History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 76

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 76

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Virginia, then at Richmond and Petersburg, and sent him down the Shenandoah Valley to threaten Washington, so as to defeat Grant's army from its threatened attack on Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. On October 9, 1864, with an army of 17,000 men, he fought a battle at Monocacy, near Frederick, Maryland, with .General Lew Wallace commanding about 6,000 Federal troops. After driving the Union army toward Baltimore, he proceeded to Wash- ington, where he engaged a part of the Sixth corps of the Army of the Potomac, for about two hours within sight of the Capitol and the White House. President Lincoln, from an elevated position, viewed this engagement. Early was then driven back across the Potomac, and was defeated at the battle of Winchester in October, 1864, when the Federal troops in the Shenandoah Valley were in command of General Sheridan. He was defeated and routed by Sheridan a few months later in the battle of Fisher's Hill. These defeats made him unpopular with Jefferson Davis, who removed him from his command in the army. After the war, General Early resided at Lynchburg, Virginia, but spent much of his time at New Orleans, and together with ana Lottery. He lived to the age of eighty- one, and died at Lynchburg, Virginia, in

GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, who commanded the forces that occupied York during the invasion, was a native of Vir- General Beauregard, managed the Louisi- ginia, born at Lynchburg, in 1816. He graduated at West Point in 1837, and served in the war against the Seminole In- 1898. .

dians, in 1837-8, and during the Mexican GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON, who commanded the brigade at Wrightsville, was born in Georgia in 1832. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession a short time. At the open- ing of the war, he entered the Confederate army as a captain, and before its close, rose to the rank of lieutenant general, command- ing one wing of Lee's army at the sur- render at Appomatox, April 9, 1865. He was eight times wounded in battle. After a successful business career in his native state, he was elected United States Senator in 1873, re-elected in 1879, elected governor of Georgia in 1886, and at the expiration of his term, was re-elected United States Senator. He served with distinction in War was major of a Virginia regiment. He then left the army, studied law and prac- ticed his profession at his native town, until the opening of the Civil War, when he en- tered the Confederate army as the colonel of a Virginia regiment. He commanded a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run, and was supposed to be mortally wounded at Williamsburg, May 2, 1862. He recovered from his wound, however, and in May, 1863. was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. During the battle of Chancellors- ville he commanded a division, and held the lines around Fredericksburg, while Lee was fighting the battle of Chancellorsville, a short distance away. He remained in charge of a division, composed of Virginia, that body, of which he was one of the most

-----

-------

419

THE CIVIL WAR

eloquent speakers. General Gordon de- livered many lectures in the south and all through the northern states. These lec- tures had a beneficial effect in disseminating a patriotic devotion of all the American peo- ple to a reunited nation. He died at his home in Georgia, in 1904.

U. S. HOSPITAL AT YORK.

During the Civil War, the United States government established hospitals in many of the northern cities and towns. It was found best to distribute the sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals a distance from the seat of war. It was also believed that the patriotic people of Pennsylvania and elsewhere would become deeply inter- ested in the welfare of unfortunate men who had gone forth to defend the Union and the American flag. The Public Common at York, known to the present generation as Penn Park, had been a camping ground for militia and volunteer companies and regi- ments since the days of the Revolution. When hostilities opened between the North and the South, in 1861, many regiments were encamped here for a short time before they were sent to the front. Barracks had been erected as a place to quarter troops. Hon. Simon Cameron, of Harrisburg, secre- tary of war in President Lincoln's cabinet, ordered the establishment of a hospital at York, in 1862. It was kept in operation from that date until late in the summer of 1865.

According to official reports, 14,000 sick and wounded soldiers received attention in this hospital. Of this number, 7,500 re- turned to duty after recovery ; 3,700 were furloughed; 1,100 were discharged from service on certificate of disability: 1.300 were transferred to other hospitals, and 193 died. In July, 1865, there were yet remain- ing 385 soldiers at the York hospital. Soon after their convalescence, the hospital was discontinued.

Mrs. Mary C. Fisher, widow of Hon. Robert J. Fisher, president judge of the courts of York County, took an active part in the hospital work during the Civil War. She has written a very interesting account of the work done at the United States Gen- eral Hospital at York. . Through her kind- ness and courtesy, her story is herewith given.

