Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Sweney House
Confederate Stronghold
During the afternoon of July 1, 1863, after Union troops retreated south to Cemetery Hill, this 2.5 story brick house was occupied by Confederate sharpshooters. Harvey Sweney, the owner, together with several other civilians, took shelter in the cellar during the heavy fighting.
The house was strategically located in the proximity of Union lines and its garret window provided a proteccted site for the Confederates during the next two days while they maintained a deadly fire against Union forces on Cemetery Hill.
Many buillet scars are visible in the brick underneath the garret window, which now bear silent witness to the efforts of Union riflemen who sought to overpower this Confederate stronghold.
[Caption:]
The Sweney House (above) as it appeared on November 19, 1863.
Courtesy of Adams County Historical Society / Beyond the Battle Museum
Erected 2024 by Main Street Gettysburg. (Marker Number 38.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1863.
Location. 39° 49.532′ N, 77° 13.871′ W. Marker is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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: Historic Farnsworth House Inn (Circa 1810) (here, next to this marker); Confederate Stronghold (here, next to this marker); Historic Farnsworth House Inn (Est. 1972) (a few steps from this marker); Witness Tree (a few steps from this marker); The McCreary House (within shouting distance of this marker); Tigers in the Homan House (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore Street
Other markers no longer nearby. "if anyone showed himself…" (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Baltimore Street Facade (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); The Evolution of Gettysburg's "Common School" (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Baltimore Street: An Historic Corridor (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
