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6-2013 & The aB ttle of Gettysburg: A Civil War Walking Tour John M. Rudy '07

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Rudy, John. Gettysburg College & The aB ttle of Gettysburg: A Civil War Walking Tour. Gettysburg College. 2013.

This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cwfac/5 This open access book is brought to you by The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The uC pola. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Gettysburg College & The aB ttle of Gettysburg: A Civil War Walking Tour

Abstract Originally compiled by John Rudy as a student project in 2007 at Gettysburg College, this new, revised edition of the Civil War Walking Tour booklet guides a visitor on a truly unique campus tour. Visitors can walk among buildings from the war era and learn how they were pressed into service during and after the . Likewise, many college figures such as President Henry Baugher, John "Jack" Hopkins (janitor), and many students are part of this complex and heroic story of College's story in July 1863.

Keywords Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, , , , 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Regiment, Pennsylvania College, Abolition, Henry Baugher, Field Hospital, College Edifice

Disciplines History | Military History | Social History | United States History

This book is available at The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cwfac/5 Gettysburg College the Battle of GETTYSBURG A Civil War Walking Tour Gettysburg College

the Battle of Gettysburg A Civil War Walking Tour Developed by John M. Rudy ’07

STOP ONE Abolitionist Roots of Pennsylvania College 2 ettysburg College sits at a cross- The Civil War Era Studies program is roads of history. Across the lawns Gettysburg College’s showcase program STOP TWO The Student Abolition Movement 3 where students now walk, the college for studies in the and witnessed fighting that ultimately helped the Civil War era in American History (1848 STOP THREE The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment 4 decide the fate of freedom in America. –1877). Created in 1998 with funding from But today, very little remains to help conjure the Henry R. Luce Foundation, CWES over- STOP FOUR 5 Battles Around Campus the images of horror and hope which played sees an undergraduate minor in Civil War out on the campus nearly 150 years ago. Era Studies and a “Gettysburg Semester,” STOP FIVE The Failure of the Union Line 6 From sainted halls of learning to which affords undergraduates from outside STOP SIX “Our Jack — Jack the Janitor” 7 ghastly hospital, from pleasant manicured Gettysburg College an opportunity to spend garden to putrid graveyard, the campus an entire “immersion” semester in Civil War STOP SEVEN College Edifice: Field Hospital and Prison 8 was transformed in an instant of war. This studies at Gettysburg. tour attempts to give you a glimpse of that Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College STOP EIGHT President Baugher 9 world. From students serving as soldiers or is a highly selective four-year residential coll- witnessing the war from their dorms, to the ege of liberal arts and sciences with a strong STOP NINE Mr. Lincoln Comes to Gettysburg 10 words Lincoln spoke at the dedication of academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes the National Cemetery south of town, Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distin- 11 Campus Civil War Tour Map step into history and witness the past. guished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 The tour was originally developed in undergraduate students and is located on a 2007 as an independent study project under 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg the guidance of history Prof. Allen Guelzo National Military Park in Pennsylvania. www.gettysburg.edu and Instructor Christina Ericson Hansen.

Cover: Pennsylvania College, 1840 (cover) Pennsylvania College, July 1863 (above), Photo by Mathew Brady. Photos courtesy of Special Collections, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College. 2nd edition, 2013 1 Stevens Hall (ca. 1870) Photo courtesy of Special Collections, Musselman Library, Completed in 1868, 5 years after the battle, Gettysburg College. Stevens Hall was named for the congressman and radical abolitionist, a physical reminder of one of Gettysburg College’s abolitionist founders.

STOP ONE STOP TWO Abolitionist Roots of Pennsylvania College Students and the Abolition Movement

