August 31, 2015

** This blog published Mondays and Wednesdays **

If you’ve never visited Black Horse Tavern, a historic site very near Gettysburg which played a part in Longstreet’s counter-march on July 2nd, it’s quite easy to get there from town. Just take Fairfield Road past the Lutheran Seminary and keep straight until you see a sign at right that says “Black Horse Tavern Road.” Not only will you find a beautiful 18th century structure admired by thousands of Lee’s men, but also this mysterious little cemetery, the McClellan(d) Cemetery. There are 23 (known) burials, and being a details person, I thought it be nice to honor the folks buried here by including their names.

Most are of the McClellan family: Ann Eliza (1799 – 1812), Baltzer Spangler (1794 – 1815), David (d. 1813), a baby born and died 1823, Jacob (d. 1827), James (1767 – 1838), Margaret (d. 1817), Margaret (d. 1822), Samuel Wagner (1815 – 1816), and William (d. 1843). Other people said to be buried here are Elizabeth Butt (d. 1861), Col. William Davie DeSaussure (a Gettysburg casualty who was later reinterred), James Dinwiddie (dates unknown), Sarah Dinwiddie (1810 – 1813), Sarah McClelland Dinwiddie (1688 – 1744), Hugh Donwoody (dates unknown), Hugh Dunwoody (d. 1805), Jane McClure Dunwoody (1727 – 1781), William Dunwoody (1748 – 1767), Alexander Irvine (d. 1844), Sarah Jameson (1719 – 1807), John M. McLeary (d. 1844), and Huston G. Simpson (1923 – 1956).

I’m not sure why the last person on the list would have been buried here so late in time. It’s very likely all (or most) of these folks are related by marriage, but I couldn’t say how exactly. Interestingly, Jennie Wade, Gettysburg’s only civilian death, was the sister of Georgia Wade who married John Louis McClellan. In all likelihood, this is his family.

**HONORED TODAY**

1ST SGT. HUGH KELLY

Co. G, 69th Pennsylvania Infantry

Died July 20, 1863

1st Sgt. Kelly was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and after coming to America took up work as a painter. He originally served in the 27th Pennsylvania. Wounded on July 3rd, he succumbed less than 3 weeks later, and was buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Philadelphia.

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