The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was epic and pivotal for many thousands – and profoundly involved people beyond the combatants.  About 2,400 civilians found that their lives were forever altered by those three days in July.  One of them was a young school teacher, a person never marked for fortune or prominence, but whose life nevertheless proved to be noteworthy and heroic.  She lived to the age of 79, and passed away in Gettysburg a century ago.  Her name was Sallie Myers Stewart.

Elizabeth Salome Myers was born on June 24, 1842 in Gettysburg.  She was one of seven children born to Peter and Margaret Myers; she was named her after her two grandmothers.  Her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Myers, died when her son, Peter, was only ten years old.  It was understandable then, that he would wish to name his first daughter after his beloved late mother.  Her maternal grandmother, Salome Troxell Sheads, was the daughter of John Troxell, Gettysburg’s first official settler.  As was the usual practice in the mid-19th century, the girl was familiarly called by her middle name, which, understandably, was shortened to Sallie.¹

Because of her diverse family tree, Sallie Myers was related to many in the town.  And, as education was an important factor in the family genes, Sallie decided, as did other relatives, to become a school teacher.

As the oldest daughter, Sallie was often tasked with household work.  She sewed, ironed, cleaned and often took care of her younger siblings – her four sisters and young brother, Peter.  When Peter died as a toddler, Sallie mourned him as much as a mother would have done.²

When the elder Salome died in 1860, her namesake granddaughter was in her eighteenth year, and attended the funeral.  The young Sallie began keeping a diary as early as 1854, and for much of her life recorded many events of historic interest, including her grandmother’s funeral.  “She, who was ever ready to sympathize with us in our sorrows, lies all unconscious of the tears which are shed around her….Struggle as I would I could not keep back the tears.”³

Before the war, Sallie’s life seemed like that of a normal adolescent.  She spent time with many friends, attended church often, had a beau, and endured frequent disagreements with her mother (who often seemed overbearing).  Sallie poured her secret thoughts and sentiments into her diary, opinions and feelings she did not share aloud.  She suffered frequently from headaches, and at times grew tired of the drama she experienced around her.  She even wrote a few times that she wished she were dead.  All of that changed dramatically when the Battle of Gettysburg arrived.⁴

Early in the war, Sallie’s older brother, Jefferson, and her father, Peter, offered their services to the Union army.  On Friday, June 26, 1863 the rumors of a Confederate invasion proved true for the residents of Gettysburg.  A contingent of Southern cavalry and John Gordon’s Georgia Brigade of infantry came to town from the Chambersburg Pike.  Sallie worked as a teacher at a nearby school for young women, along with her neighbor and close friend, Alice Powers.  When the headmistress learned of the approaching men in gray, she immediately closed the school and ordered the students and teachers to go home.⁵

General Jubal Early, a division commander from Virginia, made impossible demands upon the town, asking for several thousand dollars, shoes and supplies.  Sallie recorded that: “ they occupied the town for a day and a night and had their headquarters at the court-house.  We had a vague idea that the Rebels were a dreadful set of men, and we didn’t know what horrid things they might do.  So we mostly kept to our houses out of their way.  They demanded a great sum of money of the townspeople.  We couldn’t give it to them, and we were nearly scared to death.”  Fortunately for the Myers family, Peter Myers and his son, Jefferson, were home to offer at least some protection for the family.⁶

The Confederates left the next day, heading east toward York.  The townspeople heard the news that some troops from the Union army were close by, and rejoiced.  On June 30 the first sighting of men in blue arrived.  General John Buford’s cavalry entered the town at noon, riding up Washington Street within a few hundred yards of the Myers’s home.  Sallie joined a group of girls to welcome them.  The girls brought food and water, flowers, and sang patriotic songs.  Some of the songs included The Battle Cry of Freedom, Rally Round the Flag Boys, When This Cruel War Is Over, and the chorus of Our Union Forever.  Buford’s men responded enthusiastically with cheers and thanks.  These types of welcome were indeed rare for the soldiers, having been south of the Mason Dixon Line for most of their service.⁷

The residents of Gettysburg felt great relief when Buford’s cavalry encamped in and around Gettysburg.  “We never slept so well,” recorded one young man about that night.⁸

Had any of them realized what would transpire for the next several days – and the aftermath that would ensue, they would probably not have slept at all.

Sallie’s first sight of blood – something that sickened her greatly – was on the morning of July 1.  “At 10 O’clock that morning I saw the first blood.  A horse was led past our house covered with blood.  The sight sickened me.  Then three men came up the street.  The middle one could barely walk.  His head had been hastily bandaged and blood was visible.  I grew faint with horror.”  She added, “I had never been able to stand the sight of blood.  But I was destined to become accustomed to it.”⁹

On July 1, a terrible fight was fought west of town.  The Confederates, who managed to outnumber the Federals that day, pushed the survivors in blue through town.  The Union deployed on Cemetery Hill south of the borough and the Confederates took over the town of Gettysburg.  By nightfall, thousands of wounded poured into the town.  The St. Francis Xavier church, situated just doors away from the Peter Myers home, offered sanctuary to many of the Federal wounded.  The next morning, one of the regimental doctors went to the nearby homes, imploring the women to help with the countless sufferers. 

