Dillsburg in York County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Wartime Kindness

An Injured Refugee's Good Fortune

— Gettysburg Campaign —

Wartime Kindness Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, May 19, 2024

1. Wartime Kindness Marker

Inscription.
In June 1863, Maj. James Nounnan's Confederate cavalry rode onto this property, owned by prosperous Dillsburg resident Michael Mumper and his family. Here a small but powerful story of humanity between soldiers and civilians occurred.

The Mumper's house, Maple Shade, stands to your left across Greenbriar Lane. The coachman's house behind you on the other side of the Harrisburg Pike was also part of the Mumper Farm as was the original 1850s barn that stood here. Just before the arrival of Nounnan's cavlary, the Mumpers took in 12-year old William Caldwell, a refugee kicked by a horse as he and his family fled the advance of Gen. Richard Ewell's Confederate Second Corps. William could no longer ride.

As Nounnan dined at the Mumper house, he ordered his surgeon to treat William's injury, and wrote him a pass so he could travel safely. It read:

Head Quarters
16th Regt Va Cav
June 29th, 1863
Guard & pickets:
Will pass Mr. Caldwell from this place to Shippensburg with security to his private property.
James H. Nounnan
Maj. Commanding

As young William headed home Confederate pickets stopped him near Dills Tavern. In his initial fright, he forgot his pass. Then, remembering the signed document in his pocket, he showed it to his captors. The pickets then permitted

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

William to continue on his way home to Shippensburg.

[Captions:]
During the Gettysburg campaign, some 6,000 Confederate cavalrymen were in the Dillsburg region including troopers of Gen. Jeb Stuart's command who camped on the nearby John Mumper farm on July 1, decimating the family's orchard.

Maple Shade reflected the Mumper's prosperity. The Rearick family gifted the Mumper's barn to the Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society in 1992. Courtesy Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society

Erected 2024 by Pennsylvania Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1863.

Location. 40° 6.941′ N, 77° 1.948′ W. Marker is in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, in York County. It can be reached from the intersection of Greenbriar Lane and Harrisburg Pike, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 Greenbriar Lane, Dillsburg PA 17019, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

in the Susquehanna Valley,

and in Greater Harrisburg.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's Southern Cavalry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dillsburg Invaded! (approx. ¼ mile away); Dills Tavern

Photographed by Mike McKeown, May 19, 2024

2. Wartime Kindness Marker

Marker at Distance

(approx. ¼ mile away); Dills – Eichelberger Tavern (approx. ¼ mile away); Quay Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Rev. A.B. Quay House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dillsburg (approx. 0.4 miles away); John Wesley Dahr (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dillsburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. History of Dills Tavern (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Dillsburg Adds Two Markers to York County’s Civil War Trails Program. (Submitted on May 20, 2024.)
2. Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society. (Submitted on May 20, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 603 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on September 6, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.