Civil War Journal - War Comes to Gettysburg

Civilians recall the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. This is the second in a series of articles about the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the civilians who experienced it.

 

The first day of the battle began as advance elements of the two armies collided on the ridges north and west of the town. Early that morning, federal cavalry delayed southern infantry long enough for federal infantry to arrive on the field. By early afternoon, the fighting had escalated as both sides brought in reinforcements. Later that afternoon, Confederates—now outnumbering the Federals—drove them back through town to Cemetery Hill, where they rallied.

Gettysburg resident Catherine Foster, whose home was on the northwest corner of Washington and High streets, recalled, “On July 1, when skirmishing began, we went to our western balcony to watch the maneuvering at 10:00 am, artillery began to play, and 1st Corps (Union) came up, General Reynolds, dashing through our streets and called to us to go to our cellar. The infantry were marching double-quick, some on the street and some on different lines west, through the fields to west of Seminary Hill (Ridge).” Hugh McClain Ziegler, age 10, was the son of Emanuel Ziegler, steward at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Hugh described the scene on the morning of July 1: “On the top of the Seminary building, there was a cupola from which the country in all directions could be seen for miles, and it was used by the Union officers as an observatory.

The vision west to the mountains was unobstructed except by an occasional grove of trees, and the movements of Lee’s army toward Gettysburg was seen on the morning of July first.”

Oliver F. Benner was the son of Christian and Susan Benner. He was born on the Christian Benner farm, located east of Rock Creek, south of Hanover Road, on July 14, 1844. At the time of the battle he recalled, “Wednesday morning came, and everything was apparently quiet. So we went to ploughing and grubbing just as if there was not a Rebel this side of the Potomac River. Mr. Spangler came out to our place that morning to buy some flour. We had fourteen barrels of it on a wagon and father agreed to take the flour right up to Spangler’s warehouse. He was driving out of the yard when the first two shells of the Battle of Gettysburg were fired. He got to the town square and met Mr. Spangler. The battle had broken loose and everything was in a tumult. ‘Suppose you take your load back home,’ Spangler said, and that was what father did. The noise of the battle excited me greatly, and I went up to Culp’s Hill and climbed a tree and watched.”

Agnes S. Barr, a native of Mount Joy Township, moved in 1860 with her family to 220 Baltimore St. in Gettysburg. She recalled that, “The Ladies of Gettysburg were notified to prepare lint and bandages. The two armies were at the west of town and were skirmishing and wounded soldiers would need attention.

“Later we knew there was a battle and in the afternoon we were out at the front door to see or find out what was doing. About 2 pm a Federal officer galloped up to the Presbyterian Church and ordered it opened for a Hospital. Very soon after the ambulances began coming with the wounded to the church. Soon after 3 pm, the citizens were ordered to the cellars, the Rebels were driving our men through the town.”

Albertus McCreary, a young boy at the time, lived on the southwest corner of Baltimore and High streets; the Prince of Peace Church is on that corner today. Young McCreary recalled that the first indication he saw of the battle was the Eleventh Corps passing through town along Washington Street. “They were going to form in line of battle along Seminary Ridge. We boys sat on the fence of High and Washington streets full of excitement and wonder. I remember saying to one of my companions, ‘There are enough soldiers here to whip all the ‘Rebs’ in the South.’ To us it looked like a great army. It was hours before the last ones had passed. Boy-like, we followed in the rear, not dreaming there was going to be actual fighting. We got as far as Chambersburg Pike, and there we could hear firing over the Ridge. Afterward we learned this was the actual beginning of the battle of Gettysburg.”

The ordeal for the civilians was just beginning.

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