4/75 ,53 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 013 702 162 6 pei2m&lif6* pH8J E 475 .53 .M12 Copy 1 THE TRUE STORY OF "Jennie'' Wade A Gettysburg Maid BY J. W. JOHNSTON fuhtishfd h\ J. W. JOHNSTON Fine A rts Building Rochester, N. Y. Copyright 1917 J. W. JOHNSTON Rochester. N. Y. First Edition JUL 24iJ7 'G!.A467931 : Jeens Printing Co.. Inc. Rochester. N. Y. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooocooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o s o o o o Photo by W. H. Tiploii. Getlysburi:. '90 i)u inrmorji of MRS. JAMES WADE o o o o o i8:;o-'92 {nee Mary Ann Filby) The mother of Mary Virginia Wade uIt|tB ;iubiicattmt is Dr^iratrd 000OO0OOOO00O0O0OO000C3OO00O0OO0C5OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00O Pace Une oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o ri.olo 1,> Hoililkr. l)c, Molina, la.. 1V14 GEORGIA WADE McCLELLAN July 4th 1841— (The sister nf Mary I'irginia l('ade) After the Battle of Gettysburg, her child being six weeks old, Mrs. Mc- Clellan served as a nurse to the wounded soldiers quartered in the Court House. She also assisted at the General Hospital Camp at Gettysburg when the wounded were brought together. In 1864 she went to Washington and nursed in the Emery Hospital under the direction of Annie Wittenmyer, who had charge of the Sanitary Commission. Engaging in Women's Relief Corps work, after the war, she became De- partment Treasurer (la. 1887), Department President (la. 1897-'98), Depart- ment Secretary (la. 1899-'00), Chairman, National Executive Board (1900), National Press Correspondent (1907), Secretarv, National Women's Relict Corps (1909-'10), Department Chaplain (la. 1917). Honorary member, 10th New York Cavalry, N. Y. (1898). State President W. C. T. U. (la. 1900-'03, 1906). O0O000O00O0OO00O00000000O000O000O000O000000000000CXX5000O00OO I'age Two oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o § o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o PREFA CE The True Story of "Jennie" Wade — a Gettysburg Maid — is the result of a most careful study and painstakinij iinestigation conducted from August, 1916 to June, 1917, h\ Mr. J. W. Jolinston, of Rochester, N. Y. No expense was spared and no stones left untiu"ned to secure the truth relating to what is unquestionably one of the most interesting, if not actually the most interesting, personal episode concerning the great battle of (jettysburg. There is romance and tragedy in the life of tliis Gettysburg girl. However, the romance here presented is the romance of truth, rather than of fiction. Unfortunately, iiuich has been written and spoken con- cerning the character, life and death of "Jennie" Wade which will not staiul the searchlight of analytical examination, nor the acid tests of proof. The author does not claim infallibilit\ , and it may be that some slight error or errors have crept into this first edition. If so, and if sufficient corroborative evidence of a reliable nature can be furnished, corrections or additions will gladly be embodied in the sec(jnd and subse- quent editions of this publication. However, it might well be stated at this point that the story as here presented has the endorsement and the appro\al of Georgia Wade McClellan, the sister of Mary Virginia W^ade, popularly known in history as "Jennie" Wade. The illustrations are absolutely authentic, several of the half tones being direct from untouched, war-time daguer- reotypes, ambrot\pes and ferrotvpes. Se\eral of these recently found are here presented for the lirst time in published form. O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 00000S3O000000O000000000000O0000000000OOO0O00CX50O0O0OOOO0O0O0 rage Three 0000O0OO0OO0O00O000000O0000OOO00000O0O0O0O000OOOO0OOO0OC5OOG0 ? i g o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o s o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o GEORGIA WAHE. MARY COMFORT, MARY VIRGINIA WADE I T/iis absolutely authentic, untnuclied, /tiirtrait is here reproduced for the first time in the exact size of the oritiinal.) O o o 8 o 8 o o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Four OOOOGOO0O0OOO0€K)OO0OCKSOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK>OOCKX50CKX>OOOCK3000CKX>OOOOCH300000CK30000 o H o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o CHAPTER II (Jlxe 2b. KSb.i) X the winter of '61 -'62 the lOtli i\. Y. Cavalrw known as "The Porter Guards," was stationed in Gettys- huTii. From time to time iVIrs. Wade and her dauiiihter repaired uniforms and sewed buttons on army coats for these soldiers. Hoth women were highly respected by the New York men, veterans of the regiment living in Lockport, N. Y., at the present time recalling the fact that they were kindly and hospitable, lonesome as the men were awa\ from their homes. In fact, the daughter invited and occasionally went to St. James Lutheran Church with one or two of the visiting troopers. The beautiful character and the patriotism of Mary Virginia Wade in her attitude toward Union soldiers is not onl\- suggested by the high estimation in which she was and is still held by the New Yorkers, but also by reason of the fact that she became engaged, probably in the spring of 1863, to be married to Johnston H. Skelly, of Gett\sburg, Penna. — age 22 — a granite cutter by trade, who was a Corporal in the 87th Pa. Vol. Inf. and a\\a\ with his regiment at the time the first Confederate troops rode