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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Christmas Eve 1860

| December 24, 2010

The Harrisburg Patriot, a weekly newspaper in 1860, published its last edition before Christmas on 20 December.  The first four pages were crammed with news of impending crisis.  There was very little social, economic, agricultural, or personal news. One article pointed out that the country had been in this state before – in fact, ten […]

Election of 1860 and the Lykens Valley

| December 20, 2010

The election of 1860 was held throughout the United States on 6 November 1860.  The result was that Abraham Lincoln won a majority of the electoral votes and thus was elected President of the United States.  His election supposedly was the trigger that brought about the secession crisis.  South Carolina voted to secede from the […]

Corp. John C. Gratz – 96th Pennsylvania Infantry

| December 16, 2010

(Part 3 of 4).  The 96th Pennsylvania Infantry was organized at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania.  It was mustered into service between the 23 and 30 September 1861 for a three year term. This post focuses on the service of John C. Gratz in that regiment, and of his friend Henry Keiser who served with him. […]

Lykens G.A.R. Building

| December 11, 2010

The Lykens Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Building is located on North Second Street in Lykens Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  Traveling into Lykens, from either direction on Route 209, turn north at Market Street and proceed to North Second Street.  Turn right on North Second Street and the building is located on the right. […]

Pvt. Peter W. Miller – Mental Health & the Civil War

| December 2, 2010

This story appeared in the Tyrone Daily Herald, Tyrone, Pennsylvania, on 29 July 1895: Being unable to longer keep the wolf from his door, Peter W. Miller, an aged and disabled veteran of the late rebellion, made the journey to Washington on foot, and after having shown Pension Commissioner Lochran the scars from wounds received […]