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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 02:13 am
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PvtClewell
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Pam,

I checked in my regimental of the 153rd, and the best I can come up with is several references to the Poor House, which, of course, would be the Alms House on Harrisburg Road located a few hundred yards south of Barlow's Knoll. Makes sense to me if it was used as a hospital. It became a Confederate hospital after the 1st and 11th Corps were pushed through town.

There were also a few references to the "11th Corps Hospital," which apparently turned out out be a barn on the Spangler Farm located just off the Baltimore Pike (and supposedly where Armistead was taken after he was wounded and where he subsequently died). But that would be for the fighting of July 2-3.

Check this site:
http://civilwarlibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/06/news-gettysburg-foundation-adds.html

I hope this helps. If I find out anything more definite, I'll let you know. But this might be a good starting point.

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 02:27 am
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javal1
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Pam & Pvt.:

Done some research on this myself. Many may not know it, but back in 1996 when CWi started, and before CWi obtained the domain address "civilwarinteractive.com" we were "almshouse.com" - named for the GB almshouse. I have found no records at all indicating that the almshouse was used as a hospital, but Pvt. you are correct about Spangler. There were a few others as well.

I have to dig out the papers I have somewhere. I know we still have the original layout of the almshouse as well as the patient list at the time of the battle. If I recall, those records indicate that Jenny Wade's father was a patient there at the time due to "chronic masturbation" - no joke! Let you know what I find...

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 03:38 am
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PvtClewell
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Joe,

For whatever it's worth, this comes out of David Martin's book, 'Gettysburg, July 1' and documents Bayard Wilkeson's mortal wounding:

"...The shot that felled Wilkeson was witnessed by Major Campbell Brown of Early's staff...According to one source, Lieutenant Wilkeson bravely used his own pen knife to cut the few remaining sinews that still held his mangled leg. After the fighting ended he was taken by the Confederates to a hospital set up at the Almshouse. His wound was severe and he was suffering gravely from loss of blood. At some point during the night he asked for some water to relieve his thirst. He was given a canteen, but passed it on untouched to a wounded soldier lying next to him who begged, 'For God's sake give me some.' Wilkeson did not complain as the other soldier drank every drop. He just smiled on the man, turned slightly, and expired. He was only 19 years old."

Pfanz writes in 'Gettysburg — The First Day' that "A shot mangled his (Wilkeson's) right leg and killed his horse. He applied a tourniquet made from a handkerchief to the stump and amputated it. Four men from the battery carried him to the almshouse, where he died that night."

To tell you the truth, I don't rightly know if the place was a hospital or not. I don't recall seeing a marker there indicating that it was (there are hospital markers posted on many buildings all around Gettysburg, including the club house of the golf course where I sometimes play near Fairfield), but next time I go I'll look. But evidently, wounded men were brought to the place. Whether they were actually treated there or not is another question.

Too much information about Jenny Wade's father. :shock:

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 03:52 am
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javal1
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Pvt. -

I think we're answering two different questions ;) I thought the question was where were the 153rd wounded taken. What I was saying (probably unclearly) was that I found no indication that Union soldiers were taken to the Almshouse. My bad.

I need to find the 6 inches worth of almshouse documentation I have though - intriguing stuff. Maybe I'll scan some of it and provide links. It really could be a book in itself (which is what I at one time had in mind). Great to find this many with a common interest!

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:00 am
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pamc153PA
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Joe and Pvt.,

Lots of info--thanks! The almshouse makes sense, since it was right there. I read the Spangler farm isn't open to the public yet, but I was going to talk to LBG John Cox, whom I know through tours he did for my school, when I go out to G-burg at the end of this month, and see if/when it might be open.

Pvt., thanks for the website. I'll have to check it tomorrow.

Joe, the info about CWi's beginnings was intriguing, but can I ask, why almshouse.com? The obvious connection the 153rd? Just asking!

