andersonblue
Private
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2016
Thank you! Fantastic!
Thanks for your response and the link! Even better than $5!
I'm the great, great grandson of Absalom Shetter. It was my forefather who owned Shetter's Orchard/Woods that was later renamed Messersmith's Woods. He was a Mennonite, Union volunteer whose farm & orchard were occupied by Gen. Lee & part of Army of N.Virginia as headquarters from June 26-30, 1864. During their departure to Gettysburg, they seized all of his stores & livestock. Absalom lost everything to the rebel army over the next 3 days, including his sanity. He was found hanging in his orchard July 4. 1863 and buried by his neighbors, Jacob & Eliza Stouffer....
Don't really think Gen.Lee condoned any abusive behavior in relation to Ab Shetter. Rules of war, just wanted documented facts of his death & the strange renaming of the farm/Woods afterwards.
Great-great grandson of Absalom Shetter here to clarify that Shetter’s Woods & Orchard were the occupied headquarters of R.E. Lee from June 26-30, 1863. A Mennonite farmer, 30 years old, Absalom Shetter was found hanging in his own orchard on July 1, 1863 following the Army of Northern Virginia’s departure to Cashtown & Gettysburg. The army took all of Absalom’s stores & livestock, stripped the unripened crop from his orchard and in his relief at their departure and in violation of his sacred faith, Chambersburg authorities declared that when he was found hanging in his orchard, that it was suicide. I personally question their conclusions and find the renaming of the Woods & Orchard very suspicious.Hello All,
I am in process of reading Shelby Foote’s second volume of his Civil War: A Narrative and on page 444 of that book he mentions Shetter’s Woods. He explains that General Lee and his staff stayed in that woods on June 27 of 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign. I was curious and researched online that name of Shetter’s Woods and did not find anything under that title. However the search did mention Messersmith Woods and the same date of June 27 of 1863 as the site of Lee’s stay with his staff. My question is: are Shetter’s Woods and Messersmith Woods known by two different names or was this an error on Mr. Footes research and the title should have been Messersmith Woods?
I am by no means trying to nitpick Mr. Foote or find fault with him as I respect him but really want to know why this area that Lee stayed on June 27 appears to have two names.
Any help appreciated.
General Lee didn't just "slam" Ab Shetter. JEB on the right flank, Imboden on the left flank, were order to strip the Pennsylvania countryside of every usable thing they could find that wasn't tied down. Mainly, cattle , sheep and horses and of course wagons.How to resolve that with "...During their departure to Gettysburg, they seized all of his stores & livestock. Absalom lost everything to the rebel army over the next 3 days..."
You're very kind to absolve Lee of responsibility for that, but "Rules of War" seems a bit of a stretch. Used that way, "Rules of War" also justified Lee's taking free Penn. blacks back to Virginia to be sold into slavery.
You know, if Ab Shetter was slammed by Lee's army, he was slammed by Lee's army.
I believe that there is a sign on Rt 30 in Chambersburg where Messersmith's Wood was.
Hello All,
I am in process of reading Shelby Foote’s second volume of his Civil War: A Narrative and on page 444 of that book he mentions Shetter’s Woods. He explains that General Lee and his staff stayed in that woods on June 27 of 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign. I was curious and researched online that name of Shetter’s Woods and did not find anything under that title. However the search did mention Messersmith Woods and the same date of June 27 of 1863 as the site of Lee’s stay with his staff. My question is: are Shetter’s Woods and Messersmith Woods known by two different names or was this an error on Mr. Footes research and the title should have been Messersmith Woods?
I am by no means trying to nitpick Mr. Foote or find fault with him as I respect him but really want to know why this area that Lee stayed on June 27 appears to have two names.
Any help appreciated.
Little known fact, after occupying Shetter’s Woods & Orchard, Absalom Shetter was found hanging in his own orchard after the Confederate Army left Chambersburg
I'm the great, great grandson of Absalom Shetter. It was my forefather who owned Shetter's Orchard/Woods that was later renamed Messersmith's Woods. He was a Mennonite, Union volunteer whose farm & orchard were occupied by Gen. Lee & part of Army of N.Virginia as headquarters from June 26-30, 1864. During their departure to Gettysburg, they seized all of his stores & livestock. Absalom lost everything to the rebel army over the next 3 days, including his sanity. He was found hanging in his orchard July 4. 1863 and buried by his neighbors, Jacob & Eliza Stouffer. My great grandfather, Sam Gelsinger also served in the Union army (mustered out 8/12/1863) and owned farm at Guilford Springs for decades after war, just south of Chambersburg that was lost in Great Depression.
Visited my ancestor, Absalom Shetter's 7/1/1863 grave in Stoufferstown Cemetery across the street from site of Shetter's Orchard at Falling Spring Branch. From Jacob Stouffer's diary 7/1/1863, "Deeply saddened to learn my friend & neighbor, Absalom Shetter was found hanging in his orchard this morning. Going next door to assist with burial." Note that Stouffer's diary never says he hanged himself.
As his direct ancestor, I wish to dispute the manner of Absalom Shetter's death. No witness to his hanging, only that he was found in a tree on the morning of July 1st, 1863. Civil authorities declared it suicide. No Mennonite would do what they say he did, it's an affront to his faith. As to a 30 year-old Shetter wandering at dusk muttering to himself on June 30th after Lee&Army left, any man would be beside himself at the violation of his home (Lee's Headquarters) & destruction of all his work at Shetter's Orchard. Something doesn't seem quite right with Shetter's death according to Chambersburg civil authorities. Plus the renaming of the Woods/Orchard to obscure the historical facts. Wasn't Pickets division in Chambersburg that night? At Shetter's Woods? Trod the ground along the Falling Spring Branch there and it's one of the most beautiful places in Chambersburg. More research on "Messersmith's Woods?" to follow.
It's a great little gem rich with history in Chambersburg. We go there often.