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

Destruction of Private Property

By Henry T. McLin, September 26, 2009

1. Destruction of Private Property Marker

Inscription. During the June 1863 invasion of Pennsylvania, Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet explained to English observer Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Freemantle that the army planned to live off Northern land - and its citizens. But they would not kill or destroy wantonly. "He said to me," Freemantle remembered, "that although it might be fair, in just retaliation, to apply the torch, yet that doing so would demoralize the army and ruin its now excellent discipline."

On the whole, the Confederates rarely resorted to violence against civilians for supplies. However, the Army of Northern Virginia demanded a huge tribute from most towns it passed. During their two-week raid of Pennsylvania, Rebels confiscated thousands of barrels of flour, 30,000 cattle, and 20,000 horses and mules.

Hanover dry-goods merchant Josiah Gitt suffered from dual military ransacking. He owned farms in York County along the Westminister Road. By the time the main Confederate column passed on June 30, 1863, Gitt lost three horses, 75 bushels of corn, and 20 bushels of oats. The next day he lost another horse, a saddle, and some farm gear - taken not by Confederates but the Union Corps, marching along the same road.

Erected 2009 by Civil War Trails.

Marker series.

Destruction of Private Property Marker in the left foreground. image. Click for full size.

By Henry T. McLin, September 26, 2009

2. Destruction of Private Property Marker in the left foreground.

The information on the marker is unrelated to the Guthrie Memorial Library pictured.

This marker is included in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails marker series.

Location. 39° 48.233′ N, 76° 59.217′ W. Marker is in Hanover, Pennsylvania, in York County. Marker is at the intersection of Library Place and Carlisle Street (Pennsylvania Route 94), on the right when traveling west on Library Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Library Place, Hanover PA 17331, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. In Memory and in Grateful Recognition of (a few steps from this marker); Abraham Lincoln (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Abraham Lincoln (about 600 feet away); History of the Ten Commandments Monolith (approx. ¼ mile away); George Washington (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Confederates Take Stock (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Hanover (approx. 0.3 miles away); Kilpatrick Headquarters (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hanover.

Categories. • War, US Civil •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 26, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,155 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.