On Monday, April 10, 1865, news of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia reached Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In response to this event one of the town’s newspapers, the American Volunteer, exclaimed, “Thank God! [T]he fearful and bloody rebellion that has desolated our land for over four long years, costing, as it did, hundreds of thousands of lives, thousands of millions of treasure, is, so far as fighting is concerned, over.”1 Lee’s surrender signaled an end to the fighting between the United States and the Southern Confederacy. It also filled many with the hope of experiencing a better day, a time dominated by the presence of peace upon the land. The country had endured a terrible and tumultuous trial. It had survived because of the sacrifices made by those who fought on the front lines, and by those who lived on the home-front. The citizens of Carlisle, as would be expected, were jubilant upon learning of the news of Lee’s capitulation. Surely such reactions reverberated throughout Northern communities. How did the people of Carlisle mark the occasion? What kinds of activities were planned (speeches, parades, concerts, etc.)? What kind of atmosphere did the news generate in and around Carlisle? Did townspeople take time to reflect on what had transpired over the course of the previous four years? Two of the town’s newspapers, the Herald and the American Volunteer, provide evidence regarding these questions.
A Historical Context
However, before making an attempt to answer any one of these questions it may be beneficial to provide a brief historical context concerning Carlisle, Pennsylvania and the Civil War. According to historian David Colwell, “Carlisle was the leading market town in the county [of Cumberland], the site of Dickinson College, and the seat of county government, the courts, and the social and political life of the county.”2 A federal barracks was also located in Carlisle. In an article entitled, “Civil War Times in Carlisle,” historian Merkel Landis reveals that, “In 1860, Carlisle had a population of 5600. It supported 4 weekly papers: The Carlisle American, Geo. Zinn, editor; the Carlisle Herald, W.M. Porter, editor, Republican; the American Democrat, Ephraim Cornman, editor; and the American Volunteer, editor, Democratic.”3 At this point in time, newspapers were considered to be the mouthpieces of political parties, the means by which Republicans and Democrats acknowledged their platforms and, at times, denigrated one another. The newspapers printed in Carlisle were no different. The American Volunteer and the Herald were rival papers. The Herald, “…opposed the national Democratic Party and the extension of slavery into the territories,” while, “Carlisle’s American Volunteer, the leading Democratic paper in the county, was sympathetic to the grievances of the South.” Today, we do not necessarily view newspapers as being committed to one political party or another. That connection has somewhat disappeared over the course of time, particularly in the face of the declining number of newspapers published in this country. However, now we see particular national media outlets as either advocates or detractors of one or the other political party. The venue has changed, but the rivalry continues in a spirited and sometimes heated manner.
In the hotly contested presidential election of 1860, Carlisle cast a majority of its votes for the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln.4 This is a bit of a surprise considering that, “More often than not, the majority of the people of Carlisle voted Democratic.”5 What is even more interesting is that the candidate who received the second highest number of votes was John C. Breckinridge, the man representing the interests of Southern Democrats. It may seem a little odd that Carlisle’s Democratic voters favored the southern candidate over the northern candidate, a man by the name of Stephen A. Douglas. However, it becomes easier to explain when one considers that, “Dickinson College enrolled many students from the South and their presence may have had an influence,” as well as the fact that, “Hundreds of Southern army officers had served tours of duty” at the nearby barracks.6 Carlisle is a unique community in the sense that prior to the outbreak of the Civil War it had been inundated by southern gentlemen, and “Perhaps their marriages to Carlisle girls lessened anti-Southern feelings in the town.”7 The war transformed the community, because at its outbreak a number of southerners from Dickinson College and Carlisle Barracks traveled back home to fight for the Confederacy and take up arms against the government of the United States. The Carlisle that emerged at the end of the bloody conflict was not the same community that existed prior to the war.
