Tag: Railroad

Alumni House – Baugher

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The history of Pennsylvania College is quite elaborate with buildings, personal backgrounds, and the paranormal. The very first building built on campus is Pennsylvania Hall, which was built in 1838. It is still being used today and is the center-point of the university. New underclassmen and graduates pass through this building to witness history and explore the future with their walk on the very first and last day on campus. Let’s explore the unique history of the college.

Courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust – Gettysburg College

In 1860, the now known Alumni House served at the residence of the second president of the Pennsylvania College. The second president of the college was Henry L. Baugher. According to his past, he didn’t want to stay within Pennsylvania Hall with the students. The “white house” of the campus was just right next door. Even though the Civil War didn’t arrive into Gettysburg till the end of June and early July 1863, the war had already affected the family of the college.

Their son, Alexander Nesbitt Baugher, graduated from Pennsylvania college in 1853 prior to his move to Illinois. He was a lawyer there, and married to his wife, Martha. The war started in April 1861, and he signed up for the Union army. He joined as a member of Company B within the 45th Illinois infantry in August 1861. However, less than a year into the war, in April 1862, the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee occurred. Here, D. Nesbitt Baugher was wounded seven times during the battle. He was taken to a civil war hospital in Quincy, Illinois, and died on May 12. His father, Henry Baugher, traveled to Quincy, picked up his body, and brought it back to Gettysburg. He is buried within Evergreen Cemetery, along with his wife Martha Ann.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Baugher and his family cared for 18 wounded Union soldiers in their home and successfully hid one officer from Confederate searches during the town’s occupation. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baugher are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, next to their beloved son.

Evergreen Cemetery, Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Gettysburg College, President

Maryland Campaign 1862

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The start of the 164th anniversary of the Antietam/Maryland Campaign begins. Remembering the soldiers trekking through the wilderness northward to give farmers some time to recover from warn-torn Virginia would have been a sight to see. Multiple battles were fought throughout Virginia in 1861 and 1862, and the Confederate Army needed to give their citizens a brief break. This would be Confederate Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North.

Courtesy of the American Civil War webpage – Topographic map of Harpers Ferry and Loudoun’s Heights

The Confederate army containing approximately 55,000 soldiers traveled across the Potomac River on September 4, 1862, into the vast lustfulness of Mary-land. On their heels were the Union under the commander of General George McClellan and his army of around 84,000 soldiers at his disposal. Lee’s goal was to move into Pennsylvania, but the Union had other plans. The Union garrison that was within Harper’s Ferry was close enough to Virginia that they may threaten the supply lines and telegraph system that would be supporting the Confederate advances.

Confederate forces surrounded the town and captured the Union garrison stationed there. Overall, the Union forces surrendered 73 artillery cannons, 13,000 rifles, and approximately 12,000 soldiers. The commanding officer of the Confederacy at Harper’s Ferry was General Stonewall Jackson. His victory was one of the greatest of his storied career and resulted in the largest surrender of Union soldiers during the war.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress – General Stonewall Jackson

Three other battles occurred in Mary-land prior to the battle of Antietam that happened on September 17th. They were the battles of Crampton, Fox, and Turner’s Gap which are also known as the Battle of South Mountain. These battles happened only three days before the Antietam. The battle of South Mountain halted the Confederate invasion of the North, and began for General Lee to concentrate his forces around Antietam.

Antietam, Confederate, Gettysburg, McClellan, President, Union

3rd Michigan

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This regiment was mustered into service within the first few months of the Civil War in June 1861. They first organized in the fairgrounds south of Grand Rapids, and then left for Washington D.C. on June 13th. This regiment was consisted of soldiers from Kent, Iona, Ingham, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties which surrounding the countryside around Grand Rapids. This first commander of this regiment was Col. Daniel McConnell, pictured below. He had some military experience within the Mexican War.

Courtesy of Ancestory.com: Col. Daniel McConnell (seated 3rd from left)
3rd Michigan Infantry

When they departed for Washington D.C., the 3rd Michigan infantry regiment had 1,040 soldiers and officers. They took the same type of transportation to get from Michigan to Washington D.C. like their previous Michigan regiments. They left Grand Rapids on railroad to Detroit, boarded a steam ship to Cleveland, and then rode the rails the rest of the way to their destination. The 3rd Michigan arrived in Washington D.C. on June 16th, 1861.

The 3rd Michigan was at the battle of Manassas in July 1861, but only in reserves. Due to unpopular interactions with the soldiers and ill health, Col. Daniel McConnell resigned his commission on October 22, 1861. His next in line, Stephen G. Champlin was promoted to colonel the very same day.

Stephen G. Champlin

Their first real battle was the battle of Fair Oaks or also called Seven Pines in early June 1862. They would have 30 soldiers killed, 124 wounded, and 15 missing. Col. Champlin was wounded in the hip, and received a 30-day furlough, and then returned to commanded the 3rd Michigan. In August 1862, at the 2nd battle of Manassas, his hip injury returned and he went back on medical leave. Due to the injury, a new commander had to be chosen. The commander that started out as Captain Bryon Root Pierce of Company K, would now become Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Michigan.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Railroad Maps

Three Month Regiment – 1st Michigan

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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.

Courtesy of the Detroit Public Library

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

June 26th, 1863

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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.

Private George Washington Sandoe

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.

Peter and Elizabeth Thorn

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