Smith, William Farrar

"Eight Days at Carlisle," by Christopher J. Palmer
May 11, 1982

Christopher J. Palmer's essay breaks down the Confederate invasion of Carlisle in 1863 and provides a day-by-day account for June 25 through July 2, 1863. This essay, which specifically focuses on the actions of the Union commanders and Carlisle residents, includes quotations from Dickinson...

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, "Carlisle... Barracks Destroyed"
July 18, 1863

Sketched by George Law, this image depicts the destruction of the US Army Barracks in Carlisle on July 1, 1863. The complete caption reads “Carlisle, Penn., Showing Gen. Smith’s Headquarters and the Barracks Destroyed by Gen. W. H. F. Lee.”

This engraving is from Frank Leslie’s...

Letter from Conway W. Hillman to James H. Morgan
September 9, 1930

Conway Hillman ('73), the son of a Dickinson College Professor Samuel Dickinson Hillman ('50), writes to James H. Morgan in 1930 to discuss his memories of the college, the Confederate invasion, and the shelling of Carlisle. Conway recalls events specifically regarding his father, including one...

Letter from George D. Chenoweth to James W. Marshall
July 15, 1863

George D. Chenoweth describes the Confederate invasion, occupation, and shelling of Carlisle. He mentions leaving Carlisle before the raid, and the pleasure of finding none of their personal belongings disturbed upon his return. 12,000 men entered the town, setting up camp around the town and on...

Letter from Thomas M. Griffith to His Siblings
July 3, 1863

Thomas Miller Griffith writes to his brother and sister and describes the scenes in Carlisle as the Confederates occupied and shelled the town in the days before the Battle of Gettysburg. As the Confederates first approached Carlisle in late June 1863, Griffith recalls the expedited Commencement...

Philadelphia Inquirer, "Our Harrisburg Letter"
July 4, 1863

The Philadelphia Inquirer publishes this letter from a regular correspondent that relays information about the shelling of Carlisle, including information from a dispatch from Harrisburg and an eyewitness account from the following morning.

"Our Harrisburg Letter," ...

Philadelphia Inquirer, "The Defense of Carlisle - Noble Service of the Militia"
July 4, 1863

This article, on page four of an issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer, praises the work of General Smith and the Militia in Carlisle for their defense of the town and their unwillingness to give in despite General Lee's various requests for surrender. Transcript included.

"The...

Philadelphia Inquirer, "The Rebels at Carlisle"
July 4, 1863

This article, from an issue of Philadelphia Inquirer, page 3, describes in detail the occurrences of the shelling of Carlisle, including the pre-attack discourses between General Lee and General William Farrar Smith. Transcript included.

"The Rebels at Carlisle," Philadelphia...

The Methodist, "A Few Days Under Rebel Rule"
July 18, 1863

Samuel Dickinson Hillman, an alumnus and a professor at Dickinson College, recalls the invasion and shelling of Carlisle in this article from The Methodist.  Hillman covers the appearance of the Rebel troops, conversations had during the occupation, and the bombardment, all from his...

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