Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
"…in less than half an hour…"
The original German Reformed Church located here in 1814, served as a “Union brick church” with the town’s Lutheran congregation until 1848. The core of the present building, erected in 1851, was newly refurbished at the time of the battle.
On July 1st, following the Confederate occupation of Gettysburg, Dr. Abraham Stout, Surgeon 153rd PA., opened the church for a hospital at the urging of one of his captors. It was a welcome action. Dr. Stout recalled, “In less than a half hour it was filled with wounded, mostly Union men.”
For several days surgeons worked at operating tables in the “lecture room.” Citizen volunteer nurses recalled newly painted walls “splattered” and pews “soaked” with blood, “and they had to bore holes in the floor to let the blood run away . . . ” Eventually, many wounded were transferred to the public school next door.
Following the battle, the church served a more traditional role. Jenny Wade, the only civilian killed in the battle, was buried in the adjoining church graveyard. She was reinterred in Evergreen Cemetery in November 1865.
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Trinity United Church of Christ ca. 1863. During the battle a red banner hung from the cupola signifying a hospital to the Union gunners on Cemetery Hill. The public school, directly to the west of this building, also served as a hospital, as did many other public and private buildings following the battle.
Erected by Main Street Gettysburg, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.
Location. 39° 49.718′ N, 77° 13.741′ W. Marker is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. Marker is at the intersection of E High Street and S Stratton Street, on the left when traveling east on E High Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trinity United Church of Christ (here, next to this marker); The Adams County Prison (within shouting distance of this marker); “bullets … rattling against our hospital … ” (within shouting distance of this marker); Public School (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Organizers of Methodism in Adams County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grand Army of the Republic Hall (about 400 feet away); Grand Army of the Republic Memorial (about 400 feet away); Gettysburg Address Memorial and Abraham Lincoln Statue (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.
More about this marker. Two photos on the right side of the marker show the ca. 1863 front view and rear view of the Trinity United Church of Christ.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,016 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 8, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.