Civil War sites in York, PA are primarily related to the invasion of Pennsylvania during the Gettysburg Campaign shown in the map below from a Civil War Trails marker.

Gordon’s brigade, since they marched by a more direct route, would arrive in York first. On June 27th at Abbottstown Gordon met with a private citizen from York, Arthur Briggs Farquhar, to discuss Gordon’s demands in order to avoid bloodshed in the town. Farquhar returned to York to discuss the situation with town leaders. Although Major Granville Haller with his small force and no artillery was prepared to defend the city, town leaders preferred to surrender the town and hope that the Rebels would spare it. They did so on the evening of the 27th in Farmers, PA. Haller then withdrew his forces toward Wrightsville.

Early would capture York without opposition, requisitioning supplies and issuing a ransom demand. York was the largest Northern city occupied by the Confederacy. After the war Early wrote “I then made a requisition upon the authorities for 2,000 pairs of shoes, 1,000 hats, 1,000 pairs of socks, $100,000 in money and three days rations of all kinds. Subsequently, between 1,200 and 1,500 pairs of shoes, the hats, socks, and rations were furnished, but only $28,600 in money was furnished, which was paid to my quartermaster Major Snodgrass, the mayor and other authorities protesting their inability to get any more money, and I was satisfied they made an honest effort to raise the amount called for.” John Gordon’s brigade would move on to Wrightsville.

Many of the markers and historical sites in York pertain to the Revolutionary War and York’s role as a former capitol of the United States.

From the marker below- “Faced with the impossible task of defending an essentially unarmed city against the six thousand battle hardened troops of General Jubal Early, the citizens of York met with the Confederates and negotiated surrender, in an act which was controversial then and remains so today. On June 28th, Confederate General John Brown Gordon’s brigade (whose soldiers said their commander’s oratory could make them “storm hell” and “put fight into a whipped chicken”) lowered the town’s Union flag. Cassandra Small, the 34 year old daughter of a prominent York businessman, wrote in a letter concerning the town’s occupation that “men who don’t often weep wept then.””

The marker below is very hard to read. The text reads- “In 1863, York became the largest Northern town occupied by the Confederate Army. The center of one of the richest farming regions in the Union, York was virtually defenseless as the Rebels approached. When Major General Jubal A. Early neared, the mayor and a committee of citizens met them to surrender the city. On June 28, Early moved into the court house and his brigades took over the U.S. Army Hospital on Penn Common, the York Fairgrounds, market sheds, and the mills north of town. Early wanted supplies for his troops, so he demanded bread, sugar, coffee, molasses, meat, socks, hats, 2,000 pairs of shoes, and $100,000 from the citizens of York. If they failed to meet his demands, he threatened to sack the town. The townspeople found most of what he asked for, except they could scrape together only $28,600. Early was satisfied and spared the town. York’s leaders had agreed not to resist in return for peaceful occupation. As a result, the Confederates allowed the Yorkers to pass freely within the town. the residents interacted regularly with the occupiers, most of whom came from Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Louisiana.”

The plaque above is on the wall to the far right at the top of the stairs.

Another hard to read marker, please see the link for the text.

The marker below- Riding the Rails of History is completely unreadable- 39.9611667, -76.7322167.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument

The area was the site of a Civil War hospital which treated over 14,000 Union soldiers.

The Prospect Hill Cemetery

The marker below was very hard to read- see text at the link.

David Small/Margaret Duncan Fish/Henry L. Fisher/Henrietta Yocum– 39.9728611, -76.7329444

David Small (1812-1885): Across the roadway and uphill to your right, you will see the grave of David Small. Small owned the York Gazette and was chief burgess of York during the Civil War. He was part of the delegation that went to meet the Confederate General John B. Gordon prior to the Confederate occupation of York.

Margaret Duncan Fish (1846-1911): Directly in front of you, is the burial site of Margaret Duncan Fish. She was a niece of Confederate General Johnson Kelly Duncan and was born in Ohio. She came to York in the early 1900s to work as the matron of the Children’s Home of York.

Henry L. Fisher 91822-1909): Slightly to your left at approximately the 10 o’clock position lies Henry Fisher. A York lawyer during the Civil War, he welcomed home the 87th Regiment in September 1864, “We watched your career in the army, and sympathized with those whose friends have fallen in battle. Although we have not yet seen the end of the Rebellion, you have nobly performed your duty, and your services will be recorded on the bright pages of history, which shall chronicle the martial deeds of this era.

