March 2013

Editor's Letter
After a horrendous winter, the thaw is beginning in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. To welcome the spring and a new season of visitors to Gettysburg, we at The Gettysburg Experience are pleased to bring you interesting articles, delicious recipes, and our updated Calendar of Events, which begins on page 11 of this issue for all the latest happenings in and around town; including the Reenactors' Appreciation Weekend, St. Patrick's Day festivities, and many National Park events.
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Father William Corby: the man who gave absolution at Gettysburg
When thousands of young men joined either the Union or the Confederacy for the glorious fight that became the dreaded Civil War, many were leaving home for the first time -- and away from the watchful eyes of their parents or wives. Clergymen in both armies filled the void left by doting parents or sweethearts. They were a constant reminder of duty when men were not engaged in battle, and softened the shock of impending death when a soldier was mortally wounded in the fight. Few of these men were appreciated, many were ignored, but some were veritable heroes, remaining close to the line of battle in the many conflicts, and staying on duty at all hours to comfort and aid the wounded and the dying. One of the more famous clergymen who made his mark during the Battle of Gettysburg was a priest in the Union Second Corps' Irish Brigade. He was Father William Corby.
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March 1864: An Ill Wind
March 1864, though lacking pivotal battles as armies were in winter camp, nevertheless proved to be a crucial time with many changes and events. The people of the North were, for the most part, feeling more positive about the direction of the war -- due to the significant Union wins at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Lookout Mountain. The South, on the other hand, began to feel the pinch of the conflict. Food was scarce, commodities were non-existent, riots ensued, and the newspapers in the Confederacy began to print scathing letters against Jefferson Davis.
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For The Historian:
Gettysburg is an ideal place for those who love to study history, especially military history. For the Historian, located at 42 York Street, is a bookstore that offers every aspect of military history, from ancient Greek battles to the current conflict in Afghanistan.
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Tillie Pierce: The Girl From Gettysburg
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania is a quaint Victorian town located about 45 miles north of Harrisburg, near the banks of the Susquehanna River. With a population similar to what it was during the nineteenth century, Selinsgrove was and is a college town much like pre-Civil War Gettysburg.
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The Poison Pie Incident
The McAllister family lived on Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg when war came calling at their doorstep. Daughter Mary, a single woman, aged 41 in 1863, risked her life to help with the wounded during the battle, along with her sister, Martha.
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60 Years Ago: The H-Bomb
On March 1, 1954, a significant event occurred in history that is relatively unknown and largely ignored. Yet, it changed the scope of the entire human race. Halfway across the world, on a quiet Pacific atoll, the largest American-made hydrogen bomb was detonated, with an outcome that far surpassed anything the government had anticipated.
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Recipes, Yesterday, & Today >