and a graduate of Franklin and
Marshall College. As soon as he said his name was
[Henry Kyd Douglas] Douglass, I remarked that I
thought I had seen him in the past. 38 Mr. Lemke
took me to the Major ’s room and introduced me to
him. I told the Major that I thought I ha d seen him
120
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
3 6 . L t . C o l . H an s B o eb el , 2 6 t h Wi sco n si n I n f a ntr y. Bus ey,
U n i o n C a su a l t i es a t G et t ysb u rg, v o l . 2 , p . 11 38; Roster of
Wi sco n si n Vo l u n t eers, Wa r o f t h e R eb el l i o n , 1861- 1856, 2
v o l s. ( Mad i so n , Wi sco n si n : D em o cr at P r i n t ing Company,
1 8 8 6 ) , v o l . 2 , p . 3 1 2 . B o t h r ef er en ces sh ow r ight leg
am p u t at ed . H e w as su b seq u en t l y d i sch arg ed as a r es ult.
3 7 . Wen t z, G et t ysb u rg L u t h era n T h eo l o g i ca l S e m inar y, vol.
2, p. 58.
3 8 . M a j . H e n r y K y d D o u g l a s , a c t i n g a s s i s t a n t a d jutant general
t o M a j . G e n . E d w a r d J o h n s o n , c o m m a n d er, Johnson’s
d i v i s i o n , S e c o n d A r m y C o r p s , A r m y of Northern
Vi rg i n i a.
The summer kitchen at the Spangler farm.
in Lancaster in 1858 and remembered the subject
of his commencement address, “The Pacific Slope
or Westward the Star of Empire takes its Way.” He
modestly replied that he had tried to hold forth on
the subject at the time named. I have often thought
of that meeting of two graduates of Franklin and
Marshall College. Whenever I see the name of
Kid Douglass and read of his appearance before
audiences in Pennsylvania, I think of seeing him
in Lancaster in 1858 and at Gettysburg in 1863.
I returned later from the Seminary to Dr.
Schaeffer ’s home with the intention of leaving for
home on Monday morning. I had spent four days in
the Hospitals of Gettysburg and learned the terrible
consequences of war and how demoralizing for
some men. I had also learned how much good can
be done at such a place—a great field for spiritual
ministrations—and for the exercise of the spirit of
the Good Samaritan.
During my stay I had become acquainted
with many persons. I entered the names of the
following in my private journal: Dr. King, the
Issue Number Forty-six
Photo by Andy Turner
Medical Director, Dr. Chancellor, in charge of the
General Hospital, Dr. Ellis, Dr. Cram, Dr. Loring,
Dr. Hains, Dr. Ward (a fellow student of my
brother Dr. Tilghman P. Schantz in the University
of Pennsylvania before 1846), Dr. Neff, Mr.
Stenson of Maine, Mr. Holdbruck, Mr. Smith of
New Brunswick, N.J., Mr. Ludlow of Rochester.
N.Y., Dr. Day of New York, Miss Burkhardt, Nurse
in Chief at the Theological Seminary, Mrs. Price,
Mrs. Hovey at 11th Corps Hospital. 39 I became
acquainted with many soldiers and civi lians.
3 9 . I f i n d n o r e f e r e n c e t o a D o c t o r K i n g a s a c hief surgeon.
G r eg C o co sh o w s a ci v i l i an d o ct o r K i n g i n h i s alphabetical
r o s t e r o f s u rg e o n s , b u t n o a s s i g n e d h o s p i tal. Coco has
a p h o t o g r a p h o f C a m p L e t t e r m a n w i t h a Stewart King
i d en t i f i ed . C o co , A Va st S ea o f M i sery, p p . 172, 181.
I f i n d n o r ef er en ce t o a D o ct o r C h an cel l o r as dir ector at
C a m p L e t t e r m a n . C o c o s h o w s D r. C y r u s N . Chamberlain
i n t h at p o si t i o n . I b i d ., p p . 1 6 7 - 6 9 , 1 7 8 .
I f i n d n o r e c o r d o f D o c t o r s E l l i s , C r a m , o r Loring. They
m ay h av e b een ci v i l i an su rg eo n s.
N eff i s p r o b ab l y D r. H en r y K . N eff , surgeon, 153r d
P e n n s y l v a n i a I n f a n t r y. C o c o s h o w s h i m with the 8th
P e n n s y l v a n i a R e s e r v e s ( 3 7 t h i n f a n t r y ) a n d c aptured at the
121
Many incidents made varied impressions on
my mind. Even now I remember the Surgeon who
purloined the wrapper, the Surgeon who allowed
carousing in his room on the Lord’s Day, the case
of Louis Bishop, the brave soldier, the case of the
swearing German, the case of the wounded soldier
who spoke of his good Mother, the wounded
Cavalry man in Presbyterian Church who sang
so beautifully, the dying man in the Seminary
who repeated prayers after me, the young soldier
without teeth, and many others.
I left Gettysburg on Monday [July 27] at 7
A.M. D. [David] A. Wills, Esq., had given me
an order for transportation on the following Rail
Roads: Gettysburg, Northern Central, Philadelphia
and Baltimore and North Pennsylvania. I was
obliged to tarry 5 1/2 hours at Hanover Junction.