into Gett\sburg — June 26th, 1863. Her marriage to "Jack" was to take place in September, 1863, if he could secure a furlough. At this point, it will doubtless be of interest for us to remember tli.it the great grandfather of Virginia Wade was Colonel Chidley Wade, killed at the Rattle of the Hrand>- Wine. September 11th, 1777. Her grandfather, Jhomas Wade, aide de camp to General LaFayette, was wdunded at the same battle. The father of Mar\ X'irginia, James Wade, was a Captain in the 80th Pa. jXIilitia, being commissioned by Governor Da\ id R. Porter, August 3rd, 1842. Her brother-in-law, J. Lewis McClellan, the husband of Georgia Wade, had answered President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, and at the end of the ninety days enlisted with 165th Pa. Vols. The brothers of Mary Wade were also patriotic, as we shall immediately see. O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o OOOOOOOOOCK>OOCK>OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo8 Page Seven OO0OO00O0OO0OO0OOO00O0O0C50000000OO00O000O00OO0O000OO00000000 The Army of Northern \'irginia had crossed the Potomac about June 13th on its invasion of the Ninth. Immediatelj' after news had reached Gettysburg that the Confederates were advancing toward the village, an Emergency Regiment — the 26th Penna., was organized, Co.'s A and H of this regiment consisting of students from the Pennsyl- \ania College in Gettysburg and also from the local Lutheran Seminary. John James \Vade had \oIunteered in Co. B, 21st Pa. Cavalry and had been accepted as a bugler. He was very small for his years. His uniform had arrived, but was about two sizes too large. The sister, V'ir- ginia, seeing the misfit and being skilled at the work of alterations set at once to put the garinents in shape. The 21st Penna. Cavalry chanced to leave Gettjsburg by the York Road a few hours before the Confederates happened to ride into the town from the opposite direction. Bugler Wade in his altered uniform was not ready to leave with the others, but on getting his horse rode hurriedly alone out of town endeavoring to catch up with his comrades. O O o o o o o o o o o o Q o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o The loving and patriotic service of the sister toward her soldier brother during the hours on June 26th, 1863, when the 26th Penna. or Emergency Regiment was leaving Gettysburg, will account for the fact that Mar\' Virginia Wade was not seen in the demonstration gi\en in honor of the departing Gettysburg \ olunteer infantrymen at the time of their leave taking. General Early of Ewell's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia rode into Gettysburg on the afternoon of June 26th with about five thou- sand followers. Requisition was made on the town, the town constable, John Lawrence Burns — subsequently known as the "Hero of Gettys- burg" — taking the message of General Early to Mr. Da\id Kendlehardt, the acting Burgess. Immediately after the Confederates came into Gettysburg, the\ began to collect the serxiceahle horses of the village. Samuel Wade, the second son of the Wade family, was employed at the time as a deli\ er\ boy for Mr. James Pierce, a butcher on Breckenridge Street. At the request of Mrs. Pierce, Samuel Wade was instructed to take the fa\orite family horse — an iron grey animal of good value — and to ride out of town along the Baltimore Pike. It seems that the lad had mounted the animal and had ridden some distance out Baltimore Street toward O O o o o o o o o B o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocooooo I'.-ige l-,ight oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocooooo o 9 Baltimore Pike when he was overtaken by Confederate pursuers, brought back to town and placed under arrest. \'irginia Wade being near the corner of Breckenridge and Haiti- more Streets at the time and linding her brother a captive, remonstrated with the Confederates for having arrested her brother. Failing to secure his release, she immediately went to the McClellan residence — where her mother was in attendance on Georgia Wade McClllan. who had given birth to a son about half past two — one hour before the Confed- erates rode into Gettysburg. Virginia, desiring to bring about the release of her brother and \et not wishing to disturb her sister, called the mother out of the house explaining to her the circumstances of Samuel's arrest. Mrs. Wade went to the Town Square, appeared before General Early about 4 P. M. and secured the release of the boy. However, the enemy retained the horse which he had tried to save, but concerning which Virginia was not particularly interested. Samuel Wade was a member of the (Gettysburg Zouaves, a social. military organization. June 26th, 1863 was indeed a ne\er-to-be-forgotten da\ to members of the \Vade family, and on no one did the patriotic responsibilities seem to rest so heaxily as on the shoulders of AIar\ \'irginia Wade. Her anxiety concerning the unfortunate uniform of her brother and her sisterly pride in his good military appearance in time to catch up with his alreadv departed troop, must have borne heavily on her mind. The absence of the mother from the home attending her sister, the arrest of her brother and the securing of his release with the assistance of her mother would suggest that although this Gettysburg maid was not with the groups of girls and yoimg ladies of the village to wave farewells to the