Sallie answered the call for aid and walked to the church on West High Street. When she opened the doors, she noticed “men were lying in the pews and on the floors.  I knelt by the first one inside the door and said: ‘What can I do for you?’  He replied: ‘Nothing, I am going to die.’ ”¹⁰

Unnerved by the stoic yet plaintive reply, Sallie immediately left the church interior.  She sat on the steps outside and cried.  “In a little while,” she wrote, “by a great effort, I controlled myself, re-entered the hospital and spoke again to the dying man.”  She learned that his name was Sergeant Alexander Stewart of the 149th Pennsylvania.  He had been shot through both lungs as his brigade attempted in vain to halt the Confederate advance near the McPherson farm.  Sallie read Bible passages to him; he spoke of his family at home.  He was married, his parents were yet living, and he had a younger brother, Henry, who had also enlisted.  Knowing that no one could be spared at the church to tend a dying soldier, she requested that he be moved to her home, where she could take care of him until his death.  The decision would change her life.¹¹

In all, twelve wounded soldiers came to the Myers’s home, tended by Sallie, her sisters, and her mother.  Ten survived, a testament to the considerable care given to them.  One of those who did not survive was Alexander Stewart, who passed away on July 6.  Sallie wrote to his family with the tragic news.  He was buried in a nearby church yard, until his father came to retrieve his son on July 16.¹²

Sallie remained busily engaged for the welfare of the many wounded from Gettysburg.  She received a letter from Alexander’s brother, Henry, thanking her for her conscientious care.  When the wounded left her home, there were still many convalescing – and dying – at the large tent hospital east of town known as Camp Letterman.  She continued nursing the soldiers all summer, until the camp struck tents for the final time.  “The sight of blood never again affected me ,” she said, “and I was among the wounded and dying men day and night.”¹³

In the late spring, 1864, Alexander’s widow, Elizabeth, and his brother, Henry, visited the Myers family.  Not only were they exceedingly grateful to Sallie for her constant care of Alexander in his final days, there was another reason.  Henry and Sallie had begun corresponding, and soon their mutual admiration grew.  They were married on October 17, 1867 at New Brighton, Pennsylvania.  The couple moved to nearby Jamestown, where Henry began his new occupation as a minister.¹⁴

Soon, Sallie became expectant with her first, and only, child.  Sadly, her husband fell victim to illness, and died before the couple had been married a year.  A few weeks later, on October 27, 1868, Alexander Henry Stewart was born.  Sallie returned with her infant son to Gettysburg, where both of them lived the rest of their lives.¹⁵

Sallie returned to teaching school to support herself and her son.  She became one of the first to teach minority children and was an integral party to establishing a school for them.  She attended reunions for Union veterans at Gettysburg, and attended the 50th Anniversary reunion in 1913.  She joined with the surviving “singing girls” in reminiscent patriotic songs for the event.  She also actively participated in Memorial Day commemorations every year.  She was elected Treasurer of the National Association of Army Nurses – a singular honor, as she had been a volunteer civilian nurse and not officially with the army.  During the influenza epidemic in 1918, she brusquely ordered more hygienic care for the suffering populace – and she was promptly obeyed.  In 1920, she cast her first vote for President of the United States.¹⁶

In her final years, Sallie lived with her son, a medical doctor, and his family.  She died, at age 79, on January 20, 1922 at 5:30 a.m. at her son’s home.  The cause of death was listed as bronchial pneumonia, with myocarditis named as a secondary prognosis.  On her death certificate, for the listing of occupation, her son wrote, “ Beloved Teacher ”.  She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.¹⁷

A century later, Sallie Myers Stewart is still remembered.  She saw drastic change in her country and changed metamorphically herself, which she had done out of necessity.  The young, depressed girl who hid her diary to write her suppressed emotions had grown to a woman of great accomplishments.  To the end of her days, she corresponded with the soldiers she had saved, as well as their families.  She paid frequent visits to the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg – and placed flags on the tombstones herself every year for Decoration Day.

One of her great legacies would be her surviving journals, where history was recorded and where essential knowledge of what she witnessed is well documented.

Out of small efforts, great things can be accomplished, and Elizabeth Salome Myers Stewart certainly proved it.

1.  Myers Family File, ACHS. 

2.  Rodgers, pp. 27-28. 

3.  Ibid., p. 17. 

4.  Ibid. pp. 117, 141. 

5.  Alleman, p. 23.  Fortunately, both Peter and Jefferson Myers were honorably discharged before the Battle of Gettysburg and survived the war. 

6.  Johnson, p 177.  Pfanz, p. 14.  Peter     Myers Military Records, NARA.  John Jefferson Myers Military Records, NARA. 

7.  Shue, p. 36.  Alleman, p. 24. 

8.  Skelly Civilian Account File, ACHS. 

9.  Johnson, pp. 177-178. 

10.  "The Care of the Wounded", Sallie Myers Stewart Civilian Account File, ACHS. 

11.  Rodgers, pp. 153-154. 

12.  Conklin, p. 117.  Kennell, p. 67. 

13.  Rodgers, p. 157. 

14.  Ibid., p. 207. 

15.  Kennell, p. 67.  Rodgers, pp. 208-209. 

16.  Kennell, p. 68.   Rodgers, pp. 265, 271. 17. Death Certificate, Salome Myers Stewart, Ancestry.com.  Kennell,p. 68.