hen Gettysburg College — Pennsylvania College. He also provided the n the late 1850s, the view for miles The group might have passed into originally named Pennsylvania College with its original six acres of land. to the north of what is today Lincoln obscurity had it not been for widespread College — was founded in 1832, the Stevens was strongly opposed to slavery. Avenue was farm fields and orchards, rumors that B.D. also stood for the Black issue of slavery was a contentious and Early in his legal career he was heard to many worked by pacifist and abolitionist Ducks, a secret society that on occasion widely debated subject throughout the 24 toast, “The next President. — May he be Quakers. To slaves stumbling northward hid slaves as part of the Underground states of the United States. Less than a a freeman, who never riveted fetters on a from the slaveholding south, the steps Railroad. The Black Ducks participation was year earlier Nat Turner had been executed human slave.” taken through the farm fields of purportedly inspired by a local dance after his failed slave rebellion in Virginia. Some of Stevens’ most outspoken Pennsylvania were some of instructor, Manuel, who on a cold The borough of Gettysburg, fewer than criticism of slavery came in the 1840s, the first on free soil they had December night asked the ten miles from the Mason-Dixon line, when Gettysburg passed a resolution ever trod. In Adams County students to help a fugitive — experienced this unrest between slave quashing speech over the slave issue — and across southern and “Black as the ace of spades owners and abolitionists, as escaped a local gag-rule. This brought Stevens back eastern Pennsylvania, loose — master after him.” The slaves regularly made their way through to the town where he had first practiced networks of black and white young men quickly agreed, the area. law, where he said in a strong speech allies helped these fugitives harboring the man and The College’s founder, Samuel Simon against slavery: “If a man comes to speak draw their first free breaths. eventually spiriting him away Schmucker, was a proponent of gradual, of universal liberty, you answer him with According to local legend, to one of their hideaways on legal emancipation. He himself had owned violence and rotten eggs. Shame! . . . around this time students at Culp’s Hill, the “glim’s Cave,” a slaves who came to him through marriage, What true freemen would not blush at Pennsylvania College formed an jumble of rocks that had recently been but had eventually emancipated them such behavior.” unofficial and unsanctioned fraternity fashioned into a hiding spot. and allowed them to continue living in his Completed in 1868, 5 years after the called Beta Delta. The members had a By word of mouth in the Gettysburg home until he could find them suitable battle, Stevens Hall was named for the poor reputation in town and were often African-American community, Manuel training or employment. congressman and radical abolitionist, a a thorn in the side of the local constabulary. became a point of contact for escaping Gettysburg’s most famous abolitionist physical reminder of one of Gettysburg With a headquarters on East Middle Street, slaves. In turn, Manuel leaned on the Black was undoubtedly Thaddeus Stevens, a College’s abolitionist founders. a good distance from the campus, the Ducks to help him spirit away the fugitives member of the original board of trustees of B.D.’s were known for late-night parties to the Quaker communities north of town and generally “godless” behavior. and on to freedom further north.

“Am I not a man and a brother?” Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

2 3 Company A in 1892 at the dedication of their monument at Chambersburg and West streets. Photo by William H. Tipton. Courtesy of Special Collections, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College.

STOP THREE STOP FOUR The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment Battles Around Campus

n the heels of his 1863 victory at consequence.” The men were mustered n July 1, 1863, the advance forces Mummasburg road at a run, about 600 the Battle of Chancellorsville in into service at Harrisburg as Company of the Union 1st and 11th corps yards from me.” Fischer witnessed some Virginia, Gen. Robert E. Lee made a bold A of the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency clashed unexpectedly with the advance of the most intense fighting north of the push northward with his Army of Northern Militia Regiment. units of the Army of Northern Virginia. To campus, watching “the 13th Mass and Virginia, up the Shenandoah Valley into Within ten days the soldiers the west, on Oak Ridge, lay the 1st corps, 104th N.Y., who stood in an open meadow. and Pennsylvania. from Pennsylvania College were back and to the north ran the line of the 11th [He] could see every man fall as he was Because of many false alarms in Gettysburg, and on June 26 were corps. Troops rushed across the grounds hit until of the original line of blue was about a rebel invasion, Pennsylvania deployed in the fields north and west of of the campus to stem the oncoming left only a thin line, with great gaps was slow in calling up troops to defend town (beyond the modern observation Confederate tide. at that.” the commonwealth. Finally, in mid- tower on the ridge in the distance) as Captain Frederick Von Fritsch of the By late afternoon the Confederates June Governor Curtin sounded the pickets to scout for rebel advance. That 11th corps recalled that, “one unfortunate had gained the upper hand. One call for 50,000 volunteers to repel the same afternoon the unit was routed after officer was nailed by a six-pounder [cannon Confederate company commander recalled Confederates. The June 16 Adams Sentinel firing a volley and attempting to make a ball] against a big tree. I got hold of his his order to his men, “Boys, do you see announced the Governor’s call, stressing stand against veteran Confederate troops bushy hair and pulled him down, as he that stone wall yonder? I want you to drive “the importance of immediately raising a who were marching in advance of Lee’s presented a ghastly appearance.” the Yankees from behind it, and then you sufficient force.” army. The unit was forced to retreat to First Lieutenant Louis Fischer of a can rest.” Needing water, he recalled that Hearing the news, students were Harrisburg. One-hundred sixty men were company of 11th corps engineers recalled he “saw a Yankee jump up [and] a cannon- stirred to action and a group went into captured, later paroled in the Gettysburg that “after passing Pennsylvania College ball struck him in the breast and cut him “Dr. Horner’s Drug Store, got a sheet town square. my pioneers were put to work to cut down in two. I saw him fall apart. I picked up of foolscap. Before night we had the Although their service was brief and the post fences between the college his canteen and says, ‘I reckon you names of the majority of the students” lackluster, the men of Pennsylvania College and Hagy’s house [north of campus]. are dead!’” — so many names, in fact, that the Star had done their part to help protect state The rebel infantry was coming down the and Banner erroneously reported that and college. In the post-battle newspapers, Pennsylvania College had been “obliged the community had praise for the College to suspend the session a few weeks in students where once there was contempt.