On the 26th of April, 1861, the Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colo- nel David Campbell, and tlie Thirteenth, Colonel David Rowley, arrived at York from Pittsburg. Early in May, over 6,000 troops were stationed at Camp Scott, in- cluding Captain Campbell's battery of fly- ing artillery. The commissary arrange- ments were necessarily very inadequate to meet the wants of the large body of men, and they depended upon the citizens for many comforts and for special diet for those on the sick list. The spring of 1861 was peculiarly wet and inclement. The soldiers suffered severely from rheumatism, con- tracted by lying on damp straw, and from colds and intermittent fevers. As there were no arrangements for a hospital at this early date, the sick boys were often taken into private houses and nursed gratu- itiously, and in many households, a meal was rarely eaten without one or more guests from the camp.

A meeting of the ladies was

Patriotic promptly called to organize a

Citizens. system of relief for the men.

Mrs. Charles A. Morris was elected president. A committee was chosen composed of one or more persons from each ward, the number to be in- creased at option: from the First Ward, Mrs. William S. Roland ; Second, Mrs. Sam- uel Small; Third, Mrs. Knause; Fourth, Mrs. George Barnitz; Fifth, Mrs. Ellen Smyser. As the number of patients in- creased the committee was enlarged, a temporary hospital was arranged in the agricultural building on the fair grounds. Early in the season there was a demand for stockings, shirts and other garments. Private stores were soon disposed of and making up of new material commenced. The work was systematized, and a com- mittee of ladies appointed to take charge of it. The firm of P. A. & S. Small gave them a commodious room in Small's building, which was always open and filled with busy helpers in the good cause. The entire com- munity entered heartily into the work. Little children left their play to scrape lint and roll bandages. Parties and tea drink- ings were neglected for meetings at the work rooms and at private houses for cut- ting and sewing garments, and packing the stores contributed by the town folk and the

420

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

country people. Thanks to their gener- Bossler, hospital steward; E. C. Greve- osity the supplies never failed, and the con- meyer, commissary; L. K. Morris, ward stant appeals from the army for aid were master ; medical cadet, Dr. Weil. always promptly answered. In many a country farm house the treasured stores of linen were brought forth from the great chests packed in Germany, and freely given for the use of the suffering, wounded boys.

In December, 1861, the Sixth Regiment, New York Cavalry, Colonel Devens, was ordered to York for the winter. The regi- ment. 900 strong, arrived on Christmas day. An extract from the notes of Major Daily says : "We met with a hearty welcome. The citizens had provided a hot dinner of tur- keys, meats and the delicacies of the festive season, the ladies who provided the dinner, serving as waiters on the occasion." Bat- talion First, Major Daily, was quartered in the agricultural building; the Second, Major Conardin, and the Third, Major Clarksan, occupied the public school build- ings, the schools having been closed by order of the school board. In January, General Simon Cameron, secretary of war, ordered barracks and stabling to be erected on the Public Common. Before the com- pletion of the quarters, a temporary hos- pital for the troops was established in the Duke Street school building, which was daily visited by the citizens. The soldiers spoke in the most grateful terms of the kindness and generous help and sympathy of the ladies of York. Many cards and testimonials of their appreciation, appeared in the journals of the day.

Hospital After the departure of the cav- alry an officer was sent to super- Opened. intend the removal of the bar- racks; but his report of the con- venient situation, healthy locality and ad- vantages of the quarters for hospital pur- poses was favorably considered. They were fitted up and ready for occupancy in June, 1862. The stabling was removed under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Small. On the 27th of the month the United States Hospital was opened by Dr. C. WV. Jones, officer in charge. His staff was composed of Brigade Surgeon Henry Palmer, U. S. A., surgeon in charge; assist- ing surgeons, C. S. DeGraw, U. S. A., and R. L. Peltier, U. S. A .; acting surgeons, H. T. Bowen, H. L. Smyser, A. R. Blair, Jacob Hay, Jr., George Jacoby, clerk; D. Jerome

Rutter Herman had charge of the bar- racks before this time. On July I, Dr. Weil arrived with the first sick and wounded soldiers-nineteen. July 7, a large number were sent to York from Washington, Balti- more and the field hospitals. The long rows of cots were filled day by day till every room was full. The days were crowded with touching incidents in the lives of the poor soldiers who required our time and attention.