Here I met Wm. Hastings of Boston, who had been
laboring among the soldiers. I reached Baltimore
at 6 P.M. and stopped at Barnum’s Hotel. I left the
same night for Philadelphia. The ride by moonlight
was pleasant. I reached Philadelphia at 2 A.M. on
Tuesday [July 28] and Catasauqua at 1 P.M.
I have often felt glad that the people of
Catasauqua, Whitehall, and Altonah Congregations
made me their agent for the distribution of
the contributions to the sick and wounded at
Gettysburg. The information I obtained by a
personal visit of the hospitals has been of great
value to me and I have often rejoiced that I was
able to minister spiritually to some of t he poor
suffering defenders of our country.
The Third Visit: November 17-20, 1863
Having seen the battlefield at Gettysburg
a f ew days after the battle of July 1863, and
having visited the Hospitals a few weeks later as
the bearer of the contributions of kind donors,
I greatly appreciated the kind invitation of Rev.
C. F. Schaeffer, D.D., to be his guest in November,
1863, on the occasion of the Dedication of the
National Cemetery at Gettysburg that has now a
world wide fame.
On a beautiful day, Nov. 17th, Dr. Dewees
J. Martin of Allentown, my friend from early
childhood, whose memory I kindly cherish to this
day, and I left Allentown at 9 A.M. and reached
Gettysburg at 9 P.M. On our way I became
acquainted with Mr. Shimer of Warrento n, N.J.,
Mr. and Mrs. John Althouse of Easton, Mr. Hays
the correspondent of the New York Herald, Mr.
Davenport the correspondent of the New York
Tribune, Mr. [C. C. P.] Baldwin the Marshal of
Vermont. I also met a number of acquaintances,
Rev. Dr. Pohlman, Rev. Dr. Henry Harbaugh, Rev.
122
Mr. Derr, and Pastors Gastenburn, Albert, Feefin,
and others. Three hours of time were required
for the trip of 18 miles from Hanover Junction to
Gettysburg. We had no parlor cars, no ordinary
passenger cars; we were glad to find room in
freight cars!
Rev. Dr. Schaeffer, who had invited me to be
his guest, as also his good wife and daughters,
greeted me cordially on my arrival at their home.
On Wednesday [November 18] morning, Mr.
Baldwin, Mr. Hays, Mr. Davenport, Dr. Martin,
and I hired a carriage and were driven over the
battlefield. First to the site of the first day’s
battle, then to Round Top, thence to Cemetery Hill
and other points of interest. When we stopped at a
small house near the Rail Road cut, in w hich house
Gen. Lee had his quarters, we met the wife of the
occupant of the house. One of the party asked her
whether she had cooked for Gen. Lee during his
stay at the house. The question was sufficient to
fill her with indignation and to cause her to give
a sharp reply to the inquirer whether she had not
cooked for Gen. Lee.
Near Round Top I met Dr. Orwig of Boston.
Mass., to whom I stated that when I visited the
Battle field for the first time, I was walking for
some time with a soldier, that under a cluster of
trees we found a pair of pantaloons. In one of
the pockets there was a small pocket book which
contained a small silver coin and a soldier ’s
medal. The soldier with me kept the small coin and
I the soldier ’s medal. It bore the name of John W.
Hershey, Co. D, 11th Regiment, Mass. Volunteers.
I told Dr. Orwig that I had left the medal at home
but would be glad to return it to the soldier. The
Doctor promised to publish a notice in a Boston
paper with full description of the medal. In March,
1864, I received a letter from Dr. Orwig, enclosing
a letter from the Lieutenant of Co. D, 11th Reg.,
Mass. Vol., stating that John W. Hershey, whose
medal I had found at Gettysburg, was safe and
well. I forwarded the medal and I have no doubt
the soldier was glad to receive it again.
Our drive over the Battle Field was full of
interest, especially in view of the fact that two of
our company were reporters of leading daily papers
A l m s H o u s e . I n 1 8 6 3 , h o w e v e r, h e w a s w i th the 153rd.
A p p a r e n t l y, i f c a p t u r e d , h e w a s r e l e a s e d , for he was
m u st er ed o u t w i t h t h e r eg i m en t Ju l y 2 4 , 1 863. I bid., p.
1 8 2 ; B at es, H i st o ry o f P en n syl va n i a Vo l u n t ee r s, vol. 4, p.
7 7 7 ; Wi l l i am R . K i ef er, H i s t o r y o f t h e O n e Hundred and
F i f t y- t h i rd R eg i m en t P en n syl va n i a Vo l u n t e er s I nfantr y
W h i ch w a s R ecru i t ed i n N o rt h a m p t o n C o u n ty, Pa., 18621 8 6 3 ( E a s t o n , P e n n s y l v a n i a : T h e C h e m i c al Publishing
C o m p an y, 1 9 0 9 ) , p . 2 7 6 .
H a i n s i s p r o b a b l y S u rg e o n A b r a h a m H a i nes of the 19th
I n d i an a.
