Gettysburg Chronicles – History Explained

1st Michigan – August 1861

August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

The picture below shows the 1st Michigan soldiers standing around Fort Wayne, Detroit, in 1861. This black and white photo is 165 years old this month. Look at the contrast of the uniforms and the glare of the soldiers onto the photographer. It seems like they are are dressed in Federal uniform before they depart for Washington D.C. Upon a zoomed-in version of the picture, most of the soldiers on the left have their bayonets in their rifles and are ready to get marching. All of the soldiers in this photograph have their caps on, along with nice black shoes.

What else would these soldiers of the First Michigan be thinking about heading off to war? Some of them are smiling at the camera, while the ones on the extreme right seem to be sitting and pondering the task at hand. I wonder how many of these soldiers actually survived the Civil War. The world will never know, because there are no names to the soldiers within this picture.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Michigan, Union

Three Month Regiment – 1st Michigan

August 2, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

To uphold the United States Constitution, each state had to commit one regiment to the United States military. On April 16, 1861, one regiment from the state of Michigan was formed. The signed a three-month volunteer paperwork to serve. This one regiment had ten companies included within it, and it was completed on April 29th, 1861. The reason for this was the attack on Fort Sumter on the 12th of April.

Within these 10 companies were approximately 798 soldiers and enlisted officers. This photograph shows the presentation of colors to the 1st Michigan Infantry on their departure on May 11, 1861. They arrived in Washington D.C. five days later. A few days after their arrival, they attacked Alexandria, Virginia, a day after the state seceded from the Union. Little incident occurred on May 24th, but martial law was enforced for the city throughout the Civil War. When Alexandria, Virginia fell to the 1st Michigan, Col. Orlando Wilcox stated “Alexandria is ours” as two-thirds of the population fled the town. The city became a headquarters for U.S. military railroad, along with one of the largest Union hospital centers.

Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum – Matthew’s House at 1st Manassas

A few months later, on July 21, 1861, the first battle of Manassas began. The 1st Michigan was commanded by Major A.F. Bidwell within the 2nd Brigade that was commanded by Col. Orlando Wilcox. It was a hard-fought battle, but the Union loss with over 2700 hundred soldiers causalities, with around 90 causalities from the regiment itself. The 1st Michigan was then sent home and was mustered out on August 7th, 1861.

However, once returning to Michigan, the regiment morphed and signed three year papers and served as the 1st Michigan through Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, and other battles after 1863.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Michigan, Union

Camp Letterman

July 28, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

What happens after a battle, especially one that lasts around three days? Soldiers who survived tell others of their survival, tales of what they saw and heard, and looking for comrades that could be anywhere in town due to the mass confusion of battle. Terrible things occur though, and some of their friends or family members may be wounded or even killed.

With everything in motion around Gettysburg after the battle on July 3rd, the first thing was to rejoice about winning the battle. The next thing would be taking care and finding the wounded around the battlefield. Luckily, the citizens of town were welcoming and trying to help soldiers, both Union and Confederate, that were wounded and taking care of their needs. Prior to the Union army leaving town, over 14,000 Union soldiers along with 6000-8000 Confederate troops needed attention.

Whether if it was to give them water, food, fresh bandages for their wounds, or a place to rest were most homes, churches, and farms around the region. Along with the citizens, you had the doctors and surgeons of the Union army giving orders to their officers about establishing a general hospital in the area close to routes of transportation. One of these officers was Dr. Johnathon Letterman, who was the medical director of the Federal Army.

Courtesy of the Gettysburg National Park Service of the Camp Letterman Area

Dr. Jonathon Letterman established a general hospital here at the historic Wolf’s Farm east of downtown. He wanted the hospital here because of the closeness to York Road, the Gettysburg Railroad, and it was one of the higher locations around the area. This area had a good spring that provided lots of water. As the hospital was started, hundreds of tents, drainage ditches, cooking supplies, and facilities for surgeons, nurses, and surgery were installed and brought in to help wounded or mortally wounded soldiers.

This plaque below shows the location of field hospitals during the battle of Gettysburg for each Corps. Each one was moved that was North and West of the town as Confederate soldiers occupied that region. Some field hospitals are near regimental monuments that provided care and took care of injuries near Rose Woods and the Wheatfield.

On July 5th, two days after the battle of Gettysburg, Union soldiers with the Federal army moved away from town in chase of the Confederate army. However, the Union army left 100 surgeons, 6 ambulances, 4 wagons per Corps, and their goal was to move approximately 800 soldiers a day out of Gettysburg. This hospital was closed the day after Lincoln arrived into Gettysburg and gave the Gettysburg Address on November 20, 1863.

Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Union

Battle of Antietam – 7th Michigan

July 27, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

The Battle of Antietam was on September 17th, 1862, marking this year as the 164th anniversary of the battle. Soldiers in battle today have dog-tags with their name, rank, and possibly a location of what unit they served with. However, in the 1860s, this was not on the minds of soldiers. They would usually write letters and leave them on them. When they passed, the letters would tell the future person that if they were killed in battle, here’s who they would have to contact. One of these such soldiers is Captain Allen Zacharias of Company K within the 7th Michigan.

