Carlisle, PA

"A Brief Experience as a Soldier during the Invasion of Pennsylvania," by William Peirsol
June 18 - July 20, 1863

William H. Peirsol served in the First Regiment of Gray Reserves of Philadelphia (32nd Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia) during the Civil War. After the war, Peirsol published his account of his service during the summer of 1863. Peirsol's account, which contains daily entries between June 18...

"Boyhood Memories of The Civil War 1861-'65 - Invasion of Carlisle," by James W. Sullivan
July 1932

Publisher: Carlisle, PA: Hamilton Library Association

James W. Sullivan writes to Jane Van Ness Smead in July 1932 and provides extensive details regarding the invasion, occupation, and shelling of Carlisle. Sullivan also recalls the general sentiments of Carlisle...

"Civil War Miscellany on the Confederate Invasion of Carlisle in 1863"
1963

Contains many articles originally published in The Sentinel about the invasion, occupation, and shelling of Carlisle during the War. Some articles contain first-hand information, while others summarize personal accounts of the occurrences.  It also covers topics such as the routes that...

"Civil War Times in Carlisle," by Merkel Landis
February 12, 1931

Merkel Landis provides a broad overview of what happened in Carlisle during the Civil War. Landis explores important political moments, including Presidential and local elections between 1860 and 1865, as well as describes how Carlisle residents respond to various events during the war.  These...

"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...

"The American Civil War and the Effect on Dickinson College Enrollment," by Christine Line
May 9, 2001

Christine Line's paper studies the effect of the Civil War on enrollment demographics at Dickinson College, specifically regarding students’ states of origin and graduation rates per region.  Line also discusses the rebound in enrollment that occurs after the Civil War. This essay is from an...

Army Committee Circular Letter
December 15, 1864

This circular letter relates to an effort to recruit individuals to serve as ministers for Union soldiers during the Civil War. “In this emergency, the Christian Commission calls for the voluntary efforts of delegates clerical and lay… for the maintenance of a constant succession of religious...

Broadside and Newspaper Clippings of "The Draft in Cumberland County"
August 14, 1863

This broadside lists individuals drafted in Cumberland County on August 14, 1863 to serve “for a period of three years, or during the war.” The names are listed according to sub-districts, representing townships and wards of the county. In addition, the mounted newspaper clippings include...

Broadside of "Citizens of Cumberland Valley!" Call to Arms
July 3, 1863

This broadside, likely distributed throughout Cumberland County, calls for all able men to enlist. It describes atrocities committed by the Confederates while in the Cumberland Valley region, and records that “the citizens of this valley are loyal to the heart’s core.” The scene at Carlisle...

Broadside of "General Orders No. 72"
June 21, 1863

These Confederate Army general orders, from General Robert E. Lee to Lieut. General Richard Ewell, are posted publicly in Carlisle and provides specific procedures for the voluntary procurement of supplies, involuntary seizure, receipt information, as well as officer clearances for such duties...

Broadside of "To the Veterans of Cumberland County!"
July 6, 1864

Major General Darius Nash Couch’s message, which is posted in Carlisle on July 6, 1864 by a E. M. Biddle, asks Cumberland County veterans “to assemble at Chambersburg,” Pennsylvania and be ready “to take orders from” Governor Andrew Curtin.

Carlisle Civil War Centennial Commemoration Pamphlet
June 23 to 29, 1963

The Carlisle Civil War Centennial Committee publishes this pamphlet in 1963 as part of the Civil War Centennial commemoration. This official souvenir brochure includes the list of "Cumberland County's Heroic Dead," a brief summary of Carlisle residents' reactions to the fall of Fort Sumter in...

Carlisle Sentinel, “Theodore M. Johnson Tells of Civil War Days in Carlisle”
June 1924

In a June 1924 article from the Carlisle Sentinel, Theodore Johnson describes his experiences during the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania in June 1863. Johnson was the son of Dickinson College President Herman M. Johnson and lived in a section of East College. As a young boy Theodore...

Circular Letter from President Herman M. Johnson
April 24, 1861

President Herman M. Johnson issues this circular letter as additional southern states secede after Fort Sumter and asks that Dickinson College students return to Carlisle. While "the excitement which has arisen from the sudden outbreak of the war" was "considerable for two or three days,"...

Confederate Supply Requisition to "Authorities of Carlisle"
June 27, 1863

As Confederate forces enter Carlisle, Pennsylvania in late June 1863, Major John A. Harman, Chief Quartermaster with the Second Army Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, under the command of General Richard S. Ewell, issues a requisition to the "authorities of Carlisle Pa." for supplies. The...

Eli Slifer Papers
1849 - 1871

Eli Slifer was a prominent businessman who was responsible for the recruitment and supplying of regiments from Pennsylvania during the Civil War. His letters contain his personal, as well as business correspondence with family, friends, business partners, military officials, and even Governor...

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...

Harper’s Weekly, "The Rebels Shelling... Carlisle, Pennsylvania," #1
July 25, 1863

Sketched by Thomas Nast, this hand-colored engraving depicts the Confederate's shelling of Carlisle on July 1, 1863. The complete caption reads, "The Rebels Shelling the New York Militia in the Main Street of Carlisle, Pennsylvania."

This hand-colored engraving is from Harper’s Weekly...

Harper’s Weekly, "The Rebels Shelling... Carlisle, Pennsylvania," #2
July 25, 1863

Sketched by Thomas Nast, this engraving depicts the Confederate's shelling of Carlisle on July 1, 1863. The complete caption reads, "The Rebels Shelling the New York Militia in the Main Street of Carlisle, Pennsylvania."

This engraving is from Harper’s Weekly vol. 7, no. 343 (...

Isaac Harris Diary, U.S. Sanitary Commission
June 12 - July 18, 1863

This transcript of a portion of the diary Isaac Harris contains entries from mid-June through mid-July 1863 largely related to the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania. Harris, who serves with the U.S. Sanitary Commission, visits Carlisle and Dickinson College on July 7 to analyze the supply...

Letter from Charles F. Himes to Ogden N. Rood
October 2, 1863

Charles Francis Himes describes the scenes in Carlisle as the Confederates approached in late June 1863 and notes how the local militia supported by two regiments from New York, took fortification a mile west of town. Himes also recounts his experiences traveling from Carlisle and describes the...

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 Herman Johnson to Andrew Curtin
September 15, 1862

Dickinson College President Herman Johnson writes to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin (Class of 1837) and requests the release of Dickinson College students from military service so that they could return to Carlisle and continue their studies. At the height of the threat of a Confederate...

Letter from Jacob Bretz to George Bretz
October 8, 1862

Jacob Bretz tells his son about news of Carlisle during the Civil War and specifically mentions people that George knew. He also notes those soldiers from Carlisle who have been killed or wounded. He recounts that 30,000 “raw Milicia” were sent through Carlisle on the Cumberland Valley Railroad...

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