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
of New York. Their methods
of obtaining information and
their observations on what we
heard and saw was of great
profit to us. In the afternoon
I was in company with my
old friend and professor, Dr.
Schaeffer. We witnessed a
fine review of troops by Major
General [Darius N.] Couch.
In the evening there was a
large gathering of people
before a private residence.
We heard President Lincoln,
Sec. of State W. [William]
H. Seward. an d Hon. Mr.
[Edward] McPherson speak
to the large assembly of
people. 40
Early on Thursday [November 19] morning the great
day of the week on which the
Dedication of the National
P h o t o b y G r e gor y A . Coco
Cemetery took place, people
The Spangler barn in 1988. Comparing it to the modern photograph
came from all parts in on the following page shows how much the barn has deteriorated in the
great numbers. I went to last twenty-four years.
the Junction of Taneytown
and Emmitsburg roads. Here I had an excellent
Church by Prof. Lee Baugher. At a later hour in
position for a man of my height, to see the entire
company of others I called at private houses. At
procession on it s way to the Cemetery. I saw the
Judge [Moses] McClean’s we met Gov. [Horatio]
Military, the President and others of Washington,
Seymour of New York.
the Marshals of different states, Odd Fellows,
On the following morning (Friday [November
Masons, and many civilians in ranks.
20]), I left Gettysburg with others to return to our
The Order of Service of Dedication was the
respective homes. From Gettysburg to Hanover
following: Music, Prayer by Rev. Mr. Stockton.
Junction we rode in a common freight car. Here we
Music, Oration by Hon. Edward Everett, Anthem,
were obliged to wait for some time for a train from
Dedicatory Remarks by President Lincoln, Dirge,
Baltimore to take us to Harrisburg. The time was
Benediction by Rev. Dr. Baugher, President of
spent pleasantly. We had an opportunity to take a
Penna. College. The attendance of people was
good view of a number of Governors. I remember
estimated at 15,000. I added in my private journal:
former Gov. [John] Brough of Ohio, Gov. [Joel]
“The National Cemetery adjoins Evergreen
Parker of New Jersey, and Gov. Seymour of New
Cemetery at Gettysburg; it is laid out in the
York. After leaving Harrisburg, Mr. Charles H.
form of a semicircle. The dead of each State are
Schaeffer and Prof. Wells of Reading were with
buried alone, the unknown also by themselves.
me and others with Gov. Seymour in a baggage
There are now between 1100 and 1200 men buried
car. The Governor was very sociable and a stranger
already.” This was only the beginning of the
would not have supposed that he was the Chief
work of burying—subsequently the remains of
Officer of the State of New York.
the thousands were removed from their temporary
I have never regretted the three visits of
graves to the plots in the Cemetery. After the
Gettysburg in the summer and fall of 1863. The
Service of Dedication was ended, the people
battle field of the terrible conflict, the scenes in
tarried long on the grounds. I will never forget
the Hospitals, and the interesting Service of the
the many unexpected meetings of people from
Dedication of the National Cemetery made lasting
different parts of the State and Union.
impressions on my mind.
In the eveni ng I heard a fine lecture on the
4 0 . C l er k o f t h e H o u se o f R ep r esen t at i v es, 1 8 6 3- 1875.
Battle Field of Gettysburg delivered in Christ
Issue Number Forty-six
123
P h o t o b y A ndy Tur ner
The barn on the George Spangler farm today is in great need of repair.
P l e a s e H e l p P r e s e rv e
the
G e o r g e S pa n g l e r F a r m
When the George Spangler Farm came on the
market in 2008, the Gettysburg Foundation worked
to secure it and save it from modern development.
The house, a summer kitchen, smokehouse, and
barn remain of the original buildings. There are
two later sheds and a shed addition on the north
end of the barn of postwar construction. The Gettysburg Foundation secured the bulk of the fund ing and with the assistance of the National Park
Service, who provided a conservation easement,
a double guaran tee of preservation, the purchase
was completed. So now the big job of restoration
to 1863 appearance is the next critical ste p.
Work has started on the landscape and establishing Civil War fence lines. The summer kitchen
is in the best condition of the four buildings, and
the barn the worst, although it appears that the
roofs are still solid on all four buildings, a big
plus. A Historical Structures Report has been completed freeing the way for bids to start restoration
work on the buildings. All postwar structures are
to be removed.
Plans for the future include a complete restoration of the barn for use as a Civil War battlefield
medicine interpretation facility. The exterior of
the other three buildings will be restore d to period
condition, with the house interior being adaptively restored as a conference/training center. There
are also preliminary plans to build a hiking trail
from the visitor center to the farm and have it accessible to the public.
Right now there’s an important opportunity
for businesses and individuals to support the complete restoration of the best remainin g example
of a Civil War hospital site. If you have questions about how you can help, contact Jerry S.
Moore, Chief Development Officer at the Gettys burg Foundation, (717) 338-1243. Donations may
be made to:
124
GETTYSBURG: Historical Articles of Lasting Interest
Friends of Gettysburg
PO Box 4629
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Attn: Spangler Farm Restoration.