The civilian stories of Gettysburg, especially those of women, are often lost among the stories of men and soldiers. Yet the battle forever changed the lives of everyday citizens of Gettysburg, and often showed the grit and determination of women. One example of this, is Elizabeth Thorn, also known as the Angel of Gettysburg.
Elizabeth and her husband Peter had emigrated from Germany, and had married in Gettysburg in 1855. That same year, the cornerstone for the local Evergreen Cemetery was laid. A few months later, Peter would be hired as the caretaker of the cemetery. An archway with living quarters inside was built at the entrance gate to the cemetery. Peter and Elizabeth would occupy one side of the archway building, while Elizabeth's parents occupied the other. For the next 6 years they lived peacefully in Gettysburg, managing the towns cemetery, and growing their family to include 3 young sons. By 1862, Peter would decide he needed to enlist, and would join the Union Army as part of the 138th Pennsylvania Infantry. As Peter marched off to war, he left his job of caretaker of the cemetery to his wife Elizabeth and her father. The cemetery was averaging 5 burials a month at the start of the war.
On June 26, 1863 the Confederate Army moved into the town of Gettysburg demanding food from the civilians, including Elizabeth. Gettysburg town people had little choice but to do what the soldiers demanded. Not long after, the Union Army arrived in the town. The Union Army knew they needed to get a lay of the town, so they stopped at the cemetery and demanded to talk to someone who could tell them about the town. As the most capable volunteer, Elizabeth, then 6 months pregnant stepped outside the gatehouse. She joined one of General Howard's soldiers in the field, pointing out major roads, and those less known, to the soldier.
Later, a soldier would return to the gatehouse and demand that Elizabeth make a meal for Union Generals Howard, Slocum, and Sickles. Despite having very little food after having to feed Confederate soldiers, Elizabeth pulled together a meal for the Generals. As a thank you, General Howard had soldiers move some of the families belongings to the basement of the gatehouse for safekeeping. Elizabeth asked if the family could stay, to which Howard said they could, recommending that they find shelter in the cellar of the gatehouse. He also gave the caveat that when he told them they had to leave, they couldn't hesitate and had to leave immediately, taking nothing with them. When fighting began near Cemetery Hill the next day, the Thorns, along with another family took shelter in the cellar. At the end of the day, when fighting had ceased, the family was told they must leave. They were instructed to leave on the main road, so that the soldiers would know it was them and would not shoot them. (Imagine being pregnant, and having to guide your elderly parents and 3 young sons down a road, hoping to God no one mistook you for a soldier and shot at you. The courage that took on Elizabeth's part is astounding!).
The refugees made it to a farmhouse by nightfall, but the house was full of soldiers and other townspeople and all of the food was already gone. That night the three Thorn boys (ages 7, 5 and 2) slept by a soldier who had boys similar in age, and who was missing them terribly. The next day, Elizabeth writes that she and her father returned to the gatehouse to see what could be salvaged. What met their eyes must have been extremely disheartening. Their hogs had been killed, the windows of the house had been shot out, and the trunks, put in the cellar for safe keeping had been emptied. The house was full of wounded men, and people were beginning to deposit bodies in the yard for burial. Realizing there was nothing for them there, Elizabeth and her father returned to the boys and her mother and moved onto a larger farmhouse. Although there were supplies at this house, they were meager, but Elizabeth was able to help bake bread for those taking shelter in the house.
On July 4, after the battle ended, the family slowly made their way back to their home. Along with a large number of bodies left on the grounds to be buried, about 15 dead horses were also around the gatehouse, and 19 other horses had died elsewhere on the property. The house was in shambles and smell of death and decay were overwhelming. Local women came to see if they could help Elizabeth and cemetery president David McConaughy came by to check on her. He said that the burials must take place, and went into town to find volunteers. However, volunteers were meager, and those that did come were quickly overwhelmed with the smell and the task before them, and quit. Despite never being compensated for it, Elizabeth even tried to pay some people to help with burials, but even money couldn't make them stay.
This meant that the job of burying the dead fell to Elizabeth and her father. Despite being 6 months pregnant, Elizabeth worked beside her father to bury the dead. Working in the heat of mid-July, for as long as daylight lasted, Elizabeth and her father ultimately buried 105 war casualties, 91 soldiers and 14 civilians. Despite the hard work of digging the graves, Elizabeth carried the baby to full term. The baby was the Thorn's first daughter, who was named Rose Meade, in honor of General Meade who commanded Union forces at Gettysburg.
Peter would survive the war and after Appomattox would return to his family at Evergreen Cemetery. Despite the horror and tragedy they faced during the battle of Gettysburg Peter and Elizabeth would remain the caretakers of Evergreen cemetery until 1874.
In 2002, Gettysburg National Battlefield would honor the women of Gettysburg by dedicating a Civil War Women's Memorial. The memorial is in Evergreen Cemetery, near the gate house. The statue depicts Elizabeth, carrying on her grim duty of burying the dead. She is wiping sweat from her brow, with look of exhaustion but determination on her face, an apron covering her pregnant abdomen.
Despite the memorial, the story of Elizabeth Thorn, aka the Angel of Gettysburg, and other women who showed courage and strength in the face of unimaginable horror, are rarely told. They may not have carried a rifle into battle, but they fought just as savagely as any soldier to protect their homes, and to carry on in the face of the carnage of battle.
Today the gatehouse still stands, although a house has been added to the right side of it. You can still visit Evergreen Cemetery, and walk across the street to view the monuments put by soldiers, telling of their experiences on cemetery hill. But also be sure to visit the monument that tells the story not only of Elizabeth Thorn, but all women of Gettysburg who lived through the battle of Gettysburg.
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