departing students of the Emergency Regiment, she nevertheless was "doing her bit" in other wa\s that day serving the Union Cause. O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0OCK3OCX3O0CK5O0OOOO0OO0OOOOOCX5O0OOOCX5OOOCK5OOOOOOO0OOOO0O o o o o CHAPTER III (June 30, 18b3) 0OCKKX5€X>C)0O0OOOOOOX>0O€>OOO0OO€>0000O0000OOO000000000C0 Q O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o HE last day of June, 1863, will always be remembered in the history of Gettysburg, since it was on the eve- ning of that da\ that the first Union troops put in an appearance in search of the Confederates known to be in the vicinity. Gen. Buford's division of Cavalry had been sent ahead to Gettysburg by Gen. Reynolds, Com- mander of the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac. As the Union Cavalrymen, after a long and dusty ride, came into Gettysburg from the south by the Emmetsburg road, veterans sa\ they were heartened by tlie sight of groups of loyal people who cheered and applauded, irre- spective of their begrimed appearance. Gettysburg girls sang patriotic songs as Buford's Cavalry passed way toward the Seminary. Mrs. James Ian) has \er\ kindK furnished a list as through the town on their Weaver (nee Sallie McClel follows : Miiiilcn \ (inn Florie Culp Mary Culp Sopiiia Culp Dora Flemming Anna Garlach Sallie AlcClellan Belle McElroy Julia McElroy Jennie Myers Salome Myers Susie Myers Alice Powers Jane Powers Amanda Reinecker Carrie Young Irine Weisick Miinicd Name, if Alarrir/l Mrs. Kohler Mrs. W^m. Sheads Mrs. John Tanne\ Dora Flemming Mrs. Kitzmiller Mrs. James \Veaver .Mrs. Bond Mrs. Happoldt Mrs. Wm. 'Fawney Mrs. Stewart Susie ]\Iyers Alice Powers Mrs. AlacDonnell Mrs. Wm. Rupp Carrie \ oung Irine Weinick O O o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o g o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I'age Ten OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCX30ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Eleven cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o t*.& Photographer unknown THE McCLELLAX RESIDEXCE As it appeared November 19, 1863 (/'/V'Tf hnkin^ from n.vest side Bfi/timfirr Strft't) o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o § o o 8 o o o OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Page Twelve oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocsooooooooooooooooooooooooooeoo o o CHAPTER IV (July 1, 1S63) o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o odx after the outset of the great battle of Gettysburg, Confederate shells from the batteries at the west of the town began to explode in the village. The com- motion and serious danger resulting from these con- cussions suggested to the house holders that the\ either betake themselves to their cellars or leave for points of safet}', quite naturalh" in the section of the town to the south, as the battle was on to the north and northwest. Virginia Wade thought the home of her sister, near Cemeter\ Hill, would be a haven of safety. Accordingly, she carried her charge to the McClellan residence on Baltimore Street on the morning of July 1st. Lea\ing the crippled boy with her mother, she went back to the house on Ureckenridge Street for lier youngest brother, Harry, and also to procure some needed clothing. On leaving the house on Breckenridge Street, she locked the door placing the key in the pocket of her gown. Arriving at the brick dwelling which sheltered her mother, sister, the two bo\s and the new born babe, she, as usual, began to resume the responsibilities which were so helpful to her mother. One of these duties was the answering of the calls at the door. These knocks were frcjm Union soldiers requesting food. After fitrnishintj bread, she brnid/ht ivater from the windlass tvell at the east side of the house to the dis- iinjiiiiteil eaV(dry/iien stationeil in h'onl. She filled the eiinteens of tin si soldiers from a pail ivhuh she nsted on the siilete(d.k. About two o'clock the Union troops began their retreat from Sem- inary Ridge and from the north side of the town. The cool, refreshing water which Virginia Wade had to offer was indeed a blessing to men who had been in the stress of battle for hours and who were now hasten- ing from distances as great as a mile. The da\ being particularly warm and sultr\-, good drinking water was in great demand. .l/^;/;r " trip the empty pail made to the faithful ii-cll to be returned to the front of the house for the refreshment of the Boys in Blue. Drenched from the waist down, this Gettysburg girl was on JuK 1st ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocx>ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Thirteen ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocx>ooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o THE RUPP TANNERY ^"j g ' *j .