USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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WELSH RUN ACADEMY
In 1802, Rev. Robert Kennedy was chosen to minister to the spiritual needs of the Welsh Run congregation, his pastorate, ex- tending over a period of fourteen years. From 1816 to 1825 the flock was without a shepherd. In 1825, however, Rev. Kennedy re- turned and remained until 1843, the year of his decease.
September 30th, 1871, a third church was built and dedicated as the "Robert Kennedy Memorial Presbyterian Church." The entire cost of this new house of worship was borne by Elias D. Kennedy, a wealthy resident of Philadelphia, and son of the former pastor.
After the dedication Rev. Joseph Fleming was installed as pastor. Through his efforts the "Welsh Run Academy" was opened for the purpose of giving the youth of that locality a more thorough education than that provided by the public school of the village. The value of the training afforded by the academic course was at «Once recognized and the enrollment was large. Mr. Kennedy be-
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came the principal; being ably assisted by his wife, who, previous to her marriage had been engaged in educational work in Pottsville.
EARLY SCHOOLS OF CAMP HILL
Camp Hill's first school was held in a log house which stood near the spring. Because of its surroundings it was called "Walnut Grove School." The land on which it was located originally was part of the tract that Tobias Hendricks held. The next school house was a frame structure and is still standing. Here Dr. Wm. B. Bigler of Dallastown, Pa., taught, and one winter had 128 pupils.
WHITE HALL ACADEMY
From 1851 to 1863 White Hall Academy was located at Camp Hill, which in its time enjoyed an enviable reputation and wide spread popularity. Prof. David Denlinger was its principal and proprietor and it was often called Denlinger's Academy. He was assistd by a corps of able instructors. The course included besides vocal and instrumntal music, penmanship, sciences, language and philosophy. Board and lodging were provided in the Academy building and stud- ents attended from a distance. In the first two years of its existance the institution enrolled 548 students, coming from 36 different coun- ties in Pennsylvania, and from five different states. The school con- tinued to flourish until 1863 when the Civil War, together with the establishment of the system of Normal Schools in the entire State, crippled it so badly that its proprietor was compelled to close it.
The State of Pennsylvania, having organized a system of Sold- iers' Orphan Schools, in 1866, Professor Denlinger's school was con- verted into an Orphan School, and finding the building unsuitable for that purpose, he, being unwilling to enlarge, sold the property to Fred- erick Dum and Major J. A. Moore in 1867, who took possession November 1st of that year. Under the new management the house was renovated, dormitories cleaned and put in order. During the summer of 1868 new buildings were erected and the accomodations improved. The attendance increased from 150 to 250 children. In August 1886 Major Moore finally severed his connection with the in- stitution. Prof. H. B. Heiges was then made Principal. He held his position for 3 years and resigned. In March, 1890, Mr. Bowman under the legislative Soldiers' Orphan Commission took sole charge of the school and continued it for 9 months more when the commis- sion permanenty closed it.
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FIRST COUNTY INSTITUTE
The first Superintendent of Cumberland county schools was Mr. Daniel Shelly,who filled the position for two years. On the 21st of December, 1854, the Cumberland County Teachers Insti- tute was permanently organized, in the Court House in Carlisle. Ex-Governor Ritner presided, ninety-four teachers out of one hun- dred sixty were present at the opening session. From that time to the present the Institute has met annually, usually about the first week in December.
The first authentic account of an elementary school, within the limits of Franklin county, dates back to 1764. At this date, settle- ments were started at various places in the County, principally ad- jacent to the Conococheague Creek. The first settlers of this County experienced all the privations of a frontier life. During the French and Indian War they were in constant peril, being exposed to the merciless treatment of Indian War parties. The foul murder of Enoch Brown and his pupils on the morning of July 26, 1764, was one instance of the inhuman treatment of the Indians upon the white settlers. The early settlers had few books, no periodicals and very few newspapers, so that their sources of knowledge were very limited. They were anxious that their children should receive some instruction so that whenever a settlement was formed, a school was established in which were taught spelling, reading and writing and in the higher grade schools geography, surveying and Latin. The houses or cabins used for school purposes were built of logs or poles and the spaces between them were filled with chips of wood, and plastered with mortar made of clay. The teachers of our first schools were principally descendants of the Scotch-Irish race and some of them had liberal attainments, superior, in many respects, to the teachers of a later day.
