The Strength and Bravery of Georgia Wade McClellan, Witness to the Battle of Gettysburg
March 13, 2025Georgia Wade was born July 4th, 1841, the daughter of James and Mary Wade. The oldest of six children Georgia would go to school and help earn money sewing in her fathers tailoring shop. On April 15th,1862 Georgia would marry John Louis McClellan. The couple would rent the northern side of a duplex on Baltimore Street just a few hundred yards from the Evergreen Cemetery. John Louis McClellan would volunteer to serve in the 165th Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry in 1863 (9-month Regiment). Before John would leave for the army Georgia would become pregnant with the couples first child. That child Louis Kenneth McClellan would be born on June 26th, 1863, just 5 short days before the battle of Gettysburg.
With the birth of Georgia’s first child her mother Mary would come to the young couple’s home to help take care of Georgia and the baby. On that same day as Louis is born Confederates under Jubal Early would enter the town of Gettysburg. July 1st would see the beginning of the largest Battle in North America just a mile away from the young mother and child. During the afternoon break in fighting Georgia’s 20-year-old sister Mary Virginia (Jennie) Wade would leave the family home on Breckenridge Street and join Georgia and her mother she would bring her young brother and another child with her. For the next 2 days the family would have to endure terrifying gunfire and artillery fire with the home being hit numerous times by rifle fire and once by a 10-pound parrot rifle. The family stayed on the first floor until the early morning of July 3rd when Jennie would be struck in the back by a bullet and killed in Georgia’s kitchen. Seeing this Georgia’s mother could only simply say “Georgia your sister is dead”. When Georgia and the boys begin the scream and cry that would alert some union soldiers who would storm the house and guide the family to safety. The family would snake their way through the house and down into the cellar on the opposite side of the house. There they would sit for the next 18 hours until finally the battle of Gettysburg was over. With the dawning of July 4th a few things would occur it would be Independence Day, Georgia’s birthday, and unfortunately for her the day she would have to bury her sister. Georgia would never stay in that home again as she would move back in with her mother.
Georgia would not sit around her mother’s house long though as soon as she regains her strength after childbirth Georgia would volunteer in Field hospitals around Gettysburg in some truly horrible conditions. She would eventually volunteer in a hospital in Washington D.C. After the war when John came home, he and Georgia would move to Dennison Iowa where they quickly established their young family. Georgia was a dedicated temperance activist throughout her life, achieving many distinctions in the movement. Her elected positions included Secretary of the National Woman’s Relief Corps (WRC), President of the Iowa Woman’s Relief Corps, and President of the Iowa Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In 1911 John and Georgia would be named Superintendent and Matron of the Benedict home for women. This was established to help care for pregnant women. The couple would work there until John’s death in 1913. Georgia would live the rest of her life with her granddaughter until her death in September of 1927.
Georgia is often an overlooked part of the famed Jennie Wade Story, but her story is a life dedicated to duty, helping others, and her sister’s memory. She would return to Gettysburg a few times including once to unveil a plaque on the family home on Breckenridge Street. She would also be key in telling her sister Jennies story after the war and until her death writing accounts of what the family endured inside the home during the battle. You can still visit Georgia’s Home on Baltimore Street today it is the longest running museum in Gettysburg come and hear the story of Georgia and Jennie on a guided tour of the home. Remember it is the Jennie wade house today, but it was once Georgia’s Home and her work and dedication to telling her families story is what preserves it for us today.
Blog by Christopher Fronczek
Sources
https://emergingcivilwar.com/2018/05/13/a-young-mother-at-gettysburg/
https://www.civilwarprimer.com/tag/georgia-wade-mcclellan/
Jennie Wade of Gettysburg by Cindy Small