The Ladies' Aid Society, organized in November, 1861, was much enlarged. All ranks and ages joined in attentions to the brave defenders of their homes and of the country's honor. Among the prominent names were Mrs. Charles A. Morris, Mrs. Daniel Durkee, Mrs. Samuel Small, Sr., Mrs. Walter Franklin, Mrs. Solomon Os- wald, Mrs. Dr. Roland, Mrs. Fulton, Mrs. David E. Small, Mrs. Spangler Wagner, Mrs. John Weiser, Mrs. William Welsh, Mrs. Robert J. Fisher, Mrs. George Eisen- hart, Mrs. Benjamin Weiser, Mrs. George Wantz, Mrs. Henry Lanius, Mrs. E. A. Pierce, Mrs. Kate Garretson, Mrs. David Rupp, Mrs. Kurtz, the Misses Amelia and Catherine Kurtz, the Misses Durkee, Miss Latimer, Miss Mary J. Lewis, Miss Sallie B. Small, Miss Cassie M. Small, Miss Annie Thornbury, Miss Julia Hay, Mrs. George Heckert, Miss A. Fisher, Mrs. David Lan- dis, Mrs. Kell, Mrs. Weigle, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Jenks, Mrs. Edward G. Smyser, Mrs. Rutter Herman, Mrs. Laumaster, Mrs. Thomas A. Ziegle, Mrs. David Frey, Mrs. Angus Barnitz, Mrs. Wherly, Lizzie Brown, Kate Connelle, Isabel Gallagher, Lizzie Gardner, Miss A. Upp, Amelia Dou- del, Miss Mary Rupp, Miss Stine, Miss Car- rie Hay, Miss Jennie Templeman, Mrs. Wil- liam Smith, Miss Sarah Sayres, Miss Theo- dosia Weiser, Mrs. Baumgartner, Miss Belle Gallagher, Mrs. Ann Kraber, Miss Eliza Smyser, Miss Sue Chalfant, Mrs. Lucy Davis, Mrs. Martin Weigle, Miss Ellen Funk, Miss Jennie King, Miss Annie King, Miss Doudel, Mrs. Albert Smyser, and many others. Some persons were un- tiring in their labors at home who could not go out to the hospital personally. Miss Jane Weiser had charge of the aid room.

: i :

i I

421

THE CIVIL WAR

From this time, constant acces- clerks, or filled other positions in the hos- sions were received from the pital.

Wounded From various battlefields. The worst

Antietam.

wounded men brought directly from the battlefield were laid upon the floors of the cars. One by one the sufferers were taken and placed upon stretchers to be carried to the hospital, followed by a compassionate procession, eager to do something for their

relief. An inner row of barracks was erected and the Odd Fellows' Hall was granted for a temporary hospital. On Au- gust 30, after the disastrous second Bull Run battle, a call came from Washington for volunteer surgeons. Drs. William S. Roland, E. H. Pentz, S. J. Rouse, Obadiah W. Johnston. James W. Kerr, Jacob Hay. Jr., W. D. Bailey and M. C. Fisher left at once, reaching their destination early the following morning. On Sunday Dr. L. M. Lochman. C. H. Bressler, O. C. Brickley, Jonas Deisinger, W. J. Underwood, C. M. Shafer, J. W. Vandersloot, S. R. Jones, R. B. Hoven, A. C. Hetrick and J. W. Brickley followed. Transportation was furnished by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The following card from the assistant secre- tary of war, Colonel Thomas A. Scott, proves his appreciation of their prompt re- sponse :

Philadelphia, August 31, 1862.

To Mr. Henry Welsh, York, Penna. :

Your borough has responded nobly to the call for surgeons, and deserves great praise. If there are more willing to go, send them here tonight. Their services' for the next few days will be invaluable beyond price to our wounded, suffering soldiers.

T. A. SCOTT.

During the winter the hospital had its full quota of men. Surgeon Palmer, assisted by the ward physicians from town, spared no effort to make it a pleasant home for the boys, often furnishing treats of ices, fruit, and other luxuries from their own purses. and devising ways to relieve the weary days of convalescence. Various amuse- ments were provided to while away the lonely winter evenings-readings, lectures and musical entertainments. A library and reading room were established. In the spring many of the impatient boys were able to join their regiments for the event- ful campaign of 1863. Those incapable of field duty were detailed as nurses and