--■' Oht. Snyder Jfarxi. wt -' ' '■■■. and ^h^nj^n, , ' ' ~ - . _ ^h.e4:£s ^noify^ "QuJUt Marked Pivtoe JKc CrearUy R IrWITHE MSCLELLAN C E fflMAcLEAM HOMES Jhc'J)rStuduJ\ Capt Tflyens o Sa-si Cemetery JGU "Speryre^ri' or GtiiJ,^n's '^ § Map showing location of residences on Balti- g more Street at the time of the Battle. OCK300000000O0000000000O0CK30OOOOOOOO«X>0CX>0OOOO00<^^ 0O0OO0OOOO0OOCK>0OCK5€>O0OOCKK>OOOOOOO€5OOOO€>OOOOOO0OOOOOOOO00000 o o o o o o indeed making up for her unwilling absence from the assembly- of her girlhood friends and acquaintances which had gathered in honor of the departing Emergency men on the afternoon of June 26th and also on the evening of June 30th, when the first soldiers bearing the National Colors had entered Gett\sburg. As evening approached, it became apparent that the house which Vir- ginia Wade had chosen as a place of refuge was quite the contrary hi fact, the building was immediately between the new battle lines. Con- federate sharpshooters stationed in the office of the Rupp Tanner\ on the opposite side of the street began firing at Union sharpshooters sta- tioned about the little red brick structure which sheltered the wdnien and children. From time to time Confederate bullets found their mark and Union soldiers fell seriously wounded or in death about the McClellan yard, also in the \acant lot to the north. The cries of those wounded men, who were still under fire, prevented the possibility of sleep. .1 ml noir i/iiiy it In said In the hniKii of the Ji/icrictni girl that Jirijinia 11 ai/i iviiit out of till- hoiisi on the rvriiiiKj of July i.st, lS6j, and at the risk of hi r life hioiii/ht ivatir and ; 7;i ir to thosi' (d'lilit ivho had fallc n. Molly Pitcher is said to ha\e carried water from a well, which ma\- still be seen on the battlefield of Monmouth, and to have been subsequently honored by General Washington for her heroism. Unfor- tunately, the historical records are incomplete and Molly Pitcher is, in realit\-, a semi-historical character. This is not the case with Mar\ Virginia W^ade, w-hose faithful and ever loyal services to the Union soldiers are abundantly authenticated by those still living who were eye witnesses of her sympathy and service. I William Otto Kahlar, of Co. 'H, N. \'. Inf., writing from Lock- port, N. v., under date of Feb. fath, '17, reports that Virginia Wade gave him two biscuits and a cup of water on July 1st, 1863. It seems that she also gave a cup to ()rderl\ Sergeant Albert Brewer, who, it is said, has the sou\ enir to this da\ . I O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o 0(X>00000000€XXX>0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Page Fifteen 00O0000OOOO0OO0OO00O0O0O00OOO0O0OO0O0O0000O00O0O0OOCX5OC0OO0O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Ki Pliuiu b\- Tipton. Gettysburg THE McCLELLAN RESIDENCE ( ric^v «/ north side «/ huilJiny i:;/ni/i s/iu-zcs rnttriy btitlle satis.) o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Sixteen 000<>X>00000000000000000000000000000000000000000 o o CHAPTER V (JuLv 2. 1863) T was about five o'clock on the afternoon of July 1st, 1S6.\ when the new battle lines of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia were being formed. ^ Thrstruggle of the first day had been a pronounced Confederate victory. A numerical superiorit\' had counted against the Federal troops, and they had been forced to retreat through the town taking up new positions on two hills just to the south. Men of the First Corps engaged in the fighting of the early morning hours, on arriving at Culp's Hill and on East Cemetery Hill, began to build fortifications. Batteries of artillery commanding Baltimore Street were stationed at the top of the incline ; while Union pickets were thrown across Baltimore Street to the east and west forming curved lines about the Union breastworks. The IMcClellan residence was at all times during the great battle within the Union lines. Being situated immediately between the office of the Rupp Tanner) buildings and the L nion fortifications on East Cemetery Hill, this little brick structure quite naturally suggested itself as an advantageous location for Union sharpshooters. The constant firing by the Confederate marksmen toward these brick walls on the afternoon, e\ening and night of July 1st made rest within, at least on the north side of the building, quite impossible. The moaning of wounded soldiers in the yard outside indeed made the night hideous. Mrs. McClellan's bed had been taken down stairs in the spring of the year and placed in the parlor. The mother and her five days' old babe occupied the bed and the parlor room at the outbreak of hostilities. As night came on and the danger increased, the three women and three children found comfort in each other's compan\'. Without disrobing the mother reclined on the bed with Mrs. McClellan and the child; while Virginia rested on a lounge under the window at the north side of the house. The two little boys did not mind trundle beds on the Hoor, Harry Wade ha\ ing hidden under the bureau from time to time as the danger from the shots increased. O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o c o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 00OOC5OO0OOOOOC3OOOOOO0OOOOOOO0OOOO0O0OOOOOO0OOOO0OOOOO00O0OOO Page Seventeen ooooooooooooooooooooooooooocjoooooooooooooooooooooooooooboooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o § o o o o § o o 32. /» CROSS SECTION OF THE McCLEI.LAN HOUSE This plan illustrates the course of the 10 lb. Parrott shrapnel shell through the second story rooms. The division of the house is as if through the kitchens at the east end. {The dotted lines up and duivn the stairiiiiy^ •u-ilt he snhseqitently explained.) O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o. o oooooooooooooooocooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Kighteeii oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o § s o § § o o o With dawn on the morning of July 2nd, the fusillades of shots from the