At the time of the adoption of the first constitution of Pennsylvania, up to the passage of the common school law in 1834, several Acts were passed by the legislature relative to a system of education. One handicap was the sharp distinction between the rich and the poor; many a poor boy or girl grew to manhood or woman- hood without any mental training because they could not afford it. This is not the case now, our public school system in the Cumber- land Valley is doing good work. Supt. Green and Supt. Smith of Cumberland and Franklin Counties are wide awake men. Every child has an equal chance; for all is free, books and supplies of all kinds.
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CHAPTER VIII CIVIL WAR PERIOD
CAMP HILL AND MECHANICSBURG
T HE MOST THRILLING EPISODE in the history of Camp Hill is its experince in the Confederate invasion of Penn- sylvania during the summer of 1863. When it became evi- dent that the rebels intended to invade Pennsylvania the authorities at Washington organized a department of the Susque- hanna and placed in charge Major General Davis M. Couch, with headquarters at Harrisburg. Gen. Couch arrived at his post of duty on the 12th of June, and began to organize and fortify against the enemy. When Gen. Couch took charge there were not 250 men or- ganized in the entire department and an army had to be created out of raw material for immediate use, to cover the city of Harrisburg and the two bridges spanning the river. The heights on the Cum- berland side were fortified, citizens of Harrisburg volunteering to assist in the construction of fortifications. Others were hired and paid and the colored population were not behind their white breth- ren in giving assistance. Gen. W. F. Smith was placed in command of these defences and under his direction work upon them was vig-
orously pushed. They were constructed according to the plans and under the supervision of the chief engineer of the Department, Capt. J. B. Wheeler, who was assisted by Major James Brady of the First Pennsylvania Artillery and by Capt. Wilson and other railroad engi- neers. Three different sets of earthworks were thrown up, of which the eastern and principal one was named Ft. Washington, the next one to the westward Ft. Couch and the farthest one was left with- out a name. After a lapse of 50 years these fortifications are still in shape and can be seen from the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The engine house of the C. V. R. R., standing a little to the left of the bridge was also turned into a fortress, its walls being pierced for musketry and barricaded with cross ties and sand bags, with openings for two guns commanding the railroads. The rock cut of
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the Northern Central railroad under Ft. Washington was barricaded and rifle pits were constructed on top of the cut, and also in front of the small work on top of the hill. An entrenchment was thrown up, light artillery was posted and a regiment was placed on each side of it. Troops were employed at felling trees standing within range of the guns of this out work, and excavating entrenchments. No bloody battle happened to be waged over and around these fortifi- cations, but the precautions were well taken, for while they were in process of construction the enemy was rapidly approaching. The advance under Gen. Jenkins reached Chambersburg on the 16th of June, and aimed to intercept Milroy's wagon train, but was thwart- ed in that object by the watchfulness of Capt. Boyd of the First New York Cavalry. With Milroy's wagon train were about a thous- and Government horses mounted by teamsters, and sick soldiers; and as it came thundering down the valley, it presented a sight of distress that spread all along its course. This fleeing train with its jaded animals and its bedraggled appearance gave all who saw it a foretaste of what was to come. Not until it got beyond the Susque- hanna did it stop to rest, July 15, 1863.
