The Civil WarVisits Carlisle

Prelude to Gettysburg

A self-guided tour of 1863

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Carlisle is located in the Cumberland Valley of south

central Pennsylvania, close enough to the Mason-Dixon Line that rumors of Confederate invasion surfaced often during the Civil War. In the summer of 1863 those rumors became fact. In an attempt to deal a major, perhaps fatal blow to the Union cause, General Robert E. Lee ordered his

Army of Northern Virginia northward through the Shenandoah Valley and into Pennsylvania. The spearhead of that army reached Carlisle on Saturday, June 27, 1863. Its commanding offi cer, Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell, had been posted at the U.S. Army cavalry school in Carlisle after graduating from West Point in 1841 and knew many local citizens. His force included a vangaurd of about 1,200 cavalrymen under Brig. Gen. Albert Jenkins, followed by over 8,000 infantrymen in the division of Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes. West of town, Gen. Edward Johnson had 6,000 troops camped at Alexander Springs near Rte 11 in Carlisle. The Confederate Troops occupied and controlled the town for three days. They confi scated needed supplies and damaged the Cumberland Valley Railroad but otherwise left the town relatively unharmed. Mechanisburg was captured on June 28. From June 28-30, they fought skirmishes at Oyster’s Point in Camp Hill and Sporting Hill in Hampden Township, coming within three miles of Harrisburg. The Confederate forces then were recalled to Gettysburg where 37% of the Army of Northern Virginia would be killed, wounded or declared missing in action. On Wednesday, July 1, Union militia commanded by Maj. Gen. William “Baldy” Smith reoccupied Carlisle. Shortly after their arrival, however,

another Confederate force, hardened cavalry under the command of Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and Brig. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, approached the town from the southeast. They demanded the

surrender of Carlisle under threat of artillery bombardment. Gen. Smith refused, replying, “Shell away and be damned!” Stuart obliged, and downtown Carlisle came under several attacks. There were some casualties among the Union militiamen and minor damage to property. Stuart also ordered the burning of the U.S. Army Barracks, and most of the buildings there were

Union Offi cers and their wives at Carlisle Barracks prior to the

Confederate invasion.

Rebels shelling Carlisle’s Square as sketchedby Thomas Nast for Harper’s Weekly.

Union Offi cers and their wives

Self-guided Tour

A sketch by George Law showing Union troops camped among the burned ruins

of Carlisle Barracks.

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destroyed. He also set fi re to the gas works and a lumber yard. He intended a cavalry attack the next morning, but overnight he received orders from Gen. R.E. Lee recalling his force to the main Confederate army in Gettysburg. Carlisle was spared any further damage.

Information written and edited by Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS) volunteers with assistance from CCHS staff and the Cumberland County Civil War 150 Steering Committee. All photos are courtesy of CCHS.

Cumberland County Historical Society is located at 21 N. Pitt St. in Carlisle. In addition to its library, photo collection, and education facilities, the society houses an award-winning museum that is free and open to the public. Those interested in learning more about the 1863 invasion of Carlisle can take a walking tour led by trained guides for a small fee. To fi nd out more, go to historicalsociety.com or call (717) 249.7610.

Cumberland Valley Visitors Center

enough to the Mason-Dixon Line that rumors of Confederate invasion surfaced often during the Civil War. In the summer of 1863 those rumors became fact. In an attempt to deal a major, perhaps fatal blow to the Union cause, General Robert E. Lee ordered his

Army of Northern Virginia northward through the Shenandoah Valley and into Pennsylvania. The spearhead of that army reached Carlisle on Saturday, June 27, 1863. Its commanding offi cer, Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell, had been posted at the U.S. Army cavalry school in Carlisle after graduating from West Point in 1841 and knew many local citizens. His force included a vangaurd of about 1,200 cavalrymen under Brig. Gen. Albert Jenkins, followed

The Confederate Troops occupied and controlled the town for three days. They confi scated needed supplies and damaged the

Confederate army in Gettysburg. Carlisle was spared any further damage.