Confederate outposts were resumed. It was apparent that the sharpshooters stationeil li\ the Confederate authorities at their lines near- est the Union stronjjholds were of exceptional ability. Hence a very serious danger to anyone who might be seen moving outside the McClel- lan building, or even inside the house past the window panes, since the storm shutters on tlie jiarlor wnnlow were not closed. The morning of Juh' 2nd passed uneventfully, but in the afternoon the patter of rifle balls against the side of the house and occasionally through a window light was interrupted by the crash of a 10 lb. I'arrot shrapnel shell fired from ( )ak; Ridge, to the north of the town, which came through the slant roof over the stairwa\ on the north side at the east end of the incline. Passing through the wooden roof and the plaster wall, wliich divided the two houses of the double dwelling, the missile plowed through the brick wall on the south side of the house finally resting in an unexploded condition above the overshoot or outside extension of the root, where it remained for o\er fifteen ye;irs. Virginia Wade fearful that the house was being made an object for artillery as well as infantry fire, fainted at the roar of splintering wood and falling bricks upstairs. The failure of the shell to explode within the house either on the north side or on the south side, where Mrs. .McLean with her fi\ e children lived, was doubtless Providential. Late on the afternoon of Jul\ 2nd as the exening shadows length- ened, an occasional L'mon soldier wcjuld venture to the dcjor ot the house asking for bread. I'hc Ji/iiinislii/iy r/iiu/itily did not send an'tiy dis- (ippf)'intcd the frir irlio tipfilicd tit the door, but it became more and more apparent that there unuUl be need the next day for a goodl\ siipph of that home baked bread which fighting men had tasted and found of excellent fla\or. Accordingly, on the afternoon of the second day, Mn. II ndi mid lii'<- dfiitghtrr stiirlnl tin yciist, icliuli ivns mi.xvd into s/xiniji on tlu evcniny of July ^nd and lift to risr, until tin nioininy of July Jrd. Frequent alarms and desultory bring during the evening and night of July 2nd again prevented normal rest. However, the women reclined as on the night before not knowing what new terrors each forthcoming hour might bring. O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocooooo 0COO0OO0O0OOOOOO0OOOOOOOOOO0000C5OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0OOOO R § 8 ® o o o o o o o o o -*• o o o Fliotuyraplier unknown rntouclied, uiigiiial size ferrotype of LEWIS KENNETH McCLELLAN June 2bth, 1863 'Yiiunijest velnati of tlif Buttle nj Getty shurij" 8 o § o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o 8 o 8 PLAN OF THE DOWN STAIRS ROOMS OF THE McCLELLAN HOUSE The dotted lines through the parlor mark the route of the sharpshooter's bullet which struck the bed post and fell with splinters on the pillow en- dangering the mother and the baby. O o o o o o o oeoooooooooooocx>ooooooooooooooooooooooocx>ooooooooooooooooooo Page Twenty 00000(XX50000(XX)OOCKX>OOOeM300CSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCX>0 8 ° o o o o o \ o o 8 CHAPTER VI o o o 8 o o o o o o o (JuLv 3, 1863) HE occupants of the McClellan home were up and about as early as four o'clock on the morning of Friday, the third and final day of the great battle. At four-thirty o'clock \ irginia and her brother Harr\ (IT/;/ out to fetch ill nooil for the baking of bread, the dough for which she had prepared the evening before. On rctuniiiKj to the house she moulded the dough stiff, and left it to rise ayain. The Union pickets stationed near the Snyder Tavern, at the corner of Breckenridge and Baltimore Streets, having been dri\en back about four thirty, a soldier came to the house about a half hour later asking for bread. He ivns promised biscuit, if he icould cull later. There were abundant opportunities for people in Gettysburg to sell food to hungr)^ soldiers stationed about their homes. However, Virginm U ade accepted no financial recompense whatsoever. She had given out bread several times on July 2nd, saving, when the last soldier called at nine o'clock at night, only what was needed for the morning meal, which Mrs. Wade had just prepared. After a frugal breakfast consisting of bread, butter, apple sauce and coffee, she went to the parlor and resting on the lounge under the north window began her customary religious devotions of the morning. She read from Psalms XXV^II to XXX commenting aloud on different passages. The unquestioned danger they were in doubtless made Mrs. McClellan very nervous. She requested her mother to ask \'irginia not to intensify the situation. The last words Mrs. ]\IcClellan lieard her sister say were: "If there is anyone in this house that is to be killed today, I hope it is me, as George'' has that little baby." About se\en o'clock the Confederate sharpshooters again began fir- ing at the north windows of the house. Every pane of glass was soon O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o * Mrs. McClclIati was called "Georcf" l>v Uer sister. o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Twenty-one OOOCCGOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOOOOCOOOCOOOGOOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOO o o 8 B Q O S o e o o o e o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Photo by Tipton. Gettysburi;. © R. C. Miller