Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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u Vv schools in Allentown. After fiery debate, however, the merger plan failed and by funds obtained from the state and from the Lutheran church Pennsylvania Col- lege remained in Gettysburg, its woefully weak financial natus improved. During these years when the college finances were unstable and other circumstances clouded the college's future something of a mote dire natute, of greater significance, was added to the snuggle: of Pennsylvania College: the Civil War. And in that petiod of strife and national chaos Gettysburg played an important role. Although the town of Gettysburg had many southern characteristics, some of which are evident yet today, it gave almost unanimous support to the Union cause despite the mixed reeling betore the war. Most ot the Gettysburg students tavoxed the Northern cause and in the spring of 1861 a military company was formed by the students. it dtilled regularly in the held back at the college and on occasion in the town square. Aside from these military maneuvers college lite was at hrst little disturbed by the war. However, towards the end of the year many withdrew ttom school and Joined the army. Those who remained pursued their books with a rather disconcerted feeling. However, when in May, 1863, Leeis planned invasion of the North was announced and President Lincoln and Governor Cumin issued an urgent call for volunteers, the students were. immediately aroused. The news hit Gettysburg one June day. The students were congre- gated around Buehler's book store, after their noon meal, as was their custom, when the call for volunteers was posted. Within a few hours 57 had signed up for the duration of the emergency. At that time there were about 114. students enrolled in school. Eventually 61 students enlisted in the company includ- ing several from the seminary and prep school. Along --v---- ---I--- with a number of town boys this group was shipped off to Harrisburg after it was organized and othcers elected at a meeting in front of Linnaean Hail. The prompt action of the college company led to the concession of the post of honor to them in being the first regiment organized under the Presidenfs Emergency Call. It became Company A, 26th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. 'M I 7 7 !HE college boy soldiers were trained for C h 'jl a period of only a week at Camp Curtin, t '3: :2; thereupon issued uniforms and ammuni- !,13 CAI tion and sent back to Gettysburg, as it mas ngJ was rumored that General Lee's armies were moving in through the South Mountains. The 26th Regiment was ordered to move out the Chambersburg Pike to Marsh Creek. This was on June 26. Through a drizzling rain they matched, meeting heeing refugees at every step. They halted in a patch of woods and pitched camp and sent a score of pickets on ahead. No sooner had these scouts been stationed than it was discovered that a Rebel force of some six thousand men were within a mile of the small regiment. This action took place in the burly mountain passes neat Cashtown. It was futile for the small 26th regiment to try to engage this huge invading force. A retreat was ordered. The retreat was somewhat disotderly, a number of the men being captured and taken prisoners. The main body of the regiment made a hasty retreat to Harrisburg, being on the march about 55 hours and having very little food and water. It was a terrible strain on fresh troops. During this time the fleeing regiment had sev- eral skirmishes with the advancing enemy but no serious

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club to fold. Most of the students ate then at boarding houses, although a few did their own cooking, getting supplies from the milkman and the baker who went through the dorm every morning. Transportation to and from Gettysburg was quite a problem for early students. Most of them rode pic- turesque stage coaches although many students living within a 50 miles radius of the place would walk to Gettysburg. Later in the 1860's the railroad was built with the two trains per day pursuing a leisurely rate of speed became the main transportation inlet and outlet. Rules and regulations on college students back in the 1840's were quite strict, allowing a minimum of per- sonal freedom. The student was required to be in his own room or in recitation during most of the day and night. Visits to a fellow student's room were prohibited. The teachers of the prep department lived in the dorm and served as tutors. These gentlemen were liable to visit rooms at any hour during the day or night and the luckiess wretch who was found absent from his own quarters was dealt a long campusment. Dr. Charles P. Krauth, the first president of the college, likewise made his family residence in Old Dorm. In those hearty days of the handlebar mustache and turtle neck sweater there were no fraternities. Instead diversion was found in the two literary societies bearing the elongated titles of Philomathean and Phrenakos- mian. These two rival groups served the college well in their day providing social activities as well as pro- moting and fostering literary and forensic activities. Until the 1900's they were the leading organizations on the campus. ------- -- --t- -- - - --.- -.v-- .- - ,.H .- ---.------ T155 : - il-r i E? '7: -...:r:.'.'::: 2::- 932'... 9 -e--'--.-:::.' r351!!! m; r ,.. T K71 L37! HE construction of Linnaean Hall, recent- rje 1y known as the Old Gym, in 184.1 was fl a significant move. An avid group of 61' students interested in natural history yf J; resolved to erect a building for museum purposes in 1844.. The students canvassed for money, solicited wood from neighboring farmers to burn the brick, dug the foundations and had the coy and charming assistance of the town belles in conduct- ing a great fair or bazaar to raise money to pay for the building. The students paid for most of the 003 of the building. It was the first time in American history that an edifice devoted to the promotion of natural science had been conceived, designed and built through the agency of college students. Interestingly enough, time in its onward match this year trumped upon the venerable toes of the Old Gym and the build- ing was demolished, being in a battered and irreparable state. Thus Gettysburg College with its handful of students and live professors began to take its place as one of the leading higher educational institutions of the East. In 1850 Dr. Henry L. Baugher, one of the outstanding faculty members, became president of the college. About this time the school's finances were beginning to weaken. The Lutheran church had not been giving the school the expected support. Some leading churchmen advo- cated moving the college to Lancaster, Carlisle, York, Harrisburg or some other more centrally located town. To make matters worse Muhlenberg College was estab- lished in Allentown in 1867. There was considerable discussion and sentiment in favor of combining the two

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conflicts were involved. of which the college company was a part, did not achieve any brilliant military successes, it was the first to oppose entrance of the Rebels into Pennsylvania; the first to meet the enemy at Gettysburg, and the iirst to draw blood in that historic combat. Although the 26th regiment, HE monument standing at the inter- section of Springs and Buford avenues in Gettysburg was erected to the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment as a tribute to the outfit. By engaging the enemy and by forcing them to pursue and attack, the 26th regiment had delayed the Con- federate advance on Gettysburg a full day, allowing more Union troops to be rushed to the scene. History may have been greatly altered if Union Commander Meade had been unable to take advantage of this delay and postponement of battle. Classes were still being held at the college until the morning of July 1 when gunfire was heard. Thereupon they were suspended amid great excitement, not to be resumed until the next term. On that fateful afternoon, l9! Vt: W .. the Union Signal Corps occupied the cupola of Old Dorm, this point oEering an excellent panorama of the battlefield. However, toward the afternoonh end, the Union forces were forced to abandon their vantage point. Scores of bloody soldiers streamed across the campus. By nightfall the South had possession of the entire northern end of town, including the campus. Old Dorm was converted into an emergency hospital. By this time the few remaining students had fled the campus, leaving their possessions with the president and his wife, the only remaining persons. The next day General Lee ascended to the top of Old Dorm to observe the drawing of battle lines. The Union army once again took possession of the college grounds on July 4. after they had won the battle. About 500 battered and wounded men, mostly Confederates, were housed in Old Dorm. Many died and were buried on the camping but their bodies were later exhumed and removed to na- tional cemeteries. After the removal of casualties to field hospitals sev- eral weeks after the fighting, considerable renovation of the building was necessary before it could be reoccu- pied by the school. The only other college building at that time, Linnaean Hall, apparently was not entered.