Cumberland Valley Visitors Center

Produced by:Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau

For more self-guided tours go to visitcumberlandvalley.com, or visit the

inside History on High - The Shop33 W. High St, Carlisle, PA 17013

(888) 513.5130

Site of Confederate encampment on Dickinson College campus; Note: CVRR tracks in the street

Dickinson College Dickinson College had graduated 13 students just two days before the 1400 men, horses and tents of Confederate Infantry occupied the campus, then the western edge of town. Dickinson students had been evenly divided in their loyalties in the Civil War and had enlisted since the start of the war in 1861 expecting to encounter one another on the battlefi eld. The college consisted of two buildings, Old West and East College, which served as temporary hospitals the following week when Union wounded were brought north from Gettysburg.

Local volunteer soldiers boarded trains at this CVRR station on their way to battlefi elds (station was the second brick building from the corner)

Cumberland Valley Railroad In April 1861, Carlisle volunteers answered President Lincoln’s call to arms and boarded trains at the Cumberland Valley Railroad Depot at the southwest corner of Pitt and High streets. The CV railroad operated seven days a week during the war, carrying soldiers and supplies through the middle of Carlisle to distant battlefi elds. As part of its invasion strategy the Confederate Army aimed to disrupt Union rail lines, weaken morale, and force a settlement to the confl ict.

First Presbyterian Church, oldest public building in Carlisle

Churches Many local citizens chose to remain behind locked doors on Sunday, June 28, 1863. Few townspeople worshipped at either First Lutheran or Second Presbyterian*, the only churches to open their doors that day. When the First Lutheran minister asked Gen. Ewell if the congregation could pray for the President, Ewell replied, “Pray for him. I’m sure he needs it.” On July 1, artillery shells damaged the roof at St. John’s Episcopal Church and exploded in the First Presbyterian churchyard.

*Location of these churches in 1863 are shown on the map with a star.

Dickinson College College had graduated 13 students

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Cumberland Valley Railroad In April 1861, Carlisle volunteers

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Churches chose to remain behind locked doors

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Soldiers’ Monument at the Old Courthouse Plaza

Civil War Memorial Originally known as the “Soldiers’ Monument”, Cumberland County’s Civil War Memorial was dedicated in 1871. It is composed of Gettysburg Granite and white marble and stands 30 feet tall. It is inscribed with the names of 342 county men, 17 offi cers and 325 enlisted, who perished during the confl ict. A 1993 rededication added brass plates to make the names easier to read. The monument’s creators failed to include the names of African-American Civil War servicemen who died during the confl ict, but the County Historical Society has begun an attempt to identify and recognize those who were omitted at that time.

“Scar” on the Courthouse column

Cumberland County Courthouse The Courthouse at the southwest corner of the Square suffered damage from artillery shells fi red by Confederate forces under the command of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. Known locally as “Lee’s calling cards,” these scars bear the date of the shelling, July 1, 1863.

Open farmers’ market, circa 1863 (no longer standing)

Carlisle Market House A farmers’ market stood on this site from 1751 until 1952. Gen. Ewell had demanded food and supplies for his troops, notably, 25,000 lbs. of bacon, 3,000 lbs. of sugar, and 5,000 lbs. of coffee, along with shoes and medicine. Citizens brought what they could to the Market House, and Ewell ordered houses and stores searched for additional supplies. When Union troops entered the town on the heels of the departing Confederates, townspeople greeted them at the market with refreshments.

Cumberland Valley Railroad Trestle on E. High Street (no longer standing)

East Carlisle Carlisle’s eastern edge saw much Confederate activity during the invasion. During the occupation of town the railroad tracks down High Street were badly damaged, but an attempt to destroy the trestle over the LeTort Spring Run had no long-term effects. When Confederate cavalry arrived via the York and Trindle Roads during the evening of July 1, they deployed a battery of four artillery pieces between the two roads and began shelling the town. Later that night Gen. Stuart ordered the burning of the cavalry barracks, and the town’s gas works and lumberyard erupted in fl ames as well.

Cumberland County Courthouse The Courthouse at the southwest corner

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Civil War Memorial known as the “Soldiers’ Monument”,

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East Carlisle saw much Confederate activity during

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Carlisle Market House market stood on this site from

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