Who was
Jennie Wade?
Mary
Virginia Wade, or better known as Jennie Wade was the only civilian killed during the
American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863 while baking bread
for Union soldiers in the now famous tourist destination, the Jennie Wade
House. She was struck by a single bullet that traveled through
two wooden doors killing her instantly. Jennie Wade was 20 years old.
The house looks very much the same as it did over 140 years ago.
Jennie Wade History.
Jennie was born Mary
Virginia Wade on May 21, 1843 in a little town named Gettysburg, Adams
County, Pennsylvania. Jennie Wade's birthplace was in a another house
located on Baltimore Street. Her nickname "Ginnie" most likely came from her
middle name Virginia.
Jennie
Wade House History.
The Jennie Wade house, originally the
McClellan home, lived through the Battle of Gettysburg and witnessed the
tragic death of Gettysburg civilian Jennie Wade, as she was preparing
bread for the Union soldiers. This brick house was not a good spot to be
in during the fighting as it was between both armies and commonly
referred to as "No Man's Land". Northern
soldiers were setting up defenses South of town while Confederate forces
were occupying the North side of town. As both armies fired on each
other, the Jennie Wade home was struck repeatedly and riddled with
bullets. The north side received most of the damage as it faced the
Confederate position and today is marked with over 150 bullet holes.
Also causing damage to the Jenny Wade house was a Confederate 10-pounder
"Parrot" artillery shell. The shell hit and entered the Jennie wade
house going through and causing damage to the 2nd floor wall that
separated the two dwellings. Fortunately, the Civil War projectile did
not explode, and remained lodged in the house for many years after the
war until it was removed. Evidence of this direct hit can still be seen
today while taking the
tour of the Jenny Wade house.
The house is now a museum and contains a Gift Shop in the rear.
Did you know?
• Nicknames:
"Jennie", "Gin", or "Ginnie", Jenny Wade.
• Jennie Wade was the only Gettysburg
civilian to be killed during the Battle of Gettysburg.
• Jennie Wade was only 20 years old at the
time of her death.
•
Jennie's childhood sweetheart, Corporal
"Jack" Skelly, was mortally wounded at
the battle of Carters Woods.
• The name "Jennie" most likely came from a
misprint in the newspaper.
• After Jennie Wade's death, she was buried in
her sister's yard for about 6 months, then transferred to a cemetery
adjoined to the German Reformed Church, until her third and final resting
place in November 1865, in the Evergreen
Cemetery.
•Other civilians had died
later as a result of the Battle of Gettysburg. For many months after the
Gettysburg Battle, civilians would find un-exploded artillery shells or
loaded muskets in the surrounding fields. Gettysburg children would play
with them while others would try to dismantle them. This sometimes led
to the explosion of a shell or the discharging of a gun, either killing
or maiming them badly. This information was well documented in the local
newspapers such as the Adams Sentinel.
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