4 5 Pennsylvania College, 1862 John Hopkins, 1862 (below) Photo courtesy of Special Collections, Photo courtesy of Special Collections, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College. Musselman Library, Gettysburg College.

STOP FIVE STOP SIX The Failure of the Union Line “Our Jack — Jack the Janitor”

n July 1, after a furious morning During his escape, the reins of Capt. n 1847 Pennsylvania College hired a quantity of bed clothing, carpeting, and and midafternoon of fighting to the Fritsch’s horse were seized by a rebel local black man, John “Jack” Hopkins, household + kitchen furniture.” According west and the north of Gettysburg, the soldier. The Union officer sliced the man’s to work as the College’s janitor. His to a claim form that Mrs. Hopkins filed Confederates eventually flank the Federal hand off at the wrist and successfully starting wages were a healthy $15.00 for goods lost during the Confederate right on Barlow’s Knoll. Lt. Fischer, whose retreated with his men to . a month. Over time Hopkin’s duties invasion, the furnishings also included “20 engineers stationed near Pennsylvania Fischer and his engineers joined the increased, and so did his status on yds. Imported Carpet” and a clock with an Hall had constructed an eight-foot-tall retreat from the College campus toward campus. In 1860, after having estimated worth of $5.00 — a third observation tower out of rails from the the town. On North Washington Street, the been charged with care of the of Hopkins’ weekly salary by the College’s perimeter fencing, watched the soldiers needed to cross Stevens Run, the College grounds as well as 1860s. fighting, and “as far as [his] eye could quick running creek separating the campus the buildings, Hopkins Like most of the black reach,” he saw, “thousands of Ewell’s men from the railroad. The run was spanned moved into a home that community in Gettysburg, come toward the rear and right flank of by a stone bridge, “the arch considerably stood near where the steps the Hopkins family fled [the 11th] corps, completely enveloping it.” elevated above the surrounding level. Word to Musselman Library the area for fear of being On Barlow’s Knoll, to the northeast of was passed from man to man not to go are today. Well known on captured and enslaved by campus, the 11th corps began to crumble over the bridge but walk through the deep campus, students jokingly the rebel army. At a faculty and fall back through town. Capt. Frederick mire. Rebel infantry in the houses east of referred to him as the “Vice- meeting on June 30, the day Von Fritsch described the reaction of the it [were] raking it with fire.” One lieutenant President” of the College. before the battle began, the Federal soldiers as “the Confederates “scorns the idea of any rebel hitting him, Hopkins’ duties included duty of ringing the College bell was charged through the creek, screaming and marches over the bridge. A dull thud, ringing the College bell, which tolled in assigned to a tutor in Hopkins’ absence. savagely. One of the Union soldiers and his reeling body sinks to the earth.” the morning and evening, as well as to During the battle, his home was used shouted, “‘Run for your lives, boys!’ From Lt. Fischer decided to ford the muddy announce classes. His home appears to as one of the satellites to the main all sides Confederate masses approached creek instead. have been well outfitted, as the wife of the Confederate field hospital in Pennsylvania the town on the double quick.” College president, Clara Baugher, recalled Hall, providing a respite from the battle that the family “had a considerable and an aid station for Hopkins’ foes.

