By Cindy L. Small

Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade. Jennie was the only Gettysburg civilian to be killed outright during the battle. In 21st Century wars, civilian deaths are very common, but during the Civil War, citizens were usually unscathed if they were able to stay out of harm’s way. However, on July 3 Jennie was kneading dough for biscuits at her sister’s home on Baltimore Street when she was killed instantly as a bullet passed through two wooden doors and struck her heart. That, unfortunately, is usually all visitors hear about this “Gettysburg Maid”—a mere sentence or two.

Now, with this book, Jennie Wade of Gettysburg: The Complete Story of the Only Civilian Killed during the Battle of Gettysburg, a visitor seeking more of her story may now be satisfied. The author has investigated as many sources as possible to write the full saga of Jennie’s life, death and all three burials.

Please visit our store for all our titles

Coster Avenue, the smallest portion of the Gettysburg National Military Park, marks the site of some of the last fighting on July 1, 1863, the First Day of the great battle. There, in what was then a brickyard, Col. Charles Coster’s Union brigade made a forlorn and futile stand against the two Confederate brigades of Gen. Harry Hays and Col. Isaac Avery. Outnumbered by more than three to one, Coster’s brigade was shattered and sent reeling in a pell-mell retreat through the streets of Gettysburg to the safety of Cemetery Hill. The action resulted in almost 800 casualties, most of them Union soldiers. Among the killed was Sgt. Amos Humiston of the 154th New York, who became celebrated as the father of the “Children of the Battle Field.”

In the decades following the Civil War, Coster Avenue—hidden away off a Gettysburg side street—languished as one of the least-visited parts of the Gettysburg National Military Park. In 1970, Mark H. Dunkelman, an artist and historian of the 154th New York, saw the roofing company that owned the property adjacent to Coster Avenue was building an addition to its warehouse. A blank concrete wall was going up about ten feet from the monument to the regiment he studied. Inspiration struck. Dunkelman designed a mural to cover the 80-feet-long wall. He and his artistic partner Johan Bjurman painted and installed the mural in 1988, the 125th anniversary of the battle. In the years since then, as exposure took its toll on the painting, Dunkelman and Bjurman produced two newer versions of the mural, the current one rendered on glass.

In Gettysburg’s Coster Avenue: The Brickyard Fight and the Mural, Dunkelman tells the little-known story of the battle that inspired the mural and the saga of how the painting came to be and its several permutations. Published on the mural’s thirtieth anniversary, this book includes more than fifty photographs, many in color and previously unpublished, a map, and source notes to the text. Gettysburg’s Coster Avenue is the definitive account of this much admired public artwork, told by the mural’s creator in his own words.

This is our mascot at Gettysburg Publishing, Bentley.    

Look for Bentley when we conduct  our  fundraisers with animal rescue groups.

This is Sallie on the 11th PA monument and Bentley's hero.   At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1st, 1863 the men of the 11th Pa and their little mascot fought hard against the Confederate Army before retreating from their position. They discovered that their faithful friend was not to be found amongst them after relocating away from the heavy fighting  . Days later, after the Confederate retreat, she was found laying amongst the fallen soldiers from the first day’s conflict, just barely alive herself she faithfully stayed behind and never left her comrades, even as the Confederate Army passed by.  Sallie was a canine hero at the battle.

Please make a point of visiting Sallie on your next visit to Gettysburg.

Bentley was a rescue, like his brother and two sisters that are now part of the owners family.  Gettysburg Publishing and its authors are staunch supporter's of animal rescue causes, just like Bentley, we believe all animals should have a loving home. 

If you have a place in your your home, please visit your local pound or rescue and adopt a new best friend.

Kevin Drake

Owner

Gettysburg Publishing LLC