In June the air was filled with rumors

cases came immediately after that scouts had appeared opposite Wil- the battle of Antietam. The liamsport, Maryland, and it was evident that an invasion of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania was contemplated. The imminent danger of invasion, made York an unsafe position for the sick and wounded men. On the 15th the medical stores and com- missary supplies, with the patients, were taken to Columbia in charge of Dr. A. R. Blair. They reached Columbia at mid- night, where they met with a hospitable re- ception. The ladies furnished food, bed- ding, etc., for immediate use. The Odd Fellows opened their hall to the fugitives until quarters could be fitted up in the new school building, which was occupied by them for several months. Dr. Blair filled the position of surgeon in charge, as Dr. Palmer remained in York with five patients who could not be removed : they were held prisoners of war while the Confederates occupied the town. Dr. Palmer was re- leased on parole.

After the withdrawal of the

From southern troops from York.

Gettysburg. arrangements were made for the reception of the wounded men from Gettysburg. A large number of tents were put up. Every day brought trains filled with patients as they were re- moved from the field hospitals. We had a few prisoners here from a North Carolina regiment. They were quartered in Odd Fellows' Hall. We found them grateful, quiet and respectful in deportment. Great care was taken to preserve the limbs of the men, and many left the hospital unmaimed who would have been laid upon the amputa- tion table but for the extreme caution of the surgeons. At one time seventy-two men with compound fractures of the thigh were transferred to York from the field hospital at Gettysburg. They were treated by "conservative surgery;" in most cases the recovery was complete, although the patient ever afterward bore the mark of his honorable wounds.

As the autumn winds began to blow across the stubble fields. the boys were again shut in the hospital. Some who had left here in the spring, able for active ser- vice, were returned to swell the ranks of the

422

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

wounded and invalid corps. The familiar scenes and well known faces of old friends in attendance upon the hospital wards, were greeted with pleasure by the poor fellows, and they exerted themselves to make a home-like place of their quarters. Pictures, fun and patriotism. flags, and crayon sketches adorned the white-washed walls. Flowers and vines of the hospital. blossomed and thrived in the little case- ments, and a general air of comfort reigned throughout the premises.

In November, 1863. Dr. Blair Surgeon returned to the work in York, Blair. and was made executive officer. After leaving Columbia he had gone to the Army of the Potomac, and while there had a severe attack of bilious fever, which rendered him incapable for duty for a time. As executive officer, Dr. Blair was most happy in resources to relieve the tedium of the monotonous life. His hands were sustained by an efficient corps of surgeons. Amusements and employ- ments for the mind were provided for as carefully as for the healing of bodily dis- eases. .

As time wore on, the constant demand upon the community for funds for the Sani- tary Commission developed plans for rais- ing them. A fair was held in the Odd Fel- lows' Hall. It was a gratifying success. The battle of the Wilderness, The whole was beautifully decorated with Wilderness in Virginia, in 1864, furnished and many recruits to the invalid Cold ranks. They reached here in Harbor. a sad condition. A marked evergreens and draped with flags of the national colors, and those of different nations. Portraits of military and naval heroes, framed in laurel wreaths, adorned improvement was soon ap- the walls. A profusion of flowers and parent. The high situation and the pure fancy work embellished the tables. Booths, atmosphere of the hospital in York had a salutary influence upon the health and spirits. In June, a thousand additional patients arrived from the battlefield of Cold Harbor, in Virginia.

representing various nations, with attend- ants in appropriate costumes, contained curiosities to tempt the lover of bric-a-brac. The lunch and supper tables were supplied with the choicest viands, donated by the citizens. A grand entertainment of music and tableaux vivants was a popular feature of the week. (The County Commissioners granted the use of the Court House for the exhibition.) The fine amateur talent, for which York has always been celebrated, was brought out and the stage represen- tations were fully equal to professional effort. The soldiers who were able, entered the work with great zeal, and made them- selves generally useful. The proceeds of the fair amounted to $4.675.

In March, 1864, the first num- The ber of the Cartridge Box was Cartridge issued, edited and printed by Box. the soldiers. It was a spicy lit- tle sheet, brimming over with It was published weekly, and was continued until the close

In the month of April, 1864, many vacant places were left by the boys, who returned to their regiments. Those who were still unable for duty took great delight in im- proving the external appearance of their temporary home, and showed much pride in keeping the grounds neat.