And about Jenny Wade's dad, well. . . enough said!

Pam

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:12 am
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javal1
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Pam -

Yes, we were almshouse.com strictly because of the GB almshouse. It's a fascinating place with a history that's incredible, as are many almshouses. When we first started, websites were still relatively rare (amazon.com started only 6 mths. before us). The original purpose of the site was to be a complete history of the GB almshouse. Somehow, we morphed into CW news quickly, and never went back. But thanks to this thread, I'm going to dig out documents I haven't looked at in over 10 years. I look forward to it....

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 02:50 pm
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pamc153PA
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Joe,

I confess I know little about almshouses, but you have piqued my interest, including and beyond the GB almshouse. I'd really like to see what info you have!

Pam

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:26 pm
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javal1
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Pam -

I found some of my stuff. I'll open a new thread and see what I can get posted.

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:48 pm
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David White
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Pvt Clewell:

Hmmm, let me think — maybe because it wasn't so insignificant?

Perhaps, I guess someone had to tie up folks in the east so Grant didn't have a 90,000 man army where they counted!

I have to confess ignorance on the particulars of the battle on Cemetery Hill beyond what's been printed in the Gettysburg magazine from Morningside Press and Pfanz. I've never done any independent research myself.

Joe:

You need to clean up this thread some jerk is talking about chronic masturbation above. I'll bet that guy can write the history on the subject, that and of course, picking up pretty guys in bars while on shore leave ;).

If our ancestors met at Gettysburg, I dare say neither gave an inch. ;)

Last edited on Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:52 pm by David White

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 Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 05:01 pm
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javal1
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You need to clean up this thread some jerk is talking about chronic masturbation above. I'll bet that guy can write the history on the subject, that and of course, picking up pretty guys in bars while on shore leave .

David, I saw that. Seems the jerk got ahold of my log-in info though, so I can't delete him without deleting myself. Just put up with him - maybe he'll go away :P

Pam - correction to previous erroneous statement of mine. I have now found evidence of the almshouse being used as a hospital for at least one member of the 153rd. My mistake!

 

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 Posted: Mon Jan 12th, 2009 07:20 pm
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SteveBirmi
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Hi, javal1.

It appears we're related. Charles Issermoyer is my great-great-great grandfather.

Charles Isssermoyer (1843-1911) married Eliza A Mill (1834-1903) and had a daughter, Emma.
Emma J. Issermoyer (1867-1922) married Reverend John T. Layton (1861-1930) and had a daughter, Lottie.
Lottie L. Layton (1885-1954) married Reverend Grant H. Seidel "Pop-Pop" (1886-1975) and had a daughter, Lucy
Lucy L. Seidel (1914-2002) married William F. Birmingham (1914-2003) and had a son, David
David F. Birmingham (1948-) married Linda A. Brubaker (1946-) and had a son, Steven (that's me).

My grandmother, Lucy, once visited Gettysburg and shared some of the Issermoyer's story with my sister.

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 Posted: Mon Jan 12th, 2009 07:33 pm
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javal1
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Steve -

Wow, small world! Are you in the Allentown area? I have an old photocopy of a family picture from the late 1800's - I'll have to find it. I think the names of the folks are written on the back - then we can see if any of your other relatives are in it.

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 Posted: Mon Jan 12th, 2009 07:42 pm
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SteveBirmi
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I'm about 90 minutes from Allentown, in Harrisburg, PA. I recently visited there to see some family graves in Greenwood Cemetery. I'd love to see any photos you have!

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 Posted: Mon Jan 12th, 2009 08:01 pm
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PvtClewell
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SteveBirmi wrote:
Hi, javal1.

It appears we're related.


Uh-oh. You guys share DNA???? :shock::D

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 Posted: Mon Jan 12th, 2009 10:19 pm
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ole
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Next thing will be that Pam has relatives in Allentown and we'll have a gathering of the clan.=+-

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