THE NORTH DOOR AT THE McCLELLAN' HOUSE T/ie circle is drawn about tlir hule made by the fatal hiitlet The bricks about this door are pitted with the marks of Confederate bullets. O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o OCK30000000C?OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC>000000000000000000 Page Twenty-two o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o broken, one bullet on entering the front room struck the southwest bed post, then hit the fireplace or wall, fiiialh falling on the pillow at the foot of the bed toward which Mrs. McClellan and the child hail been turned as a measure of safety, by the mother of the \oung women, at the sug- gestion of Virginia. It was thought bullets might come through the west door anil window. The one which came through the north win- dow was, in tact, warm when Mrs. Wade gathered it with splinters from the damaged bed post. Al tiijhl o'cl'ttk ic'irk I'rcpitral'jry In tin iiiiikiinj of tin /'isn/i/s. uliirli luul //CI I! prniiiiscd, iLuis bcijiin. G'/iuij ta lur niixiiii/ liny I ir- tjiniii prepared Ihi fluiir and the hakinij s'>dii fur llie hiseiiit. She hud just (ihoitt finished knendini/ the duiigh and hud iisked her mother tn start the fire for the hiikinij iihen a Confederate bullet, presu/nahly from a sharpshooter' s rifle at the Rupp Tannery office, penetrated the outer door on the north side, also the door iihii h stood ajar Itetiicen the parlor and the kitchen, sirikina the ijirl in the hack jnst In loir the left shoulder blade. The heart leas hit, the bullet embedding itself in the corset at the front of Iter body. She fell* dead ivithout a groan. It teas noiv about S.-JO. Mrs. Wade turning from her work at the fire and seeing her daugh- ter fall realized, after a hasty examination, what had happened. She went to the parlor and said to Mrs. McClellan : "Georgia, your sister is dead." The shock of this painful announcement caused Mrs. McClellan to scream, whereupon Union soldiers appeared in the kitchen and took charge of the situation. There were two groups of these men. One group composed of New ^'ork German soldiers on hearing the cries of distress broke open the north door through which the fatal bullet had passed but a few minutes before. Two other Union soldiers came down from the rooms up stairs. The presence of these two men in the house was most m\sterious. as no one knows how they gained entrance to the premises. An inspection of the place being made, the men decided to order the women to take refuge in the cellar on the opposite side of the build- ing. rhe\ observed that the shrapnel shell which had struck the house on the afternoon before had made an opening in the partition wall be- tween the north and south sides of the east rooms upstairs. It was O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o * Sef dotted line in plan of kitchen on page 20. 0000(XySOOOOOOOOOOOQOO(XX300000000000000000000(SMXiOOOOOOOOOOOO I'age Twenty- three oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo - 8 o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Photo by 'ripton. Geltysbur; WOODEN MIXING TRAY o o o o o o o o o o o o G o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o G G o G G O o o 77'/,' mixiiii^ frtiy is the one o-'cer il/iic/i Miss Wade ivas i-Lorl-iiii( fit the time of her death, at the ^'"Jennie Wade Hoiise^' Museum. It he G G G G G O O o o o G G G O G G O G 8 G G G 8 8 OO OOO vwOOOOOOwwwwwOwOOOOwOwwOOOOOOvOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'agc T\\ finy-fuur 0OO00O0OO0OOO00OO0O0OC500OO0OO0O00OOO00O00OOO0OOOOOOO0OO00OOO o o o o o o o o o possible to enlarge this opening by tearing or kicking down the plaster. When this work had been done, the women were asked to go up the stairs, pass through the opening, come down the stairs on the other side of the house and then out of the south door into the cellar. Mrs. Wade agreed to comply, if her daughter's body also accompanied the part\ . Mrs. McClellan with the babe in her arms went up the stairst unassisted, a soldier bringing after her a split bottom rocking chair. On arriving at the dividing wall, Mrs. McClellan handed the little bundle to a soldier, and after getting to the south side of the house resumed charge of her infant. Mrs. Wade :uid the boys followed. The soldiers then tenderly carried up the bod\ of \ irginia Wade wrapped in a quilt which Mrs. McClellan had pieced when five years of age. Coming down the stairs from the second-stor\' room at the east end of the building, they went out of the side door and down the stairs to their destination in the cellar, which seemed to be the safest place in the building for them, as it was on the side of the house aw^ay from the Confederate guns. The bod\ of the dead girl, still wrapped in the quilt, was laid on a bench,* generallv used for the reception of milk pails and crocks, where it remained from eight thirty A. M., Jul\ 3rd until one o'clock A. M., JuK 4th. The \igil was kept for nearl\- eighteen hours before it seemed safe for them to come up out of their hiding place. It must not be forgotten that Mrs. Wade — the mother of Mrs. McClellan and Mary Virginia \Vade — at the suggestion of the soldiers and assisted by them, returned by the route they had made through the division wall to the room stained with her daughter's heart blood and baked fifteen loaves of bread, the dough for which the daughter, who had been