In May, preparations were ordered for the reception of 1,500 patients. One hun- dred additional tents were put up. At that time there were 2.500 patients with twenty- two surgeons. The ward committees re- doubled their exertions in behalf of the suffering men. The liberal citizens were always equal to the emergency. The farmers in the vicinity and the neighboring towns of Lancaster and Columbia sent timely contributions of clothing, bedding, old linen, bandages and lint, and a great abundance of dried fruit, vegetables, butter, eggs, in fact everything needed by the patients requiring special diet.

Under the excellent management of the officer, the condition at the hospital had continually improved. The mess table seated 800, and was filled three times at each meal. A track was laid through the centre of the table with miniature cars to convey the food; this model invention was much admired by the visitors. But few deaths occurred during the summer. Some hopeless cases appealed to our sympathies, and day by day we saw the night approach- ing which would end the last struggle of the gallant boys.

------

423

THE CIVIL WAR

In September, Surgeon Palmer

Surgeon was granted a furlough of sixty

Palmer days to recruit his health. Before

Retires. leaving, Dr. Palmer addressed the following circular to the officers and attendants under his command :

United States Army, General Hospital,

York, Pa., Sept. 7.

To the officers and attendants of the United States Army General Hospital, York, Penn.

In taking my leave of absence for sixty days, allow me to express to you my sincere thanks for the ener- getic, faithful manner the duties assigned you, have been performed since we have been associated together at this hospital.

The duties you have been ordered to perform have been laborious and at times unpleasant, but the prompt- ness and cheerfulness with which every order has been obeyed; your hearty co-operation in every movement to relieve the sufferings and increase the comfort of your sick and wounded fellow soldiers, entitles you to the confidence and esteem of those who have been under your care, and the thanks of the surgeon in charge.

HENRY PALMER, Surgeon United States Army.

Drs. Blair, Smyser, Rouse and Kerr were included in the corps of physicians. Dr. Palmer was succeeded by Dr. St. John Mintzer, who continued the improvements to the buildings and grounds. He laid out regular streets, planted trees, erected a fountain, and beautified the grounds with flowers and foliage beds.

The hospital was a miniature world in itself, with postoffice, printing office, cabi- net, carpenter, paint and tinshops. All the work of the various departments was done and the grounds kept in order by the con- valescents, without one dollar additional expense to the government, and not a man was employed who was fit for field duty. In the spring of 1865, the number of patients was greatly reduced, the term of enlistment of many of the men expired, and they gladly exchanged the blue uniforms for the citizen's dress.

The fall of Richmond, successive sur- renders of the Confederate commanders ended the war, and the mission of the York military hospital was fulfilled.

NOTES OF INTEREST.

When the Confederates under Early took possession of York in 1863, they cut off tel- egraphic communication with the outside world and destroyed the railroad bridges in the county. Telegraph poles were erected and wires replaced immediately after Early and his troops left for Gettysburg. The

railroad bridges between Hanover Junction and Gettysburg were rebuilt by the govern- ment within two or three days after the battle.

For a time only one mail a day left York at 6 o'clock in the morning and one mail was received at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. All the bridges between Baltimore and Har- risburg were rebuilt by July 12, when the first train ran over the Northern Central Railroad for Harrisburg.

On July 21 several train loads of wounded soldiers, in all about 1,000 men, arrived at York from the field hospitals, at Gettys- burg, and were placed in the United States hospital at York.

When the Civil War opened in 1861, sil- ver and gold were used as a medium of ex- change together with the notes issued by state banks. Coins made of silver and gold soon rose in value, so that one dollar in coin was worth two in paper money. On this account coin soon ceased to be circulated and for the convenience of trade and com- merce a fractional currency was issued by the United States Government. The first two issues of this money were known as United States Postal Currency and in a de- gree resembled stamps issued by the Post Office Department, except that they were much larger. In 1863 the national banking system was put into operation. Meantime the United States government issued treas- ury notes, then generally known as green- backs, on account of their color. Gold coins continued to rise in value and during the summer of 1864 one dollar in gold was worth $2.85 in greenbacks. That was the highwater mark of our financial system dur- ing the Civil War. The use of the frac- tional currency by the government did not always supply the necessary small change for the transaction of business.

As early as October, 1862, the York Bank issued script notes in values of 10, 25 and 50 cents. They were accepted by mer- chants in York and elsewhere as a medium of exchange for the purchase of goods. Other institutions and some mercantile es- tablishments also issued money of this kind for the convenience of their patrons.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 76

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372