GDG- Civilians after the Battle

[Robert Lawrence]

Letter from Jennie McCreary, July, 22, 1863 
My Dear Julia: Agnes wrote day before yesterday and I suppose has told
you nearly everything concerning the battle. Perhaps I can tell you some
things she may have forgotten or did not hear of. But indeed I scarcely
know how to begin, so many things have happened and in so short a time
that I have gotten things confused. 
It seems like more of a dream than reality. I wonder sometimes how we
passed through it all with as little fear as we felt and so small an
amount of damage done to our home, which was indeed nothing to speak of,
only the tearing down of our fences. That was done by the rebels on the
second day of the battle. They made a road all the way through town so
that, as they said, it would be a way of retreat if the enemy conquered.

But I had better begin with the first day of the battle and tell you all
I can of it. On Tuesday, which was the day before the battle, we were
all down at Huber's corner looking at some of our men who were passing
through town on their way the mountain to attack the rebels there. There
were 5,000 of Beauforts Cavalry with 20,000 infantry following. They,
however, did not get there that day. The cavalry were ordered back to
town before they got to the Mountain, as it was supposed the rebel force
there was to great for them to attack. They encamped there that night. 
The next day we heard the rebels were just out of town. we did not know
how many there were, nor how many of our own men were here either. About
9 o'clock every person was ordered to leave the street as it was
supposed there would be a fight out at the ridge. We never expected a
battle, thought it would only be an artillery duel or something of that
kind. kate and I went on the roof of the house watching it. We could not
see the rebels and only part of our men. We saw shells fly in the air
and then burst. We did not stay on the roof long; found the contest was
going to be of a more serious nature than we at first supposed. 
We had been downstairs but a few minutes later when we saw an officer
dash up the street and order ambulances to carry the wounded from the
fields. Next came a soldier wounded in the arm and then an officer on
horseback. He wore no hat, his head was tied up blood streaming down his
neck. 
I then went over to Weaver's to help them roll bandages. We had not
rolled many before we saw the street filled with wounded men. Men
wounded in arms, limbs, head and breast. Oh, it was sickening to see
them and hear their groans. Weaver's house was soon filled. I never
thought I could do anything about a wounded man but I find I have a
little more nerve than I thought I had. I could look at the wounds,
bathe them, bind them up without feeling least bit shock of nervous. 
The tears came only once and that was when the first soldier came in the
house. He had walked from the field and was almost exhausted. He threw
himself in the chair and said, "Oh girls, I have as good a home as you.
If I were only there!" He fainted directly afterward. That was the only
time I cried. 
At first we thought our men would be victorious, as they had brought
quite a number of rebel prisoners into town, but it was not long after
we found out different. General Reynolds who had the plan of attack, was
killed shortly after the battle commenced. He attacked them rather
recklessly, too, I think. his command was but a small one and they were
worn out with hard marching and then he was not aware that the rebel
force was so large. After he was killed, General Doubleday took command
but things went wrong with our soldier all day. 
It was about 12 o'clock when we were told to go to the cellar, the
rebels were entering the town. If ever I wished myself at home I did
then. There I was, the only one of our family shut down in a damp, dark
hole with crying children and a poor young soldier who had received
three wounds and had not yet been attended to and though he seemed to
try his best could not keep from groaning. I cannot tell what my
feelings were then. To be in that place, to know the rebels were in
town, to hear shells bursting and expecting every minute they would fall
on the house, was indeed horrible. If I had been with the rest I would
not know were or what was happening to them. 
We were down in the cellar about two hours. While there a good many of
our soldiers were killed in our street. I saw two dead ones lying in
McCurdy's alley when I crossed the street to go home. Four of our men
were carrying a wounded soldier down the street when a ball came along
and took the legs off the two front men. There were some rebels killed
too. kate and i were down at the end of our street the Sunday after the
battle, when we saw the dead rebels that had been lying there since
Wednesday. 
When I went home I found two wounded men at our house. Col Leonard shot
in the arm and Dr parker slightly in the head. They are both from
Massachusetts. Dr parker was wounded whilst coming down the college
church steps. One of the rebel sharpshooters fired on him from Boyer's
corner, the same ball that struck him killed the chaplin that regiment. 