The war was fought primarily in the South. Many of the most vicious battles took place in the northern part of Virginia. However, in the eastern theater the fighting crept northward three times. People in the Cumberland Valley felt threatened during much of the war and were frequently confronted with rumors about the possibility of an invasion.8
The first was in the fall of 1862 when southern forces threatened invasion leading up to and following the Battle of Antietam, just south of the Pennsylvania border near Hagerstown, Maryland. Following that, Rebel forces led by Major General James Ewell Brown (JEB) Stuart advanced into Pennsylvania with the intent of destroying Cumberland Valley Railroad (CVRR) facilities. They reached Mercersburg, St. Thomas, and Chambersburg where they burned the depot, warehouses and machine shops of the CVRR.9
The most serious incursion affecting Cumberland County directly occurred in June of 1863, when General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia launched an invasion of the North, passing through portions of south central Pennsylvania. This campaign ultimately culminated in the three day battle that swirled around the small town of Gettysburg, but before that famous engagement was fought, the gray-clad tide swept through the streets of Carlisle. In late June of 1863, the citizens of Carlisle watched with disbelief as infantry columns belonging to Confederate Lt. General Richard S. Ewell marched through their town. Ewell requested that the townspeople furnish his high-spirited warriors with foodstuffs and supplies.10 The citizens survived this first ordeal with the Confederates. On July 1, a most dismal scenario played out in and around Carlisle. It was on this day that forces under the command of Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart shelled the town, and set fire to the barracks. Although the town was minimally damaged by the bombardment, Carlisle was one of the few Northern towns to feel the true sting of war.
A third invasion occurred in July of 1864 when Rebel forces again reached Chambersburg and burned much of the town when ransom demands were not met.11
News of the Surrender Reaches Carlisle
The Herald reveals that, “On Monday morning [April 10th], after the telegraph had announced the glorious news of the surrender of General Lee and his army, the Chief Burgess of Carlisle, John Campbell, Esq., called a meeting of the citizens of the town and vicinity, at Rheem’s Hall, at 11 o’clock, for the purpose of rejoicing together and to make arrangements for celebrating the great event.”12 The meeting was conducted in an official manner. Officers consisting of a president, five vice-presidents, and two secretaries were selected before the meeting was brought to order.13 The newspaper goes on to explain that, “After being thus organized, Mr. Miller delivered [a] short, but eloquent and patriotic address, which was loudly applauded by the large assembly. He was followed by Messrs. Todd, Henderson and Sharpe, all of whom delivered stirring speeches, short but pithy, and well suited for the occasion.”14 Neither the American Volunteer nor the Herald contain the exact words found in any of these speeches, but whatever rhetoric was used was deemed appropriate and inspirational by those in attendance. We can only imagine the statements that were made and the imagery produced by polished oratory. Having just experienced a presidential election, we can surmise with some certainty that the men of the 1860s incorporated key patriotic words and phrases, as well as drawing upon the sage advice of the Founding Fathers,.
The newspaper notes that, “After the speaking had been concluded, it was suggested that the crowd should join in a National song, and George Zinn, Esq., was appointed to lead the singing. Mr. Z., assisted by Messrs. John Rheem, Kieffer, Masonheimer, Turner and Williams, then sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ with most excellent effect, and to the great gratification of the meeting.”15 Music enveloped the crowd; a time to sing in one accord those songs that reinforced the American identity. After the singing, “A motion was then made by Capt. Beatty, that a Committee of nine citizens be appointed to make arrangements for celebrating our recent victories and the surrender of Lee’s army.”16 It was this committee of nine, the Committee of Arrangements, that had the responsibility of developing a program that would celebrate the recent victories against the Confederacy. The meeting concluded with, “…three rousing cheers for General Grant, three for his army, and three for the Union.”17 Those who attended the meeting parted company on a joyous note. According to the American Volunteer, “A good feeling prevailed throughout; men of both parties shook cordially as the tear of joy stood trembling in their eyes.”18 Political differences were laid aside in this moment, for everyone, regardless of political affiliation, could share in the triumph of the Union cause.