6 7 STOP SEVEN STOP EIGHT College Edifice: Field Hospital and Prison President Baugher

ompleted in 1838, the College up at the train station where he helped he “” — today, the and night the family were unremitting Edifice (now known as Pennsylvania with medical care, but soon found the place Norris–Wachob Alumni House in their attention to the wants of the Hall) was the primary building on campus overrun with Confederate soldiers. Like — was built in 1860 to house College sufferers.” Among those taken was the at the time of the battle. The building — most of the students, he waited the battle President Henry L. Baugher and his family. author of the letter, an officer of the 90th along with Linnaean Hall, which stood to out pinned behind enemy lines. Even before the armies of the Union Pennsylvania Volunteers, Adjutant David the west where the “Sentinel” stands Michael Colver, Class of 1863, and Confederacy set foot on campus, P. Weaver. Weaver was safeguarded from today — formed the academic and returned to campus after the battle to find, Baugher had experienced the destruction capture by the diligent family for the three residential center of Pennsylvania College. “in and around the building, according of the Civil War. His son Nesbitt, an 1853 days of occupation, although the “house It housed students’ dorms, recitation to the estimate given us, seven hundred graduate of Pennsylvania College, had was searched repeatedly, the officer was rooms and offices, and was by all wounded rebels. When I came to enlisted at the beginning of the so effectually concealed that he accounts the largest building my room, I saw it afforded ample war in the 45th Illinois Volunteer escaped being taken prisoner.” in town. accommodation for three — Infantry. Nesbitt Baugher, After the battle, when At the opening of the one on the bed and two on lieutenant of Company B, the campus had become battle on the morning of the floor. All rooms, halls, died shortly after the Battle a prison camp, James F. July 1, the Union Signal and hallways were occupied of Shiloh in 1862. He had Crocker, Class of 1850, an Corps mounted the cupola with the poor deluded sons been wounded seven times, adjutant in the 9th Virginia in the College Edifice to of the South. The moans, and during the battle the Volunteer Infantry, found survey the land and observe prayers, and shrieks of the enemy lines passed beyond his way from the south Confederate movements. wounded and dying were him. Fortunately, Union forces end of the borough to the Henry Watkins, Class of 1864, heard everywhere.” were able to remove him from town center. Still clad in his gray later recalled that “the U.S. Signal For a month after the battle, the the field so that he was not taken Confederate uniform, Crocker walked Corps created considerable noise and College served as a Confederate hospital prisoner; he died in a Union field hospital through the Union-occupied town and aroused suspicions. Amid repeated and prison camp. Surgeries took place a month later with his father at his side. greeted his former neighbors as if the failures on part of the class, our professor on the portico of Penn Hall and in the As fighting neared the College war hadn’t happened. Crocker eventually [President Henry L. Baugher] remarked, surrounding fields, and the dead and campus, Baugher retreated to his ran into one of Baugher’s sons, who ‘we will close and see what is going dying lay scattered outside. home where he cared for 18 wounded recognized the former salutatorian and on, for you know nothing about the soldiers during the three-day Confederate asked him to dinner. Crocker accepted lesson anyhow.’” Twenty-third commencement Pennsylvania College, occupation of the town. A month after the and dined cordially in the same house Gettysburg, Pa., September 17th, 1857. Released from class, students rushed Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. battle The Lutheran Observer published a where the Union adjutant had hidden to the aid of the wounded. Watkins wound letter which recounted that “the wounded just days before. of the 1st Corps were carried to the splendid mansion of the Professor. Day Henry Baugher, 1862. Photo courtesy of Special Collections, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College.

