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April 12, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil
War. To commemorate this historic milestone in American history,
Pennsylvania is commencing its five-year observance with four successive
weekends of events beginning April 7–10 in Greencastle-Antrim with
“Skirmish on the Square.” A laser-light show will re-create “The Burning of
Chambersburg” the following weekend, April 15 and 16. On April 22 and 23, a
cavalry battle “Protecting the Gap” will be reenacted in Fairfield, PA. The
finale of the four-weekend event will take place on April 29 and 30 in
Gettysburg, “A Town in Turmoil.” |
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Greencastle Schedule of Events
Summary of |
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| Other websites: pacivilwar150.com greencastlepachamber.org explorefranklincountypa.com |
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 Greencastle-Antrim kicks off its events
with a presentation by John Miller about the Battle of Monterey Pass, a
little-known but second largest Civil War battle fought on Pennsylvania soil.
The battle spanned two counties, Adams and Franklin, in Pennsylvania and two
counties in Maryland – Washington and Frederick. Miller will begin his
presentation at 7 pm in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 130 North Washington
Street, Greencastle. The official opening ceremony and reception will be held on Friday evening, April 8 in the German bank barn on the property of Allison-Antrim Museum, 365 South Ridge Avenue. The reception, Meet the Generals, opens to the public at 7 pm. At 8 pm, a PowerPoint presentation “War Comes to Franklin County,” written by Ted Alexander, chief historian, Antietam National Battlefield, will begin in the auditorium of the Greencastle-Antrim High School. The Greencastle Alumni Band will perform Civil War era songs as an accompaniment to the PowerPoint.  Reenactment groups participating during the weekend include Washington District
Signal Corps, Sharpsburg Army Hospital, 1st New York Light Artillery, 8th MD
Infantry, Pinkerton’s Agency, 142nd PA Infantry, Dixie Rose Relief Society, and
the 46th PA Brass Band. Encampment will be on museum property. Highlights during the weekend include the Col. Ulric Dahlgren incident on the southeast corner of the square. On July 2, 1863, Dahlgren with a small band of about 10 men ambushed Confederate troops as they entered the square from South Carlisle Street. A valise carrying an important message for Gen. Lee was confiscated and  delivered that evening to Gen. Meade. Lee never learned that
President Davis was unable to send more troops as backup during the Battle of
Gettysburg. The Dolly Harris and Gen. Pickett incident will be re-created at 4
pm on Saturday afternoon on North Carlisle Street in front of the place where
her home stood during the Civil War. Dolly defied Pickett and his men by calling
them traitors and waiving a Union flag, which was wrapped around her waist as an
apron. Pickett quelled a street rebellion by standing in his stirrups and
saluting Dolly and saluting the Union flag, because he was a graduate of West
Point. Gen. Ewell entered the mercantile establishment on the northeast corner
of the square which was owned by George W. and David Ziegler. Ewell and his men
helped themselves to whatever they wanted from the shelves and left Ziegler
holding a worthless I.O.U. to be paid in Confederate currency. The weekend
concludes on Sunday afternoon, April 10, when a full retreat of Confederate
troops winds its way from the square, east on Baltimore Street, and then
proceeds south on Washington Street to the VFW for closing ceremonies.
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Check back for updates.