Individual Stories

Caledonia Furnace UGRR Historical Marker

Dedicated 5/11/1996, this city marker reads, “Erected in 1837 by Thaddeus Stevens and James D. Paxton. Stevens’ antislavery stand led to its destruction by Gen. Jubal Early, June 26, 1863, on his way to York during the early Gettysburg campaign.”

Address:
US 30 & PA 233, Caledonia State Park
CHAMBERSBURG, PA, 17222

(Courtesy of Pennsylvania Civil War Trails)

Frederick Douglass and John Brown Historical Marker

Dedicated 8/21/1994, this roadside marker reads, “The two abolitionists met at a stone quarry here, Aug. 19-21, 1859, and discussed Brown’s plans to raid the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. He urged Douglass to join an armed demonstration against slavery. Douglass refused, warning the raid would fail; the Oct. 16, 1859 attack confirmed his fears. Brown was captured with his surviving followers and was executed Dec. 2, 1859.”

Address:
West Washington St., Behind Southgate Mall
CHAMBERSBURG, PA, 17201

(Courtesy of Pennsylvania Civil War Trails)

Thomas Morris Chester


One of Harrisburg’s most famous African Americans, a leader in education, journalism, military recruitment, diplomacy and the practice of law.

Chester also served as a recruiter and helped usher Pennsylvania Black men into the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Regiments.

Address:
Market St. and Third St. intersection
HARRISBURG, PA, 17101

(Courtesy of Pennsylvania Civil War Trails)

Reminiscences of My Life in Camp

Susie King Taylor, born 1848, wrote a book in 1902 documenting her time spent enrolled as a laundress with the Union’s 1st South Carolina Volunteers, later named 33rd regiment of the United States Colored Troops, during the Civil War.  Documenting the American South, an online resource at the University of North Carolina, has her entire book online.

The book makes great use of primary sources, such as the General Order No. 1 of Lt. Colonel C.T. Trowbridge, commander of the regiment.

Taylor’s account is remarkably vivid outlining the struggles of African American Union soldiers fighting in the South.  She described how “men and even women would sneer and molest them whenever they met them” while her regiment’s “brave men risked life and limb” to assist the citizens of Charleston, S.C. after the 1865 Confederate retreat and subsequent burning of the city.

This a great online primary resource for anyone interested in the life of African American soldiers during the Civil War. Camp life, battles, occupation, and officer descriptions are all intrinsically linked together in Taylor’s candid narrative of one of the definitive moments in our country’s history.