her main support in life, had prepared. Most of this bread went to feed Union soldiers on the afternoon of Jul\ 3rd. None of it was cold. I iryiuKi U (ulc ivas not hiikin/j hut iiiixniy tin iiignilu nts /or I hi iiisciiits. ivhicli she IkkI l^roiiihcd, ivlun nvcrtakcn hy death. The bis- cuits nere never finished. Hence the contention that she was baking bread for the household when she fell is incorrect in three particulars. t See dotted line in lower section nf plaii on pace IS. * See plan on page IS. 8cKXX>0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000€>00000000000 Page Twenty-five oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o THE McCLELLAN RESIDENCE (Pdpularly called the "Jennie ll'iule House," ns it appears tnday. AVctf used as a ziar museum. The zi'heel in front of the house is a battlefield relic. ) o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Twenty-six 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000€)0000000000 2 o S o o s o CHAPTER VII o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o § (Ji'Li- 4, 1863) T fi\e o'clock on the afternoon of July 4th a little group consisting of j\lrs. Wade, i\Irs. McClellan, Mrs. Filby — the mother of Mrs. Wade, Harr\- AVade and so!iie six or eii;ht soliliers, stood beside an open grave which had been prejiared in the jjarden at the rear ot the house. The bod\- on being taken from the celhir rested in a coffin which had been brought to the south side and placed on the brick pavement outside the cellar doors. It is belie\ed that this casket was originall\ intended fiu' a Confederate Col- onel, the construction of the case having been started by Confederate workmen. This coflfin was completed by Mr, Charles Comfort, of Ciettysburg, and is the one in which our heroine still sleeps. No preparations whatsoever were made for the cleansing, embalm- ing or redressing of the deceased. She was placed in the coffin « itli the quilt wrapped about her. The dough ichich iccis still on Ik r luiin/s (inil iiniis ijiivf mule evidence of the service uliicli she laid mid ii-/is f/iithfiilly ciidcuvoriny to render the ihiion Ctiiisc. There were no spoken prayers and no music, as the girl was laid to rest in the \ard of her sister's home. |()n jul\ Sth, 1882, Mr. Mitchell, from the Committee on Pensions, submitted a Report (No. 793, 47th Congress, 1st Session) in the Senate of the United States whereby a pension of $8.00 a month was awarded by special act approved Jul\ 22, 1882, to Mary A. Wade b\' reason of the death of her daui^hter while serving; the Union Cause. The report testifies that the daughter was a "healthy girl, very faithful, steady and expert with the needle, who at the time of her death and for some years previous thereto, contributed materially to the sup- pnrt of the family." Furthermore, she was her mother's main support. J. H. Skelly and W. T. King, merchant tailors, made oath that both M. A. Wade and Virginia Wade had worked for them at the tailoring trade.] 0000O00OOO0000000O0OO0O0000O0O000O0OOO00000000C5O0OOO0OGOO00O Pai^e Tu enty se\en OCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOO o o o o o o CHAPTER VIII ( January, 1864) The h()d\ remaint'd in the grave of the first interment fnini tlie afternoon of July 4th, lSfa3, until January, 1864, when it was renio\ed to the Cemetery adjoinmg the German Reformed Church. O ,JU CHAPTER IX (November, 1865) At the close of the war. Air. AlcClellan, the luishand of Georgia VVade, and her brother, John, who had bought a lot in Evergreen Cem- cterv, transferred the bod\ to this famiK lot where she now rests. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Twenty-eight 0000OO«3CK>OOOCX5O0OOCXX5OO0OOOO0OOOOOOOO0OOCHXH3OO€5OO0OO0OOC3OO00 o o o CHAPTER X o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o (September 16, I'^Ol ) HE Iowa Woman's Relief Corps at their Department Convention, lield in Davenport, in June, 1900, voted to erect a monument to the memory of Virginia Wade. There were no soldiers from the State of Iowa at the Battle of Gettysburg. Hence no Iowa State monuments. Contributions for the erection of this monument being solicited by the Women's Relief Corps of Iowa, funds were re- ceived from the Corps of Iowa; from Missouri, from friends and mem- bers of the Wade family scattered throughout the country. (It is saiti that over five hundred Wades served in the Union Armies during the Civil War, fifty-seven of whom died in the service. ) A beautiful and most encouraging letter was written to the Com- mittee by Mr. Walter Graham, of Harwick, Scothmd, on February 11th, 1901 — accompanied by ten schillings and H\e pence ^\•hicil lie re- quested be devoted to the purchase of a foundation stone in the monu- ment. This letter, which was in reality an echo communication from the call heard across the sea, inclosed two vine leaves plucked from tiie base of the monument erected on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, in menu)r\ of tlie Scottish American soldiers who fell during our Civil War. Also a spra\ of heather "just because it's Scotch." Speaker Henderson, of the House of Representati\es, from Iowa — also of Scottish blood — contributed. G. A. R. posts in Connecticut and Pennsylvania and Sons of \'eterans were not to be forgotten. The monument erected Aug. 17, 1900, was unveiled with appro- jiriate ceremonies September Ibth, 1901, at an hour when the entire nation was in deep sorrow