Philadelphia Press, August 6, 1863.
Other places: July 2009 Archives
The Codorus Woolen Mill near the tiny hamlets of Brodbeck and Glenville, Pennsylania, in southern York County was established in 1790. It operated for more than a century and now is used as a workshop and apartments. During the American Civil War, the mill owner had a contract to supply woolen blankets to the Federal government for the Union Army.
The mill's operator / owner lived in the adjacent mill house, which is now a private home.
Continue reading Manheim Township mill manufactured woolen blankets during the Civil War.
Cannonball reader Jim Brown is a long-time collector of old Civil War letters. He recently read my piece on the Amish and other conscientious objectors in York County, Pennsylvania, during the war. It reminded him of one of the letters in his extensive collection, which he was kind enough to transcribe, edit a bit for clarity of sentence structure, and then forward it to me to share with our readers.
He wrote,
Dear Mr. Mingus,
"Just finished reading your wonderful piece in "Viewpoints" about the Amish during the Civil War. Thanks for writing it; I learned a lot.
As a long time collector of Civil War letters, I immediately thought of a letter in my collection from an Amish (Pennsylvania Dutch ?) lady describing what the farmers were doing as two great armies advanced into Pennsylvania only to meet at a little town called Gettysburg. The letters date is June 26, 1863.
I must warn you that it is somewhat difficult to read. Many words are spelled phonetically and I have included punctuation for easier reading. It is transcribed exactly as it was written. It's most interesting to read what they were doing with their farm animals to hide them from the rebels.
I hope you enjoy it."
With Jim's permission, here is the fascinating letter from Phebe Angeline Smith, who lived in Washington Township in northwestern York County. Members of the Smith family were visited by the Rebels during the Gettysburg Campaign. Mrs. Smith writes to her sister on June 26, 1863, the day before the Confederates begin streaming into western York County on multiple roads from Adams County.
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