Tag: gettysburg

The Strength and Bravery of Georgia Wade McClellan, Witness to the Battle of Gettysburg

Georgia 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.

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conquest of gettysburg

The Confederate Conquest of Gettysburg – How The Town Was Taken

Southern Victory and the Conquest of Gettysburg

The Invasion Begins

After his success at Chancellorsville, Virginia in May 1863, General Robert E Lee led his army through the Shenandoah Valley to begin his second invasion of the North—what would later be known as the Gettysburg Campaign. Lee wanted to move the focus of the summer campaign away from beleaguered northern Virginia, and to strike a blow against Union morale by penetrating as far north as Harrisburg.

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evergreen cemetery gatehouse

Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery: Keystone of the Battleground

Imagine standing on hallowed ground, where the echoes of the past linger—a quiet sanctuary of bereavement and rest, centrally placed to witness pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Evergreen Cemetery is not just another burial ground; it’s a living testament to the town and inhabitants of Gettysburg and their sacrifices before, during, and since the Civil War.

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Buyers of Time: A Unique Family Connection That Changed American History

Rufus Dawes - Buyers of Time
Rufus Dawes

When studying the history of America it’s not unusual to discover individuals who have unique historical connections. This is often the case among the many individuals who fought in the Civil War, many of whom hail from legendary American bloodlines and carry with them a rich family history.

One such individual who fought here at Gettysburg was Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin. Dawes’s infantry regiment was part of the famed Iron Brigade which consisted of the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, the 19th Indiana, and the 24th Michigan. The brigade was part of the 1st corps Army of the Potomac under the command of Major General John Reynolds. Dawes and his 6th Wisconsin would charge the unfinished railroad on the morning of July 1st, 1863. At that time, the railroad was just a rough cut in the earth (much like a trench) and sat west of Gettysburg, running parallel to modern-day route 30 (then called “the Chambersburg Pike”).

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The Gettysburg Farm of Ike and Mamie Eisenhower

Ike at Gettysburg

The name Gettysburg has long been enshrined in history as the site of one of the greatest battles ever fought on American soil. But long after the events of the Civil War, this historic town continues to elicit praise and attention for being representative of qualities near and dear to the collective heart of the American republic.

There is no greater example of this than the lifelong investment and love shown to Gettysburg by one of America’s greatest war and peacetime leaders, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

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gettysburg by night

Gettysburg By Night: Experiencing the Town After Sunset

Gettysburg is a well-known historical destination for travelers and tourists from all over the world. And there are certainly a great many things to see and experience in Gettysburg during the day, but that doesn’t mean that the town stops being a first-class destination when the sun sets! There’s plenty to do in this Gettysburg by night! Below are just some of the many great activities available to visitors after dark.

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Where Did the Iron Brigade Fight at Gettysburg?

Though destined for fame as one of the most respected and feared forces in the Army of the Potomac, the Iron Brigade came from humble roots. The all-Western infantry brigade was primarily comprised of five colorfully named regiments: the Calico (6th Wisconsin), the Huckleberries (7th Wisconsin), the Babies (19th Indiana), the Feather-beds (24th Michigan), and the Ragged Asstetical (2nd Wisconsin), which won its not-so-fierce nom de guerre, said the veteran Aubrey Cullen, “from the fact that the government contractors had run short of good material when they made the pantaloons … allowing their flag of truce always to be kept in their rear.”
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Christmas at the Jennie Wade House

Visit the Jennie Wade House to see how they decorated for the holidays in 1863. Music, decorations,  and unique gifts.  Open Friday, December 3rd & 10th; Saturday, December 4th, 11th & 18th; and Sunday, December 5th, 12th & 19th and daily December 26th-31st.

Ghostly Images Jennie Wade/Haunted Orphanage Combo Tour

The Ghostly Images Jennie Wade/Haunted Orphanage Combo Tour is held Saturday nights beginning January 16th, 2021 (weather permitting) through Saturday, March 13th, 2021.  Space is limited so get your tickets early.  This tour takes you INSIDE both the Jennie Wade House and the Haunted Orphanage.   Cost:  $15 per person.

Daily operation begins on Friday, March 19th, 2021.

Monday, May 25–Virtual One Hundred Nights of Taps Gettysburg 2020

Wendy Allen to 100 Nights of Taps Gettysburg 2020

Virtual One Hundred Nights of Taps, Gettysburg, 2020

Opening Ceremony, May 25, 7:00 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube

For the fourth year, the notes of “Taps” will be sounded in Gettysburg every evening this summer to honor of those who have served our nation. The program will take place virtually through internet live-streaming. In order to act in the best interest of public safety, Gettysburg National Military Park has informed The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania that, until further notice, any on-site programming for “One Hundred Nights of Taps, Gettysburg, 2020” within Soldiers’ National Cemetery is temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If and when the Fellowship receives an “all-clear” for on-site programming, we will again meet, outdoors, at the base of the beautiful Soldiers’ National Monument in Gettysburg National Military Park to resume the ceremony as it was intended to be.

The Lincoln Fellowship, in partnership with Taps for Veterans and Gettysburg National Military Park, will stream the virtual program at 7 p.m. every evening from Memorial Day (May 25) through Labor Day (September 7) through Facebook and YouTube. We welcome any and all members of the public to join us online at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472479932776324/

and on our One Hundred Nights of Taps, Gettysburg, 2020 YouTube channel.