Michael P. Small/Hugh Whiteford McCall/James Stahle– 39.9725833, -76.7333056

Michael P. Small (1831-1892): Uphill in the distance to your right is the grave of Michael Small. Small was born in York and was a son of John Small. A graduate of West Point class of 1855, he participated in the Harper’s Ferry expedition to suppress John Brown’s raid in 1859. As a lieutenant in the artillery at the outbreak of the war, he was transferred to commissary command. In 1865, Small was breveted brigadier general for faithful service and issued rations to Lee’s Army following their surrender at Appomattox.

Hugh Whiteford McCall (1839-1931): Slightly to your left at approximately the 10 o’clock position lies Hugh McCall. In June of 1862, McCall raised a troop of cavalry from the lower end of York County. He formed Co A of the 21st Cavalry and served two enlistments. Following the war, he was appointed provost marshal of Lynchburg, District of Virginia and administered oaths of allegiance to many prominent southerners. He studied law under Thomas E. Cochran and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1864. Following the war, he handled many of the York County Civil War soldiers’ pension applications.

James A. Stahle (1830-1912): Across the road and slightly downhill is the burial site of James Stahle. Stahle was born in York County and was educated at the York County Academy. From 1858 to 1861, he was an agent for the Adams Express Company in York. He organized the Ellsworth Zouaves, which became Co A of the 87th Regiment. When Hay retired, Stahle succeeded John W. Schall as lieutenant colonel. When the 3-year terms of their regiment expired, he was appointed deputy collector of revenue in York. In 1894, he was elected to the Congress to represent the 19th Congressional District of Pennsylvania.

John F. Fisher/Charles Henry Ilgenfritz/ T. Kirk White/Charles A. Shetter– 39.9736111, -76.7343056

John F. Fisher (1808-1862): To your right is the burial site of John Fisher. In May 1861, a town flag was raised in Centre Square. Workers erected a 110-foot-tall pine pole with a one-foot-thick base between the two market sheds. A large truss fell on Dr. Fisher’s head injuring him severely, but the ceremony went on.

Charles Henry Ilgenfritz (1837-1920): Directly ahead of you lies Charles Ilgenfritz. He mustered out of the service on May 31, 1865 as 1st Sergeant of Co E, 207th PA. On February 21, 1917, he was awarded the Medal of Honor “for most distinguished gallantry in action at Fort Sedgwick, VA. On April 2, 1865, with the color bearer falling, pierced by seven balls, he immediately spring forward and grasped the colors, planting them upon the enemy’s forts amid a murderous fire of grape, canister and musketry from the enemy. His name was entered and recorded on the Army and Navy Medal of Honor Roll on the 24th day of March 1917.”

T. Kirk White (1826-1901): To the right of the tree and down the hill is the grave of T. Kirk White. He reportedly handed his cane to General Gordon on Centre Square in York on the occasion of the latter’s lowering the U.S. flag displayed there. The supposed reason was to prevent the flag from touching the ground. Portraits of he and his wife are owned by the York County Heritage Trust.

Charles A. Shetter (1839-1862): Across the road to your right at approximately the 3 o’clock position is the grave of Charles Shetter. A member of Co B 130th PA, Shetter was wounded during the battle of Antietam. He died two days later at the age of 23. His hand-carved wooden grave marker is a part of the collections at York County Heritage Trust and is on display in the Civil War exhibit.

Charles Billmeyer/John Evans– 39.9739444, -76.7343056 the marker was very hard to read so I included the text from HMDB.

Charles Billmeyer (1824-1875): To your left at approximately the 11 o’clock position, lies Charles Billmeyer. He was the business partner of David E. Small. In 1857, they erected extensive railroad car manufacturing facilities. Their company had 3 shops near the railroad station encompassing more than 5 acres. It included a planing mill, lumber yard and parts warehouse and employed 700 people.

John Evans (1800-1876): To your right, in front of the tree, is the grave of John Evans. Evans was senior member of the York County Bar and chaired the meetings held at the courthouse on September 6, 1862 in response to the Confederate march toward the Mason-Dixon Line. The march culminated in the battle of Antietam in northern Maryland. the York Gazette describes the meeting: On taking his seat, the chairman [unreadable] the meeting on the most stirring and patriotic terms, setting forth the serious character of the pending danger, and the necessity of promptly preparing to regret it.” The position attracted controversy for Evans after the Philadelphia Inquirer stated that gunpowder from York was sent to rebel lines. The Gazette pointed out that the lawyer owned the only gunpowder factory in the county and not a single wheelbarrow load, much less three wagon loads were stored at any one place.