A little background about this soldier is very interesting. Even though he was a native of Washington County, Maryland, he moved to Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan. When he was fighting within the Peninsula Campaign, he wrote a short autobiography on a piece of paper which he kept with him. On the other side of the note he wrote:

Friend: If you find my body lifeless upon the field, bury it decently, mark its resting place, and inform my friends in the regiment and my father. Do this and you shall be liberally rewarded and have the gratitude of my friends.

He would survive the Peninsula Campaign and move with the 7th Michigan towards Antietam. Here, sadly, his fate would change and he knew he had little time left after getting shot. When he was lying on the ground between the West Woods and Dunker Church, Capt. Allen Zacharias wrote a note to his family:

Dear Parents, Brothers and Sisters: I am wounded, mortally I think. The fight rages around me. I have done my duty, this is my consolation. I hope to meet you all again. I left not the line until nearly all had fallen and the colors gone. I am getting weak, my arms are free, but my chest is all numb. The enemy trotting over me, the numbness up to my heart. Goodbye all. Your son, Allen.

(Courtesy of The Red Book of Michigan; a Civil, Military, and Biographical History by Charles Lanman)

In fact, Capt. Zacharias was mortally wounded at Antietam. When soldiers found him, he was taken to a hospital in Hagerstown and died on December 31st. His letters to his family were sent to his father. When he passed away, several family members from Maryland were there with him, and he would pass away in the same county in which he was born.

His family story is unique. He had two brothers that also served in the Civil War, one within his own company.

His first brother was Alexander K. Zacharias. He would enlist with Company K in the 7th Michigan in August 1861 along with his brother, Allen. He would survive Antietam.
His second brother, Private Melville Zacharias, would enlist in Company M, of the 8th Cavalry. He was captured in November 1864, and became a prisoner of war.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress – April 26th, 1865

The steamer Sultana had a max capacity of 375 passengers, but during the explosion, over 2,300 soldiers were on board at the time. Over 1547 lives were lost, with soldiers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia heading north on the river. Both brothers somehow ended up on the Sultana on April 27th, 1865 when the ship exploded. Allen’s first brother, Alexander, survived the explosion, while Melville perished. There were prisoners from Andersonville and Cahaba gaining their freedom back, only to lose their lives on the mighty Mississippi.

Antietam, Detroit, Michigan, Union

Gettysburg Streets

July 13, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

Here is a zoomed in map from a survey that was taken after the Battle of Gettysburg in 1868-1870. There is much detail in this map, so let’s explore some things. North of the railroad tracks, Penn. College is now what is Gettysburg College.

There are also three roads that lead north of Gettysburg in a form of a triangle:

west-northwest of town (Mummasburg Rd)
north of town (Old-Carlisle Rd)
north-northeast of town (Old Harrisburg Rd)

There are two roads that lead west of town:

west-southwest of town (Fairfield Rd)
west-northwest of town (Chambersburg Rd)

There are two roads that lead south of town:

eastern road through town (Baltimore Street)
western road through town (Washington Street)

There is one road that leads east of town: York Road

These roads from the north and the west brought in supplies and soldiers from the Confederacy, while the southern roads will supply the Union army.

Courtesy of https://13thmass.org/1863/gettysburg.html

This map shows the location of the Union Corps and the Confederate forces around Gettysburg. This will provide beneficial aspects with the Union forces concentrated in a small general area to reinforce battle lines in a short amount of time. Confederate forces had to walk from Chambersburg to Gettysburg. What a journey they had on muddy roads, the heat and humidity, and the lack of water.

Gettysburg, Railroad Maps, Union

Fourth of July

July 5, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

On this day, on July 1863, the town of Gettysburg rejoiced that the Union won the battle against the Confederates. However, the victory came with a price. Jennie “Virginia” Wade had been shot and killed the day before, and was laid to rest behind the house. Elizabeth Thorn was in the process of receiving word that she would have to start lying grave sites for fallen soldiers the battle within Evergreen Cemetery.

Here below is a rare flag from West Virginia of the United States flag with only 35 stars on it representing 35 states. This flag was from 1863.

Courtesy of http://rareflags.com/RareFlags_Showcase_IAS_00090.htm

In the end, many months later, all the burials were completed.

Evergreen Cemetery — Graves of 2 Confederate and 90 Union soldiers

Let’s remember the sacrifice this Fourth of July, and the soldiers that fought 163 years ago.

Artillery, Evergreen Cemetery, Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, Union, Wade Family

June 29th, 1863

June 28, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

The locations of the Confederate and Union Corps on June 29th. However, that’s not the main story. The temperatures are brutal across the Mid-Atlantic ranging between 90 to 100 degrees and evening thunderstorms with the heat. With traveling on muddy and backroads, it was a very difficult to travel from one place to another.