The Program Designed by the Committee of Arrangements
The American Volunteer provides a detailed outline of the program designed by the Committee of Arrangements. The “Grand Celebration of the Great Union Victories” was to take place in Carlisle on Thursday, April 13, 1865.19 The activities included, “A grand CIVIC and MILITARY PARADE,” that consisted of various groups, such as “the U.S. Troops at Carlisle Barracks, The Returned Soldiers of our Army and Soldiers of 1812,” fire companies and a series of fraternal organizations.20 At night “An Illumination of the Court House, the Churches, and all Dwelling Houses, with displays of Transparencies, Flags, &c., and Exhibitions of Fireworks by citizens” was planned.21 The day was to be filled with festivities that celebrated the Union victories. Those who had served in the army at one time or another were recognized for their service and honored by the entire community. The final comments offered by the Committee of Arrangements were meant to encourage participation, “The co-operation of all patriotic citizens, and especially the ladies, who rejoice in the brilliant Victories won by the illustrious Generals and gallant Soldiers of our gallant Armies, is warmly invited, that the highest effect may be given to popular enthusiasm and display on this occasion.”22 A fifteen-year-old boy named John Fleming of Shippensburg visited Carlisle on April 13, to observe the planned festivities. On this day he penned in his journal, “…I took the cars this morning to Carlisle and arrived there safely at 11 o’clock. The Procession and Illumination was grand beyond description.”23 If John Fleming was willing to travel to Carlisle to witness the grand spectacles planned to mark the Union successes, then perhaps others from around the county were willing to make the same trip. It is evident that both the parade and the illumination left an impression on those who witnessed them.
A Nation at Peace
The citizens of Carlisle were jubilant over Lee’s surrender because it not only marked the end of the war, but the beginning of a new era, a period of time dominated by peace. At the outbreak, many were under the impression that the fighting would not last but a few months, and require little of a sustained effort. However, such thoughts passed as the months became years, and the carnage grew ever more awful. For four long years peace was nothing more than a distant hope. Concerning the longevity of the war, the Herald noted that, “We have had other victories over which we rejoiced but none before which relieved us of further anxiety and care… The fear of future battles that until now were certain to come has always dampened the joy we felt when we heard that we were victorious. But now we have nothing to lessen our joys.”24 Union armies had experienced victories on a series of battlefields, but those victories were hollow in the sense that they led to additional battles, more casualties and a growing distress that the fighting would continue. Until that Sunday, April 9, 1865, joy had co-existed with sorrow over the course of the war. As the flower of the Confederacy withered on the ground, the flower of peace blossomed, and its sweet aroma revived the spirits of everyone.
The American Volunteer declared, “Let statesmanship now be called into requisition – let passion and politics be forgotten for the time, and let our good and great men go to work in earnest to assist in restoring the authority of the Government in all parts of the land, so that peace and good-will may take the place of fanaticism, rebellion and confusion.”25 People were weary of war, tired of the bloodshed. The Volunteer was hopeful that statesmen from across the land would be able to lay politics aside, just for a moment, and help restore the nation to its former glory. Not only that, but the paper sought the re-establishment of the federal government’s authority over every section belonging to the United States. The rebellion had been trounced; the Confederacy had failed. Those states who had participated in that unsuccessful experiment of self-government would have to submit to the authority of the “Government” in order to receive the full blessings associated with being a member of the Union.
The Volunteer reported that during that first meeting following the announcement of Lee’s surrender, “Everyone present once more felt that to be an American citizen was something to be proud of, and he felt too that this Government was to stand and its sacred name preserved to generations yet unborn.”26 The Union had been preserved. Victory had, in a way, kindled a sense of unity among the various factions of Northern society. The common foe had been subdued. Men may have identified themselves as Republicans or Democrats over the course of the war, favoring one party’s stance on a particular issue over another, but in that moment when the burdens of war were suddenly lifted from their shoulders, the American identity transcended any allegiance to a certain political party. The future appeared bright, but everyone, especially those “statesmen” who knew that the road to recovery would be long and arduous realized the nation required time to heal, time to mourn, time to rebuild.