by reason of the obsequies incidental to tlie removal of the bod\ of William McKinley, President of the United States, from Huffalo to his home in Canton, Ohio. The cost of the monument, which was designed in Itah , was twelve hundred dollars. The Battlefield Commission pa\'ing one thousand dol- lars on behalf of the subscribers. Mrs. Anna Miller, the contractor, contributed two hundred. The steel Hagstaff on which the National Colors fly night and day was placed there in 1910 by the Gettvsburg Association of Iowa Women. A new flag is sent each \ear b\ the Department of Iowa, Women's Relief Corps. O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o § o o o o o o o 0OOC5OOOOOOOO0000OO0OOOOOOOOOOO0OOO0OOO0OOO0OOOOO0O00OOCOOOOO oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o Q o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o THE MONUMENT IN EVERGREEN CEMETERY, GETTVSBrRC, ERECTED IN 19U1 TO THE MEMORY OF MISS WAOE (As it appears ill t/w pri'srnt day.) O o o o o o o o a oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Thirty oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o B o o o s o NAMES OF IOWA DELEGATION (At till' uinc'ilini; ceremonies. ) Margaret F. Hinman — Belmont Cluiirman, Mfjnunwnt C'liiuiiitlce Georgia Wade McClellan — Denison Christine C. Snyder — Creston Georgia B. Worker — Da\enport June Allen — Davenport Estella E. I'lopper — Iowa Falls Clara E. Batterson — Muscatine Mrs. Col. Springer — Anamosa Sarah Fox — Muscatine Miss Elsie Ma\ Worker — Daxenport Dr. Sara H. James — Ccnterville Clara Mae Alt — Cedar Rapids O o o o o o o o Q Q O O O O O O O O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o OCKXXSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Page Thirty-one oooooooooocoooooooooooooooooccooex$ooooooooooooooooooooooooco o o 80 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o CORPORAL SKELLV, CO. 87 P. \'. (Born, August 4th, 1841— l")ied July 12th, 1863.) o o o o § o o o THE GRAVE OF CORPORAL SKELLV (Interment, November 30th. 1864.) Page Thirty-two ^3\^\^y^^^\^\^\J^^^^^3Xtf^if^af^^^^^^y^^af^mf^J^^^^^if^^^^^J^J^tf^f^if^^^^^ O O O CHAPTER XI (JuxE 15, 1S63) Corporal Johnston Hastings Skelly, the sweetheart of Virginia \Vade, was wounded June 15, 1863, in the battle of Carter's Woods, near \Vinchester, Virginia. He died Jul\- 12th at \Vinchester, V^irginia, and was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Winchester. It was God's mercy that neither Miss Wade nor Corporal Sicelh should know of the sacrifice whicli the other had paid the Nation. A photograph of Corporal Skelly was found in the pocket of Vir- ginia Wade's gown with the key of the house she had left on Brecken- ridge Street. Is iiny further evidence necessary to prove she iiiis a L nion i/lrl? Furthernirjre, Union veterans attest that her altitude toieard them ivas cordial. ^7_r o o o o CHAPTER XII (November, 1864) In November, 1864, Mr. Daniel A. Skelh , the brother of Johnston H. Skelly, brought the body to Gett>sburg, where it was interred in Evergreen Cemeter}". The grave of this Gettysburg youth who also paid the "last full measure of devotion" is about seventy-five paces from the grave of the girl he loved. Skelly Post, G. A. R. No. 9, Gettysburg, has honored the memory of Corporal "Jack" and has also honored the Post by bearing the name of a Gettysburg volunteer highly respected by his comrades — beloved by the Gett>sburg Maid. "Sh( i/ave all sin had. she did her best ; Anijels could do no more." oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page Thirty-three oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocooo o 8 o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o JOHN WHITE JOHNSTON Author - Publisher (Member, Rudicster Hiitor'u/il Society; mem- ber, National Historical Society.) 8 o o o o o OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Page Thirty-four &20000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 o ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author desires to acknowledge valued as- sistance and kindly co-operation in the gathering of facts and in the securing of the illustrations for this work from the following; GEORGIA WADE McCLELLAX, of Carroll, la. GEORGIA SCHWARZENBACH, of Carroll, la. J. LOUIS SOWERS, of Gettysburg, Pa. R. C. MILLER, of Gettysburg, Pa. HON. H. W. TIPTON, of Gettysburg, Pa. REV. F. E. TAYLOR, of Gettysburg, Pa. D.ANIEL A. SKELLY, of Gettysburg, Pa. MISS CARRIE YOUNG, of Gettysburg, Pa. LESTER C. SCHUKNECHT, of Rochester, N. Y. MISS MARY YOUNG, of Gettysburg, Pa. J. WILLIAM G.ARLACH, of Gettysburg, Pa. C. F. BRINKERHOFF, of York Springs, Pa. MISS LUCINDA SNYDER, of Gettysburg, Pa. JOSEPH CARVER, of Gettysburg, Pa. MRS. ANNA L. KITZMILLER, of Gettysburg, Pa. J. I. MUMPER, of Gettysburg, Pa. MRS. IDA M. MUMPER, of Gettysburg, Pa. C. T. STRAIGHT, of Pawtucket, R. 1. REV. W. L. STANLEY, of Eldora, la. H. S. TROSTLE, of Gettysburg, Pa. REV. J. B. B.AKKR O Page Thirty-hvf ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooocco o o o o o o o o o o o A iHrmnrial ^rrtiirr o o o o o o o o o o ;// honor of MARY VIRCilXIA WADE was held in St. Janit-s Liithtran Cluirch Gfttyshur^^ Monday E-veningy Jitnt llth^ 1^17 o 8 o Georgia Wade McClellan, the sister of Mary Firginia H'aJe attended O o Mr. J. \^'. Johnston, gwce ^''The Trite Story of Jennie Wade'' illiutrated ivith stereoplicon t'ieii-s. 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