Meanwhile, the Confederate forces were spread out across Pennsylvania, but had plenty of access roads to combine forces if need be. The 1st Corps was in Chambersburg and commanded by Lieutenant General James Longstreet. The 2nd Corps was in Carlisle and was commanded by Lieutenant General Robert S. Ewell, and the 3rd Corps was commanded by Lieutenant General Ambrose Hill that was stationed outside Cashtown.

Here are some of the distances that the Union Corps had to march on June 29th.

1st and 11th Corps (blank icon) marched from Frederick to Emmitsburg – 23 miles
2nd Corps marched from Monocacy to Uniontown – 26 miles
3rd Corps marched from Woodsborough to Taneytown – 12 miles
5th Corps marched from Frederick to Libertytown – 11 miles
6th Corps marched from Hyattstown to New Windsor – 26 miles
12th Corps marched from Taneytown to Frederick – 23 miles
Bufford’s Cavalry rode from Middletown to Fairfied – 8 miles
Gregg’s Cavalry rode from New Market to New Windsor – 21 miles
Kilpatrick’s Cavalry rode from Frederick to Littlestown – 31 miles

Newly appointed general of the Union Federal Army was Major General George Gordon Meade. He wanted the Union army to deploy between Middlestown to Taneytown to Manchester. He wanted to have strong fallback positions in northern Maryland. He wanted to protect Washington D.C. and Baltimore, and wanted to defend Mary-land, not Pennsylvania.

Confederate, Gettysburg, President, Union, Wade Family

June 27, 1863

June 28, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

The battle of Gettysburg is less than a week away. However, it’s only been less than 24 hours since Major General George Gordon Meade received orders that he is now the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Meade then directs and informs Major General Joseph Hooker of his relief from command.

George Gordon Meade is now the 5th man to command the Army of the Potomac in less than a year. General Meade learns that the Confederates are in southern Pennsylvania ransacking communities and terrifying citizens on the frontier. He commands the Union army to slowly drift north to see if they can draw the Rebels to fight them in Mary-land.

Courtesy of the novel – *Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: III: Retreat from Gettysburg,* page 266

His orders are to keep the Union army protecting Washington D.C. from the Confederates to the North.

Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, President, Railroad Maps, Union

June 26th, 1863

June 25, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

A cold rain fell as Confederate soldiers of Early’s men march towards Gettysburg in search of “shoes”. Really, all they wanted was shoes? Ha! Anyways, they approached the town from the west and soon spotted raw Union recruits near Knoxlyn’s Ridge. The 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia was commanded by Col. William Jennings. He was a young 24 year old soldier commanding the militia.

A local cavalry unit commanded by Capt. Robert Bell’s Adams County Cavalry Company comprised of 50 locals. After being dismissed by Bell to evade capture from the approaching Confederates, Private George Washington Sandoe and William Lightner ride past Georgia’s House ( The Jennie Wade House ) and the Evergreen Cemetery and towards Rock Creek on Baltimore Pike around 4pm. Sandoe fell and dies after being shot off his horse by the Rebels. Sandoe is often referred to the first Federal casualty at Gettysburg. The Confederates takes his horse and rides back to town.

Courtesy of Vivian Marsh and Willie on Find a Grave – Louis Kenneth McClellan and Georgia Wade McClellan

Earlier that day, around 2:30 p.m., about an hour before the Confederates rode past in chase of Private Sandoe and Private Lightner, Georgia Wade McClellan gave birth to her first son, Louis Kenneth McClellan.

Meanwhile, after Sandoe was killed, the Confederates in the chase stopped at the Evergreen Cemetery. They asked for food and water from the caretaker of the cemetery. Mrs. Elizabeth Thorn, who was 6 months pregnant, serves the enemy their food and they disappear into night.

Confederate, Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, Union

June 21, 1863 – Upperville

June 21, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

On the frontier of Virginia, Confederate and Union soldiers clashed near Upperville. In the midst of the Gettysburg Campaign, the Union were trying to figure out what the Confederates next move was. Over the following six weeks, there has been a drought across the Mid-Atlantic. On June 19th, a heavy rainstorm soaked the valley. During the downpour, Confederate cavalry was deployed near the Ashby Gap Turnpike.

Courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust

However, Union cavalry commander Alfred Pleasonton had asked for reinforcements to support him and the battle that would ensue. He was granted some infantry support from General George Meade’s 5th Corps. Colonel Strong Vincent’s brigade along with another cavalry division was in reserve. On this morning, Union cavalry was held back from Confederate forces under J.E.B. Stuart that were hidden behind stone walls and steep slopes near the creek. However, as Union soldiers within the reserve pushed forward, the Confederates started to falter. Here at Goose Creek, the Confederates held for approximately two hours before the 16th Michigan arrived.

Overall, there was no real advantage here at Upperville on who won the small skirmish. However, around 200 soldiers of the Union and 175 of the Confederacy was wounded in this attack.

Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, Union