Thinking a strong Union force was advancing Jenkins on the 18th retired to Greencastle, but on the 22nd he returned and occu- pied Chambersburg. The rebel army was massing at Hagerstown and on Sunday afternoon June 21st Gen. Ewell received orders from Gen. R. E. Lee to take Harrisburg. On Saturday morning the 27th Gen. Jenkins took possession of Carlisle and later in the day a por- tion of the rebel command passed down the Trindle road towards Mechanicsburg. On Saturday evening about 5 o'clock Gen. Ewell marched into Carlisle with a force estimated at from 8,000 to 12,000 men. Before leaving Chambersburg he sent from his corps, Gen. Early, with a strong force, by way of Gettysburg, to York and thence to Wrightsville on the Susquehanna river. York surrender- ed on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning a rebel cavalry force set to work to burn the bridges on the Northern Central Rail- road near the mouth of the Conewago. All this caused deep anxiety and betided a great battle somewhere, many thought near Harrisburg. In expectation of such event many families fled from their homes, taking with them what movables they could and hiding others that they were compelled to leave behind. Troops were marching through the valley in all directions. They occupied the public highways to the exclusion of all other travel and encamped wherever they pleased without asking leave of anyone. Fields and orchards and woods were crowded with them. Fences were broken down, shade and fruit trees felled and many soldiers belonging to
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the New York Militia regiments entered private dwellings and pil- laged them. Farmers in the threatened sections were directed to re- move their stock, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy.
On Sunday morning Gen. Jenkins reached Mechanicsburg, and after obtaining a formal surrender of the town, divided his force, sending one part of it over to Hogestown, and thence down the turnpike, and the other down the Trindle Road. In this way the Confederates arrived in the vicinity of Oyster's Point early in the afternoon of Sunday, June 28. Jenkin's force consisted of cavalry with the usual complement of light artillery, two field pieces. When it left the Shenandoah Valley it numbered 1600 men but on the way was divided up and its detachments employed in different direc- tions, so that the part that reached Oyster's Point was a small com- mand. The men composing it were well disciplined troops and be- hind them, at Carlisle, was an army of 12,000 veterans which were under orders to take Harrisburg. A few shots were fired in the vicinity of Oyster's Point to drive out sharp shooters, and several houses had shells blown through them. But the advance on Har- risburg by the Confederates was not made. On the night of the 28th, Gen. Lee became convinced while in Chambersburg that it was neces- sary for him to concentrate his army somewhere to the south of the South Mountains. Couriers were sent to the officers command- ing the advanced detachments with orders for them to retire and join the main body of the army in the vicinity of Gettysburg.
CARLISLE
During the Civil War Carlisle was prompt in furnishing its quota for the defense of the National Government. Six companies from Carlisle praticipated bravely in some of the most severely con- tested battles of the war. The names of 17 officers and 325 privates who fell in the various engagements of that great conflict are in- scribed on the monument which stands in the public square. During a great part of the struggle the inhabitants of the valley were kept in a costant state of alarm by reason of the threatened inva- sions of the enemy, and stampedes often of an imaginary foe. There was a feeling of relief when in the Summer of 1863 the Confed- erate forces made their appearance. News was received that the entire Confederate force was advancing down the valley. The 8th and 71st New York regiments which were stationed at Shippens- burg came to Carlisle and began to make active preparations for war. Militia were organized, pickets were thrown out and rude breastworks were hastily constructed about one mile west of town.
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On Wednesday, June 24th the home companies proceeded to the scene of the expected action on the turnpike. During the afternoon the cavalry pickets on the Shippensburg road were driven slowly in. Towards evening they reported the enemy to be within four miles of town. A great scene of excitement followed which lasted during the day following. The whole town was in confusion. College Com- mencement was held at an early hour in the chapel and the class grad- uated without much formality. Troops were drawn up in the streets. Saturday morning, June 27, the cavalry pickets announced that the enemy was at hand. It was Jenkin's cavalry which consisted of about 400 men. They were met by several citizens, among whom were Col. Wm. M. Penrose and Robert Allison, and told that the town was without troops and could offer no resistance. The caval- ry advanced and entered the town quietly from the west. Some went to the garrison and some to the market house square. A re- quirement for 1500 rations was immediately supplied by the citi- zens. The provisions were stored in the stalls of the old market house. At five o'clock in the afternoon (June 27) Rhoades' division of Ewell's corps marched through the streets of Carlisle, the band playing "Dixie." These men presented a very sorry appearance, wearied with their long march. Most of them were in rags and were covered with dust. On Sunday evening services were held in some of the churches. Confederate officers present conversed with citizens in a very pleasant manner. On Monday the 29th these forces retired in the direction of Mt. Holly Springs. About 2 o'clock June 30th, 400 of Gen. Cochevan's cavalry entered the town from the east coming in by the Dillsburg road. These men were intoxi- cated and some rode through the streets like mad. They destroyed the railroad bridge in the night and retired. OnWednsday, July 1st, the Union troops under Colonel Boyd entered the town amid great re- joicing. These troops were followed in the afternoon bv Gen. D. F. Smith's troops some of which were a company of regular cavalry from the Carlisle barracks.