Kate M. Riely Small/William Latimer Small– 39.9739722, -76.7345278

Directly ahead of you is the grave of Kate M. Riely Small. She was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1845. During the Civil War, she served the Confederacy as a nurse and dispatch bearer and was later employed by the treasury department in Columbia, SC. She married William Latimer Small and was survived by son, George Small and four daughters: Mrs. John C. Schmidt of York: Mrs. Powell C. Fauntleroy of Charleston, SC; Mrs. Redmond C. Stewart of Baltimore; Mrs. Walter S. Franklin of New York City; and a daughter-in-law, the widow of the late Phillip A. Small.

William Latimer Small (1830-1903): William Small is buried to the right of Kate. A son of P.A. and Sarah Latimer Small, William married Mary S. Wilson of Baltimore, Maryland in 1860. He was admitted to the family firm in 1862 and was its senior member at his death. He contributed to York’s decision to surrender and boldly kept the U.S. flag flying as the Confederates entered town. Small also assisted his uncle Samuel Small in the founding of the Children’s Home. He married a second time to Kate M. Riely of Virginia.

Mary Caldwell Fisher/James William Latimer/ Benjamin F. Frick/Mary “Mammy” Ruggles– 39.9740556, -76.7346389

Mary Caldwell Fisher (1827-1913): Mary Sophia Caldwell was a teacher in the female division of the York County Academy. She married Judge Robert J. Fisher (1806-1888) in 1853 and lived on East Market Street with their two children. she journeyed to the field hospitals at Gettysburg soon after the battle had ended. Twenty years later, she shared her experiences as a nurse in articles published in the Philadelphia Times.

Benjamin F. Frick (1841-1913): Slightly to your right and down the hill past the Brillinger monument at approximately the 1 o’clock position lies Benjamin Frick. Born in York County, Frick was one of the original Ellsworth Zouaves. Frick enlisted as sergeant of Co A 87th, PA regiment, and became second lieutenant of Co H of the 39th U.S. Colored Troops.

Mary “Mammy” Ruggles (1805-1874): To your right at about 2 o’clock, in the grave marked Geiselman, lies Mammy Ruggles. (Local tent #50 of the Daughters of Union Veterans shares her name.) She was a domestic and worked in the home of David E. Small in 1860. Many York citizens recall seeing Mammy traveling to the Penn Common barracks, and later to the military hospital, with her homemade bread, rolls, cakes and pies for the wounded soldiers. When the Confederates entered York in June 1863, she reportedly took down the hospital flag, wrapped it around her body under her hoop skirt and walked past the Confederates. After they left, she returned the flag to the Hospital.

Dr. Alexander R. Blair/David E. Small– 39.9735278, -76.7352778

Dr. Alexander R. Blair (1826-1889): Directly off the path and slightly to your right, is the grave of Dr. Blair. He was a surgeon at the military hospital in York and accompanied the invalids east to Columbia as the Confederates approached York in June 1863. He, along with Drs. George Byers and E.F. Spaulding, drew assignments to educate the patients so they could be self-supporting upon their release. Dr. Blair married Cassandra Morris Small Blair (1828-1891) in 1864. Cassandra worked in the Sunday School of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She wrote three letters to her cousin Lissie Latimer in Wilmington, DE. The letters were found in the Latimer attic by Cassandra Morris Small (Franklin) and were later published as Letters of “63”.

David E. Small (1824-1883): Turn to your left and look up the hill. At approximately the 11 o’clock position lies David Small. Small, born in York, was engaged in his father’s lumber business in 1845 under the name of H. Small and Son. Later, he was a partner in the car manufacturing business under the firm of Billmeyer and Small. He was president of First National Bank for 11 years, a stockholder in Pennsylvania Railroad, president of York Gas Company, director of Lochiel and Wrightsville Iron Companies, a trustee with the York County Academy, the Collegiate Institute, the Children’s Home and York Hospital. He was active in formation of York and Peach Bottom Railway, the first president of YMCA, and supported students of Lincoln University. He had an African American chapter of GAR named after him as well.

