Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Shelling of Carlisle
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, April 2, 2010
1. Shelling of Carlisle Marker
Inscription.
Shelling of Carlisle. . James Sullivan, fifteen years old at the time of the shelling of Carlisle on July 1, 1863, stated, "...Mother...convinced of the bombardment...decided we had better get away from our part of town...She...set out with her two reluctant children up Main Street (High St.)...We had reached but a short distance west of the Square when a lively firing by the Confederate batteries began...A shell exploded with a deafening force back by the First Presbyterian Church; another across the street from us....A man...roared at us...'For God's sake, woman, take them children off the street. Do you all want to be killed?' But it was not until we had reached the Methodist Church (southeast corner of Pitt and High)...that mother gave up going on....", "My further inquiries...that day brought me to conclude that most of the buildings were struck along the main street line. The term 'damage' might suggest exaggeration of the total effects of the shelling. Among conspicuous hits were two on the street wall of the First Presbyterian Church. In front of that building lay a dead horse...probably killed by the shell, the terrific explosion of which near us had so much frightened my mother...."
James Sullivan, fifteen years old at the time of the shelling of Carlisle on July 1, 1863, stated, "...Mother...convinced of the bombardment...decided we had better get away from our part of town...She...set out with her two reluctant children up Main Street (High St.)...We had reached but a short distance west of the Square when a lively firing by the Confederate batteries began...A shell exploded with a deafening force back by the First Presbyterian Church; another across the street from us....A man...roared at us...'For God's sake, woman, take them children off the street. Do you all want to be killed?' But it was not until we had reached the Methodist Church (southeast corner of Pitt and High)...that mother gave up going on...."
"My further inquiries...that day brought me to conclude that most of the buildings were struck along the main street line. The term 'damage' might suggest exaggeration of the total effects of the shelling. Among conspicuous hits were two on the street wall of the First Presbyterian Church. In front of that building lay a dead horse...probably killed by the shell, the terrific explosion of which near us had so much frightened my mother...."
Erected by Pennsylvania Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil
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. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.
Location. 40° 12.093′ N, 77° 11.37′ W. Marker is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. Marker is on W. High Street close to Hanover St.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Cumberland County Historical Society, April 2, 2010
2. Historic Photo in Marker
Carlisle Town Square
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, April 2, 2010
3. Illustration on Marker
Shelling of Carlisle
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 7, 2010
4. Pennsylvania Civil War Trails Marker
Photographed By Shane Oliver, October 30, 2021
5. Shelling of Carlisle Marker
Marker is significantly weathered but still readable.
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, April 2, 2010
6. First Presbyterian Church
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,362 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on September 1, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on December 19, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on May 1, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.