The most exciting scene of the shelling of Carlisle occurred on July 1st, 1863. About seven o'clock in the evening a large body of cavalry consisting of Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade accompanied by Gen. J. E. B. Stuart made its appearance at the Trindle Spring and York roads. These troops were very brave. Some rode nearly to the center of the town and then returned hastily to their commands. Some Carlisle citizens armed themselves as best they could and formed a line of skirmishers along the Le Tort Spring. This useless opposition was soon silenced. The whizzing of shells soon announc- ed that a formidable enemy was at hand. The firing ceased at dusk
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and a flag of truce was sent in. This was indignantly refused. The bombardment was resumed with greater violence. The citizens fled from their homes in utter confusion for refuge in the open fields and cellars. The flames of a burning lumber yard in the eastern portion of the town lit up the sky. About 10 o'clock the enemy fired the barracks. In the middle of the night another flag of truce was sent in. This was again refused more indignantly than before. The town was again shelled more feebly than before. The gas works and some private property were destroyed. That night Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee started with his forces over the South Mountain and in the after- noon of July 2nd, the people of Carlisle could hear the heavy thunder of the guns at Gettysburg. It was the news of this unexpected battle which put a stop to the shelling of the town. At Gettysburg, Capt. William E. Miller, July 3, 1863, a citizen of Carlisle, foiled the Con- federate commander's attempt to flank Meade's army. He was grant- ed a medal by Congress. A reunion of the Union Veterans of Cum- berland Valley and the ex-Confederate soldiers of Page Valley of Virginia, was held September 28, 1881 at Carlisle. These soldiers met in friendly fellowship. A parade was formed which marched through the streets of Carlisle led by the Shippensburg and Carlisle bands.
NEWVILLE
Gen. Ewell had charge af the campaign in this section of Pennsyl- vania. Although he had not come into the town, a few stragglers came into the part of the town known as Newton. Gen. Ewell camp- ed along the pike south of Newville. They were raiding mostly for valuables and horses but little harm was done. The citizens drove their best horses to Perry County. So many were taken that the roads seemed covered with them. The valuables, the citizens buried or wrapped in old rags and threw them into the yard. In one in- stance the rebels kicked and walked over the rags in which the val- uables were.
They were courteous in their treatment of the citizens except in a few instances. At that time there was living in Newville a blacksmith by the name of Williams. They took him to their camp to shoe their horses and guarded him closely. At night a guard was placed on each side of him. For several nights he made believe he was sleeping and after they got used to it, one night he crawled out on his hands and knees and escaped.
Many citizens left the town during this time. A story is told by an old lady who was a child then. At this time she was being taken to Harrisburg, this lady her parents and sisters were all going there,
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driving their cattle before them. They went in a large wagon. They proceeded as far as Oyster's Point when they met a company of men whom they thought were rebels. But they were mistaken for they saw the Union flag waving over them. The General came up, shook hands and spoke to them all except this lady who was so frightened that she lay still in the wagon bed. The General, who was General Meade, asked if they saw the rebels, to which they replied that they had not. He then told them to proceed as rapidly as possible. This lady's father was almost taken by the rebels while driving cattle. At the home of Mr. Myers in Plainfield they stole a horse.
The following are extracts from a diary kept at this time.
June 27 ,1863 .- About fifty rebels in town, one a brother of one of our town ladies, another had been a scholar of one of our citizens, while teaching in Virginia a few years ago. The cavalry are raiding the corn cribs tonight, for corn for their horses. Capt. Priest of Mississippi commands, quite a gentleman, stood in one of our street corners talking politics with one of our citizens till nearly midnight.
