Investigation
Location:
Gettysburg Pennsylvania
The Farnsworth House
The
Jennie Wade House
Gettysburg Battlefields
Sach's Bridge.
May 2007
*Allows Public Ghost
Hunting*
The Battle of Gettysburg, 1863
On June 24, 1863, General Robert E. Lee led his
Confederate Army across the Potomac River and headed towards Pennsylvania.
In response to this threat President Lincoln replaced his army commander,
General Joseph Hooker, with General George Mead. As Lee's troops poured into
Pennsylvania, Mead led the Union Army north from Washington. Meade's effort
was inadvertently helped by Lee's cavalry commander, Jeb Stuart, who,
instead of reporting Union movements to Lee, had gone off on a raid deep in
the Union rear. This action left Lee blind to the Union's position. When a
scout reported the Union approach, Lee ordered his scattered troops to
converge west of the small village of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
On July 1, some Confederate infantry
headed to Gettysburg to seize much-needed shoes and clashed west of town
with Union cavalry. The Union commander, recognizing the importance of
holding Gettysburg because a dozen roads converged there, fought desperately
to hold off the Rebel advance. Other Union troops briefly stopped some
Rebels north of town. During heavy fighting, the Confederates drove the
Union troops through the streets of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill south of the
town. Lee ordered General Richard Ewell, now commander of the late Stonewall
Jackson's old units, to attack this position "if practicable", a vague order
that Jackson normally took to mean launch an all-out attack. Ewell was not
Jackson. He decided not to attack once he saw the Union artillery atop the
hill. Had he attacked and succeeded, it might have changed the course of the
war.
The rest of the armies arrived that first
night. The Union army established a defensive position resembling a fish
hook, with Culp's Hill and the two Round Tops anchoring each end. Lee
decided to attack both flanks the next day. On his right flank, Union troops
mistakenly shifted out of position, leaving Little Round Top undefended. At
the last moment, a Union general rushed troops in just ahead of the charging
Confederates. After a long day of fighting, they barely held the position.
The misplaced bluecoats were pushed back through The Peach Orchard, The
Wheat Field, and Devil's Den. On the left, Ewell's assault failed due mainly
to his poor leadership.
Thinking the Union center had weakened
from these attacks, Lee decided the next day to hit it first with artillery,
and then an infantry charge led by George Pickett's division. Stuart's
late-arriving cavalry was to come in behind the Union center at the same
time, but they were held off by Union cavalry led by a young General George
Custer. After an hour's duel, Union artillery deceived the Confederates into
thinking their guns were knocked out. Then 13,000 Rebels marched across the
field in front of Cemetery Hill, only to have the Union artillery open up on
them, followed by deadly Federal infantry firepower. Scarcely half made it
back to their own lines. In all, Lee lost more than a third of his men
before retreating to Virginia. Meade, a naturally cautious man, decided the
loss of one-quarter of his men had been enough, and only feebly tried to
pursue Lee, missing an opportunity to crush him
The North suffered an estimated 23,000 casualties during
the battle (killed, wounded and captured) while the South suffered an
estimated 31,000
Article from:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/gtburg.htm
The Jennie Wade House:
Mary Virginia Wade, or better known as
Jennie Wade was the only civilian killed during the American Civil War
Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863 while baking bread for
Union soldiers in the now famous tourist destination, the Jennie Wade House.
She was struck by a single bullet that traveled through two wooden doors
killing her instantly. Jennie Wade was 20 years old. The house looks very
much the same as it did over 140 years ago.
The Jennie Wade house, originally the
McClellan home, lived through the Battle of Gettysburg and witnessed the
tragic death of Gettysburg civilian Jennie Wade, as she was preparing bread
for the Union soldiers. This brick house was not a good spot to be in during
the fighting as it was between both armies and commonly referred to as "No
Man's Land". Northern soldiers were setting up defenses South of town while
Confederate forces were occupying the North side of town. As both armies
fired on each other, the Jennie Wade home was struck repeatedly and riddled
with bullets. The north side received most of the damage as it faced the
Confederate position and today is marked with over 150 bullet holes. Also
causing damage to the Jenny Wade house was a Confederate 10-pounder "Parrot"
artillery shell. The shell hit and entered the Jennie wade house going
through and causing damage to the 2nd floor wall that separated the two
dwellings. Fortunately, the Civil War projectile did not explode, and
remained lodged in the house for many years after the war until it was
removed. Evidence of this direct hit can still be seen today while taking
the tour of the Jenny Wade house. The house is now a museum and contains a
Gift Shop in the rear.
Article from:
http://www.jennie-wade-house.com/
Jennie Wade House Photos
Farnsworth House:
The original part of the house was built in 1810, followed
by the brick structure in 1833, constructed by John McFarland. The Sweeney
family occupied the house during the battle. Original walls, flooring and
rafters remain intact, a tribute to the building skills of our forefathers.
During the battle, the house sheltered Confederate
sharpshooters, one of whom it is believed accidentally shot Jennie Wade, who
died in the three-day struggle. The south side of the house bears mute testimony
to the death and destruction that raged around it. More than 100 bullet holes
can still be seen in that wall.
The house was purchased in 1972 and the structure’s
restoration to its 1863 appearance began. For over thirty-two years the family
has maintained a high standard of excellence. Many news articles, have been
written about the 19th century house. With the continuing restoration and
careful maintenance of the House, we hope to provide our guests an experience
reminiscent of the Civil War Era.
The house was named in memory of Elon John Farnsworth. On
the very eve of the battle, Farnsworth was promoted to Brig. General.
Soon after the failure of Pickett’s charge on July 3rd.
Kilpatrick ordered a charge of Farnsworth’s regiments against the right flank of
Long street's position. In this ill fated charge, Farnsworth and sixty-five of
his men perished
Article from:
http://www.farnsworthhouseinn.com/history.html