8 9 STOP NINE Mr. Lincoln Comes to Gettysburg

fter the two armies left town and grounds to their Sacred use by a few that “the students of the college were battle, funeral customs and the state of the hospitals once again became appropriate remarks.” The President, to given a place [in the procession]... We affairs in the nation. Then came Lincoln. residences and schools and churches, the the surprise of the committee, accepted. were assigned the inconspicuous position “When Mr. Lincoln rose to speak the citizens of Gettysburg were left with the The presidential party arrived of tailenders...we thought we should find stillness was very noticeable... With a hand task of burying the dead. The battle was the evening before November 19 and ourselves on the outskirts of the crowd on each side of his manuscript (typewriter among the greatest man-made disasters in “immediately proceeded to the residence when we reached the cemetery... size), he spoke in a most deliberate American history, with 50,000 casualties of Hon. . In the meantime a We assembled on York Street manner, and with such forceful and perhaps 3,000 to 5,000 dead great crowd had gathered, and vigorously in front of the Gettysburg and articulate expression that horses and mules. The stench from the called for a speech. Nothing would do, the National Bank... It gave us a he could be heard by all of decomposing bodies was overwhelming, President must come forth.” And he did. most excellent opportunity that immense throng... There and most were initially buried in shallow Lincoln’s response to the crowd was to see the President... This was no gesture except with graves where they lay. Not surprisingly, the short. “I do not appear before you for the was compensation for being both hands up and down, proposal of a National Cemetery for the purpose of [making a speech], and for tail-enders... Many a regret grasping the manuscript Union dead was heartily endorsed by the several substantial reasons,” he said. was expressed, as we saw which he did not seem town and state government. “The most substantial of these is that I the thousands ahead of us, to need, as he looked at it The dedication of the cemetery have no speech to make. In my position it that we surely would miss seldom... On coming away I said was held November 19, 1863. The is somewhat important that I should not the speeches.” to a classmate, ‘Well, Mr. Lincoln’s featured orator of the day was the great say any foolish things.” A heckler replied, Upon reaching the cemetery, the speech was...appropriate...but I don’t think Edward Everett, a Whig politician from “If you can help it.” Lincoln displayed his students found that the column had parted there was anything remarkable about it.’” Massachusetts who was considered the quick wit, retorting “it very often happens and they were dead center in front of It was, of course, Lincoln’s speech greatest orator of his day. David Wills, that the only way to help it is to say the rostrum at the feet of the speakers. that the students and the world would graduate of the class of 1851 and head nothing at all.” Everett’s speech lasted nearly two hours ultimately remember. of the committee planning the ceremony, The next morning a procession and included a detailed recounting of the invited President Lincoln on the late date gathered in the town square. Philip Bikle, of November 2 to “formally set apart these a sophomore at the time, recalled later

10 11 Mummasburg Street Stops on the tour Begin in front of the Eisenhower House (Admissions) Corner of Carlisle Street Stevens Street and Carlisle Street 4 3

West Broadway West Broadway West Broadway 1 Abolitionist Roots of Pennsylvania College Stevens Hall Carlisle Street College Avenue 2 2 The Student Abolition Movement North Washington North Washington Street Corner of West Lincoln Avenue West Lincoln Avenue West Lincoln Avenue West Lincoln Avenue and North Washington Street

3 The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment

Constitution Avenue Constitution Corner of West Broadway Musselman 5 1 Library and North Washington Street Stevens Hall Carlisle Street 6 North Washington Street 4 Battles Around Campus Weidensall Constitution Avenue Corner of West Broadway Hall West Stevens Street Pennsylvania Hall and Mummasburg Street

Mummasburg Street

7 5 The Failure of the Union Line 8 East entrance of Weidensall Hall Norris-Wachob

Carlisle Street (across from Christ Chapel) Alumni House North Washington North Washington Street 6 “Our Jack — Jack the Janitor” Water Street South entrance of Musselman Library Constitution Avenue

7 College Edifice: Field Hospital and Prison South entrance of Pennsylvania Hall Carlisle Street Constitution Avenue North Washington North Washington Street 8 President Baugher Gettysburg College West Railroad Street East entrance of Norris–Wachob the Battle of Alumni House GETTYSBURG 9 Mr. Lincoln Comes to Gettysburg Carlisle Street Corner of Chambersburg Street A Civil War Walking Tour and Carlisle Street North Washington North Washington Street 9 Chambersburg Street Chambersburg Street Gettysburg College 300 North Washington St. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325-1400

www.gettysburg.edu