Arthur Briggs Farquhar/Jonathan Jessop/Unknown Soldier– 39.9738889, -76.7353889

Arthur Briggs Farquhar (1838-1925): To your left, behind the bush, is the Arthur Briggs Farquhar monument. Farquhar was born and raised in Maryland. He arrived in York in 1856 and married Elizabeth Jessop. A young York businessman, he rode out with a local volunteer cavalry unit toward Confederate position prior to Antietam. In 1683, he offered his services as emissary to the Confederates, proposing to the Committee of Safety that York could make a better deal in advance. The town fathers did not take his proposal seriously, so he rode west to meet with the Confederate John B. Gordon himself. Gordon questioned Farquhar’s business to which he replied, “General Gordon, unless you have entirely changed from the character you used to have, you are neither a horse thief nor a bank robber, and fighting is more in your line than sacking a city.” Gordon signed Farquhar’s meeting notes. Later, 5 others met with Gordon in Farmers to work out details of the surrender. Farquhar rode to Gettysburg as the 3-day battle waged. He returned to York and met face-to-face jeering. Farquhar wrote in his autobiography, “The pincheck patriots…decided that our Committee…had sold [the town] to the Confederates and that I, as the man who opened the negotiations, was something near to being a traitor! I shall never forget those days, being pointed out as ‘the man who had sold York’ to the Rebels…”

Jonathan Jessop (1842-1931): Born in Baltimore, MD, Jonathan enlisted as 2nd Lt. in Co B of the 187 Reg PA Vol. He lost his right leg by reason of gunshot wound received at the front of Petersburg, VA on June 18, 1864. The pension office awarded him $15 per month due to his disability. Under provisions of act of March 3, 1865, his pension was withheld and ceased when he was appointed postmaster of the York post office. In August 1865, he had it restored.

Unknown Union Soldier (?-June 28, 1863): This marker can be found down the hill and past the tree. Emig’s Grove Camp Meeting grounds was located one mile south of Mt. Wolf. Remembered by members of the Association, a location was marked by a “neat and appropriate headstone” in the campground. A Civil War soldier, clad in a Union uniform was found and re-interred “in one corner of the grounds in a secluded spot.” According to Prowell’s History of York County, the only identifying markers were the Pennsylvania coat of arms found on his coat buttons and the #65 on his cap. His gravestone at Prospect Hill states the following: “76th Pa. Removed by General John Sedgwick Post 37 GAR May 12, 1902.” The York Gazette, May 13, 1902, relates the following: “The remains of the unknown soldier that had been interred years ago at the old Emig’s Grove Campgrounds was disinterred yesterday by Undertaker W.L. Denues and interred at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Walter Simonds Franklin/William Buel Franklin/Henry L. Smyser– 39.9741389, -76.7345278

Walter Simonds Franklin (1836-1911): Slightly to your right is the burial site of Walter Franklin. A brother of Union General William Buel Franklin, he graduated from engineering school at Harvard and married Mary Campbell Small Franklin was commissioned second lieutenant in the 12th U.S. Infantry and turned down the appointment of colonel to the 87th Regiment. Following the war, he became the general manager of the Ashland Iron Company in Baltimore County, MD.

William Buel Franklin (1823-1903): Farther in the distance, behind the cross, is the stone of William Franklin. A native of York, Franklin played a key role in the early fighting in Virginia and Maryland. He commanded the Left Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In January 1862, Franklin returned to York following the defeat at Fredericksburg. A congressional investigating committee placed most of the blame for the defeat on Franklin.

Henry L. Smyser (1825-1900): Slightly to your right, past the Immel and Young stones and beside the obelisk, lies Henry Smyser. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in 1847, Smyser became one of the original “Forty Niners” when gold was discovered in California. He served as a surgeon major during the Crimean War, and in 1862 Smyser became a contract surgeon, assigned to the military hospital at Penn Common in York. His record at the hospital was marked by “faithful and efficient service.”

Margaret Duncan Beitzel/Jacob Horlebein– 39.9738889, -76.7333889

Margaret Duncan Beitzel (1815-1872): To the right of the largest G.F. Baer monument lies Margaret Beitzel. She was a sister of York County’s Confederate General Johnson Kelly Duncan and became a valued officer of the Orphan’s Home. During the occupation by the Confederates in 1863, her brother-in-law William J. Seymour, former aide of Duncan marched into York with Louisiana Tigers brigade. There he intended to visit Duncan’s relatives. He called on one of them and received a “frigid” reception. As he approached Margaret’s house, she greeted Seymour while her husband went out the back door, “After I had remained for some time, the old man’s curiosity got the better of his fears,” Seymour wrote, “and he returned, and was hugely relieved and rejoiced at finding that my visit was not for a hostile purpose.”

Jacob Horlebein (1836-1865): Behind you, a few yards behind the Getz monument, you will see the burial site of Jacob Horlebein. Jacob was a soldier in the 87th PA. He was captured at Weldon Railroad in 1864, sent to Andersonville and then released. He returned to the U.S. Army Hospital at Penn Common where he died on March 24, 1865 at the age of 29 years, 5 months and 25 days. The Captain E.M. Ruhl Camp No. 30, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, replaced his damaged tombstone in 1999.

Lebanon Cemetery- 1412 North George Street