All that day our house was full of soldiers, all wanting something to
eat. That day we gave then everything we had and what do you think we
had to eat the rest of the week? Nothing but bread and molasses and
coffee without milk. I must say we felt rather poverty stricken. If we
had been by ourselves it would have been nothing but to seat from 12 to
15 men to a table like that , with bread and molasses breakfast,
molasses and bread for dinner and the same for supper was anything but
agreeable, but they were very well satisfied to get even that. 
The next day of the battle, which was Thursday, we heard nothing but a
continual roar of cannons and musketry. The firing began about 4 in the
morning and lasted until dark. Our forces were on the cemetery hill and
Round Top. We did not mind the shells so much, we were getting used to
them. The greatest danger was from the sharpshooters. Early that morning
some of the men we had overnight , I think that the chaplin, a couple of
surgeons and the colonel were standing on the porch when a ball came and
struck just above their heads. Indeed i had to laugh to see them jump,
although it was not a laughing matter, for if it had been a little lower
it would have struck one of them.They did not appear to mind it at all,
laughed at themselves for jumping. 
A good many shells were thrown into town that day and came from our own
men. The rebels had possession of the town and as there were a great
many collected in the diamond they fired on them. We were not in much
danger that day, all we had to do was keep in the house and run to the
cellar when the shells became thickest. We retired about 11 o'clock. All
were in bed but myself when there was a rap at the door. Papa got up and
went to the door. There were two rebels there. They said that General
Trimble and three of his aids wanted supper and lodging. Well, all we
could do was get what we had for supper and made a place for them to
sleep, although our house was full already. After we had fixed
everything his aides came to say the General had concluded to stay where
he was. They however took supper and went away. 
After they were gone Kate and I were standing in the kitchen when there
was a knock at the door. kate went and there were two of our soldiers
wanting bread. They had not gone when someone knocked at the other door.
I opened it and three rebels asked for bread and permission to sleep in
the kitchen. I gave then bread but of course did not let them stay all
night. That night the rebels tried to break in the house but Captain
Palmer, the one who is still here, called to them and told them it was a
hospital and they went away. 
I must tell you about General Trimble. He was wounded in Friday's
battle, had his leg amputated and was at the college hospital and very
anxious to be brought to tow.. mcCurdy had him brought to their house.
He had been there nearly two weeks when yesterday he was ordered taken
to the hospital . He was very angry about it.When the surgeon went into
his room he said: 
"General I have orders to take you to Seminary Hospital" 
Well the General refused to go and said it was certain death to go
there. 
"Well, but General, my orders are to take you there" 
"Well", said the General, "give ne a week to stay yet" 
"General , I am ordered to take you now." 
"Well give me four days" 
"General you have been in the army long enough to kow orders must be
obeyed". 
"Well give me until tomorrow then" 
"General the ambulance is at the door and you must go now" 
"Well is General Paul to be moved?" 
" General Paul is very comfortable where he is." 
The General was terribly angry and said it would not always be this way
and they would retaliate. 
The third day of the battle was comparatively quiet, until about three
in the afternoon and the cannonading began and such cannonading no one
ever heard. Nothing can be compared to it. No one who has heard it can
form any idea of how terrible it is. All felt that the day must decide
who should conquer. The firing was kept up until sometime after dark, it
never for a moment ceased. During the night we knew we were victorious,
we saw the rebel train moving off. In the morning not a rebel was to be
seen. How happy everyone felt. None but smiling faces were to be seen
then. It was indeed a joyous fourth for us. 
" I wish you could be here now, "tis not the same quiet old place it was
when you were here. The streets are always full of strangers, soldiers ,
ambulances and government wagons. Frank was here a week before last from
Thursday until Monday. Richard is here now, is the leader of a band that
belongs to one of the regiments here. We got Mr Earnest's note late
evening. papa had gone to bed, was not all that well. I opened the
letter, just expected what was in it. I knew he was drafted, that his
congregation thought too much of him to let him go. Will he be here now?
Oh I have so much to tell you but my sheet is full and I am so tired
writing. I know you will excuse bad writing, have been writing so long
my hand trembles. 
You ought to see Uncle Samuels house. It is just riddled with shot. Give
my love to every person. kiss dear little alice and paul for me. 
Write soon, Your sister, Jennie.