June 28, 1863 .- Very few people at church. An exciting Sab- bath "Johnny Rebs" left this morning with almost 300 head of cattle.
SHIPPENSBURG
On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 26, 1863, Rhoade's Division of Ewell's Corps of the Southern army entered Shippensburg from the west. A body of cavalry commanded by General Jenkins led the advance followed by the infantry and the artillery numbering several thousand men. They met with little opposition. There was but a small body of cavalry in the place under the command of Colonel Boyd, of New York, which kept up a skirmish and running fire with the advancing foe. It is said by people who were living here at the time that the Union forces marched through town followed by the rebels who were very poorly clad. The object of the Union commander was not to hazzard a battle but to lead the enemy beyond the limits of the town with a view of saving the citizens. In this he was successful only so far as the cavalry was concerned.
The infantry and the artillery encamped at "the head of the spring woods" now known as the Dykeman Spring and northwest of it on Timber Hill where they remained until the next morning when they marched toward Harrisburg. During their stay they ap- propriated everything in the shape of horses, cattle, flour, feed, dry- goods, groceries, hardware and drugs with any value to the army. In other respects the men were as orderly and respectful as they
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could be under the circumstances. Some peoplesaid the New York men under Colonel Boyd were much more destructive than the southern soldiers.
In the meantime national forces gathered under General Hooker and when he was removed, under Meade, and pursued, by forced marches, the advancing columns of the main body of the invading army until they confronted each other on the field of Gettysburg. When this intelligence reached the other forces on this side of the mountain, a portion of them returned in haste, taking the road through Caledonia past Fayetteville to Gettysburg. On the Fayette- ville road some of Jenkins men stopped at a tavern and asked for Meade. They were told they would get all the Meade they were look- ing for at Gettysburg. Needless to say the troops reached Gettys- burg in time to participate in the bloody scenes from which many of them never returned to their homes and kindred.
Many stories have been told of incidents which occured in Ship- pensburg during the war. When the rebels entered the town they ordered the women to bake bread and pies and place them in the public square. Although against the will of many, women did all this and it is said the square was filled with bread and pies for the soldiers.
Many of the people took their horses and cattle out of the way of the southern soldiers. Some even took their cattle to the moun- tains until after the danger was over.
INVASION OF CHAMBERSBURG
In the summer of 1859 a man of rather rude aspect, but of grave and quiet demeanor, was noticed by the village crowd that usally gathered in front of the post office while the evening mail was being distributed. He attracted little attention, as he seldom spoke except when spoken to and then only in the briefest way. He was known as Dr. Brown and was supposed to be engaged in the development of iron mines on the Potomac.
While in Chambersburg he stayed at the home of Mrs. Ritner on East King Street, near the old Cumberland Valley Railroad depot. She was a friend of the anti-slavery people and was willing to help Brown. While in town his wife was with him part of the time. Brown bought all his arms such as pick and broad axes, at the Edge Tool Factory which was managed by Mr. Carlisle, an anti-slavery man. He paid for all these things in gold and had them sent directly to John Smith at Harpers Ferry. Captain Cooke, one of his band, re- ceived the arms and stored them in Kennedy's farm house near
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Harpers Ferry. John Brown's son was with him in Chambersburg and also came back after the raid and stayed in Wolftown which is in the western part of the town. He stayed at a house with negroes. Friends of the anti-slavery cause sent him clothes and then he left. He was a prisoner in a farm house and saw his father hanged.
The south always believed that Brown made Chambersburg his basis for supplies for the raid of Harpers Ferry because he had many sympathizers there. This unjust prejudice was made the cause for the burning of the town by McCausland July 30th, 1864.
BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG
Three raids were made on Chambersburg, a little town lying about 25 miles west of Gettysburg. Chambersburg was a prosper- ous town and the county seat of Franklin County. It had a rope factory, ax factory, the railroad shops and the Housum shops, which are now known as the T. B. Wood Son's shops; also a plaining mill where Hollinger's mill now stands.
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