The conclusion of the fighting meant the disbanding of the armies, and the subsequent return of husbands, fathers, brothers and friends to their homes. Reverend Conway P. Wing of the First Presbyterian Church on the Square noted in his sermon, on April 30, 1865, that, “…now when our young men are returning from their brave conflicts, we ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow,’ that he has mercifully shielded them in battle, given them courage, constancy, and strength, heard our unworthy but importunate prayers, and after long years of waiting, has allowed us to sing of ‘victory at last,’ and to ‘hail the day of peace.’”27 Those returning had survived the conflict, but they were the ones who witnessed the terrible fighting and the carnage first-hand. Surely the war left a deep and frightful impression upon these minds, upon these battlefield participants. In regard to the soldiers the Herald wrote, “…to the noble soldiers whose bravery and endurance have rescued the Government and saved us from anarchy and ruin, let our thanks and blessings be freely given.”28 The soldiers were welcomed back home, forever changed by their experience, but like everyone else they too must have been eagerly anticipating the moment when they could lay down their weapons and resume their lives as civilians.
As already noted, Reverend Conway Wing delivered a sermon on April 30, 1865. This was an anniversary sermon, marking the anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church’s founding in Carlisle in 1765. Although the sermon focused on the history of the church, and referenced those who served as ministers of the congregation, the momentous occasion of Lee’s surrender could not be overlooked. He wrote that, “There is one respect in which I believe we have now and shall ever have reason to look back upon our course with satisfaction. As a congregation, we have with one heart and with real earnestness, sustained our government in its terrible conflict with rebellion. We have been, by no means, of one mind in former times on ordinary political questions.”29 Political divisions existed within the First Presbyterian Church, but Wing notes that such differences were laid aside in the face of the crisis confronting the government. He applauds the congregants for their dedication to the Union cause, and the sacrifices they made in order to preserve the nation. Not only does the Rev. Wing bestow accolades upon members of the church in his sermon, he also encourages them to redirect their energies now that the war has concluded. He wrote that, “…it should not surprise any, that we should have neglected some of our more private duties at home. This has always been a part of the calamity of war. But let us now recover ourselves.”30 Now that the war had come to an end, normal life at home could resume. Reverend Wing witnessed a church body come together to respond to a national calamity, and to offer assistance in putting down the rebellion. He is hopeful that the same energies and dedication he witnessed in action during the war will now be applied to the home-front during a time of peace.
Conclusion
On April 10, 1865, word had reached Carlisle that, “Treason’s proudest host: one of the bravest and mightiest armies ever marshaled on Earth, led by a chieftain whose genius was regarded with admiration by the entire world has surrendered to the armies of the Government.”31 The citizens of Carlisle were elated by the news, and quickly gathered together to plan a day of festivities to mark the momentous occasion. Thursday, April 13, 1865, had been designated as the day when the “Grand Celebration” would occur. Everyone was encouraged to participate. Republicans and Democrats were enticed to lay aside their political affiliations, for just a moment, and revel in the glorious victory achieved by the Union armies. The Herald commented that, “Surely there need be no limit to the rejoicing over this complete triumph of our arms and the certainty it brings of rest from war and bloodshed.”32 The long awaited news had finally arrived, the war was over, and there would be peace across the land once again. Yet, the excitement, the joy that was produced by the news of Lee’s surrender, was soon dispatched by the shocking and gut-wrenching news that the President had been shot. In fact, the edition of the Herald that announced the news concerning Lee and the day of celebration was printed on Friday, April 14, the same day that President Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theater. The anticipated peace never came to full fruition, for agony revealed itself once more, in the midst of what was to be a blissful moment for the nation. The jubilation was sequestered as the news of Lincoln’s assassination was delivered across the telegraph lines….
