Civil War in Pennsylvania
During the Civil War, the human and industrial resources of
Pennsylvania were essential to the Northern cause. More than 420,000
soldiers came fromour state, which included 8,600 African-American
volunteers. The 6th United States Colored Troops were recruited and
trained in Pennsylvania. During one attack at NewMarket Heights near
Richmond, Virginia, in 1864, the regiment lost 62 percent of itsmen. Two
of itsmembers received the Congressional Medal of Honor for
gallantry
.
In addition, 14,000men served in the navy. Ships and submarines
were built in the port of Philadelphia. Miners provided coal for the
industries whichmade supplies and weapons of war. Thousands of troops,
products, and supplies were transported over Pennsylvania railroads.
Baldwin LocomotiveWorks provided cannons and locomotives. Fromour
farms also camemuch of the food needed to feed the soldiers.
Pennsylvania providedmany military leaders. Most notable were
Generals
GeorgeMcClellan
,
GeorgeMeade
, and
Winfield Hancock
.
General McClellan played an important role in organizing the Northern
army. General Meade took command of the Northern army at the Battle of
Gettysburg. General Hancock was one of the heroes who drove back
Confederate General Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg. He
also served gallantly in several other major battles.
At 20,
Galusha Pennypacker
was the youngest
Civil War general. He was awarded theMedal of
Honor for his heroic actions.
Most of the fighting during the Civil War
happened on the Southern soil. But more
than any other Northern state, the war was
brought to Pennsylvania. During the war,
the Southern army sent several raiding
parties into southern Pennsylvania through
Cumberland Valley. In 1862, Confederate
Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart raided the
small towns of
Mercersburg
and
Chambersburg
. Food, clothing, horses,
shoes, and leather products were stolen. In
1864, Chambersburg was torched by
Confederate General McCausland’s troops for
not paying a ransomof $100,000 in gold or
$500,000 in
greenbacks.
The picture above is an 1890s
illustration depicting a calvary charge
throughChambersburg in 1863. The
townwas occupied by the advance
calvary of Confederate General
Richard Ewell inwhat would become
the Gettysburg campaign.
In the background, is a picture of
Chambersburg after it had been
burned by Confederate General
McCausland in 1864.
The American Civil War Comes to Pennsylvania
77
Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart
was the first to raid Chambersburg
inOctober of 1862.
