The only civilian killed during the Civil War at Gettysburg

Ginnie Wade
 

 

Mary Virginia "Ginnie" (or "Jennie") Wade (May 21, 1843 – July 3, 1863) was a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Battle of Gettysburg. At the age of 20, she was the only direct civilian casualty of the battle, when she was killed by a stray bullet on July 3, 1863. The house where she was killed became a popular tourist attraction and museum called the "Jennie Wade House."

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie Wade House today.

 

 

  Wade was staying  the house of her sister, Georgia Anna Wade McClellan at 528 Baltimore Street to assist her and her newborn child.  About 8:00 a.m. on July 3, Wade was kneading dough for the bread she was making for the Union soldiers  when a Miniéball traveled through the kitchen door and the parlor door of her sister's house and hit her. It pierced her left shoulder blade, went through her heart, and ended up in her corset. She was killed instantly. While it is uncertain which side fired the fatal shot, some authors have attributed it to an unknown Confederate sharpshooter. A bronze statue of Jennie is located in front of the home.

 

 

 

 

 

Her final resting place is in the Evergreen cemetery in Gettysburg. 

In 1882, the United States Senate voted to grant Jennie’s mother a pension, citing that her daughter had been killed serving the Union cause – baking bread for the soldiers.  A monument to her, designed by Gettysburg resident Anna M. Miller, was erected in 1900 that includes an American flag that flies around the clock. (The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia is the only other site devoted to a woman to share this distinction of the perpetual flag.)

Our visit to the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg was  the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

It is easy to see as you visit this cemetery how appreciated and respected these soldiers were by all of the people that survived this battle.  From the monuments, the markers and the care and the American Flag it is clear that these soldiers were honored.

 

 

 Have a look.

 

 

The Evergreen Cemetery is next door to the National Soldiers Cemetery and has ties to the Battle of Gettysburg as well.  Most interesting, the story of the original care takers and the Gettysburg Civil War Women's Memorial.

Well, that's a close on Gettysburg. 

 

More soon 🌷🌷🐾🐾