The Battle of Gettysburg: Through the Eyes of Michael Schroyer

By Karen Hendricks

The inside of Shroyer's diary (Photo courtesy of Sue Boardman)

Sue Boardman became a licensed battlefield guide thanks to a passion for Civil War history ignited by discovering and reading a diary written by Michael Schroyer, who served in Co. G, 147^th PA Volunteers, based in her hometown area of Snyder County.

Here are Schroyer’s diary entries at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, as he wrote them, but with locations capitalized:

Maryland June 30 Tuesday we marched through Taneytown. Crossed over into Pennsylvania and went through Littlestown and drove before us the enemys pickets with a skirmish at Littlestown capturing a few of the enemy. travelled 15 miles

July 1 1863 Wednesday we went back to Littlestown and took the Gettysburg pike and travelled within 11 miles to Gettysburg and stayed there all night very hard fighting.  Travelled about 12 miles

July 2 Thursday we went about 11 mile to the right of the line of battle and layed there until 12 o’clock at night when we again returned to our line of battle

July 3 the rebs then occupied our breastworks we commenced fighting about 5

o’clock in the morning and continued until two. About noon the rebs left the breastworks and we then went into them again. we left them on the night before the fight. The rebs then went into them but could not hold them. The wounded in our company are Calvin C. Parks in finger. Corporal bower Harris in hip. Thus ended the 3 of July. The rebs retreated with heavy loss

July 4 Saturday 1863 it was all along the line.  Quiet on the night of the 3 of July the rebs on a retreat. Our army burying the dead.

July 5 Sunday I was detailed to help bury rebel dead. we buried 42 rebs in one grave or trench and 31 rebs in another. we then went to marching.

Civil War Trust Seeks to Save Lee’s HQ

By Brendan Raleigh 

You’d think that the Headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee would be one of the top tourist attractions in Gettysburg. After all, the decisions made in that building significantly altered both the outcome of the Civil War and the future of the United States. But unfortunately, the charm of the historic building has been marred substantially by the commercial development surrounding it, preventing it from reaching its full potential as an historic landmark.

And that’s why the Civil War Trust, a Washington-based non-profit group, embarked on its quest to purchase the Headquarters, restore it to its 19^th century glory, and preserve it for future generations.

“The Lee’s Headquarters site is the most hallowed of grounds,” says Civil War Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “And the opportunity to preserve it is the best way to appropriately honor the legacy of those who gave the last full measure of devotion on that fateful July day.”

“The Headquarters are one of the most historically-significant, unprotected battlefield sites in Gettysburg, and possibly the nation,” agrees Jim Campi, the Trust’s policy and communications director. “It was the nerve center of the Confederate army for much of the Battle of Gettysburg.”

The neighboring Quality Inn and Appalachian Brewing Company are often perceived as disruptive toward the site’s potential for an authentic Civil War atmosphere. Since the two businesses declined to renew their leases this past year, the Trust was given its opening to purchase the Headquarters and four acres of battlefield around it.

Financially, it’s a pretty hefty undertaking: $5.5 million to purchase the building and another half-million to demolish the modern structures and restore the historic structure. However, with more than $4.4 already raised and committed thanks to the government grants, private sector dollars, and a sizable gift from FedEx Corporation, the people of the Civil War Trust are confident they will succeed in their endeavor.

“Within the first three weeks of the campaign, we had already raised 25 percent of our goal,” says Campi. “If the fundraiser is successful, we'll be able close on the property probably next year. And then we’ll be able to move forward with our goal of making it look as much as possible like it did on July 1, 1863.”

If the Trust purchases the site, they will first have to assess the historic site and the historic buildings before beginning the process of tearing down the non-historic structures and restoring the landscape. The current museum would remain, at least until the site is turned over to the National Park Service, as the Trust plans to do.

“To watch the property be transformed from commercial real estate to a restored historic site, a place of reverence and remembrance, will be a true privilege,” says Lighthizer. “We will all soon be able to stand on this ground and be transported back to those three days in July that shaped our nation so significantly.”

Civil War Trust has performed similar ventures in both Gettysburg and Antietam, but this undertaking is by far their most ambitious, and potentially their most significant. To donate to the Civil War Trust’s quest to save General Lee’s Headquarters or learn more about the cause, visit the fundraiser’s page.

Gettysburg’s Civilians: Caught in the Crossfire

By Karen Hendricks + Photo by Noel Kline

A replica of the Shriver family kitchen, featured at the Shriver House Museum

Ephraim Wisler, a blacksmith who lived along Chambersburg Turnpike, was paralyzed by shock or concussion when a shell exploded dangerously close to him during the early morning hours of July 1. According to the only account of this incident, “The shock to his nervous system was so great that he became totally prostrated. He took to his bed soon afterwards and never rose from it.” Records indicate that Wisler died on August 15, 1863, some five weeks later, and was buried in Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Cemetery.

John L. Burns joined Union soldiers in the line of battle and was wounded several times in the fighting west of the town on the afternoon of July 1, 1863. He survived his wounds and the war.

Charles F. Weakley, a young man of Emmitsburg, Md., following the Union Army to Gettysburg and shortly before the fighting, joined the ranks of Company A, 12 Massachusetts Infantry. He was wounded on the afternoon of July 1, but survived the battle. He later enlisted in the Company G, 13^th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Weakley died in camp near Petersburg, Va., on November 23, 1864.

Charles W. Griest of York Springs volunteered to carry a dispatch from Gov. Andrew Curtin to the Union army at Gettysburg on June 30, 1863. He delivered the message to Gen. John Buford and remained with his division. On July 1, while he was carrying a message to the 17^th Pennsylvania Cavalry, his horse was shot and fell upon him, his leg severely injured. Griest and his horse both survived the ordeal.

Lizzie Waltz was wounded in the fighting at Hanover, Pa., on June 30, 1863. In 1899 an act was passed by congress directing that her name be placed on the pension rolls. According to the account, she “was wounded on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg during a skirmish near Hanover, Pa., while giving food and administering to the wants of the Union soldiers.”  

Amos Whetstone, a Lutheran Theological Seminary Student at Gettysburg, was boarding with the Weikert family on Chambersburg Street at the time of the battle. Whetstone was wounded in the skirmishing on July 4, 1863. According to Mary McAllister, who lived nearby, “I went over to old Mrs. Weikert’s and on her back porch there was a man. He said, ‘Take care, you will be shot! Oh, I believe I am shot.’ He looked down and a bullet had just gone through the fleshy part of his leg.”  

Georgianna Stauffer lived on Baltimore Street with her two children at the time of the battle. An eyewitness saw Mrs. Stauffer “sink to the ground after being shot in the hip, during the second day of the battle, as she was about to carry water to the men of his company.” The incident is said to have occurred near the home of Henry Garlach, in the area of heavy skirmishing on July 2, 1863. Her husband Jacob was a member of Company K, 1^st Pennsylvania Reserves and was present for duty at Gettysburg. That he must have visited his wife and family immediately following the battle is illustrated by the fact that Georgianna gave birth to a child on April 5, 1864. Jacob was captured during the Mine Run Campaign in November 1863 and subsequently died in Andersonville Prison on February 1, 1865.

Research provided by the Adams County Historical Society for the Gettysburg Heritage Museum