Rebs’ short York visit creates long memories – 5/31 iconic images
Confederate soldiers lower the large American flag in York’s Centre Square on June 30, 1863, after the town’s fathers had surrendered the day before. The rebels marched uncontested into the undefended Pennsylvania town. Immediately after settling in, Gen. Jubal Early’s rebels requisitioned food, supplies and money. The town complied with everything but the $100,000 requisition, delivering only about $28,000. Background posts: Carnegie to Farquhar: ‘… I am ready to go out and enjoy myself’ , Pro/Con: Should York’s leaders have surrendered to the rebels? and Unsung farmhouse loud symbol of a shaping moment for York.
Another in a series of images that point to events or moments that help define York County… .
In plain view: Some of more than 6,000 rebel soldiers occupying York County, Pa., are detailed to take down the town’s main flag. After some debate, the town’s fathers left the flag up knowing it would be captured. The rebels occupied York for about two days before their recall to the Gettysburg area where a battle was brewing. York became the largest town north of the Mason-Dixon Line to surrender to the invaders.
Behind the scene: The occupation established York as one of the few communities north of the Mason-Dixon Line with a direct role in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars. But some York residents were embarrassed then that their town did not resist the rebels and, in fact, sought them out to surrender. To this day, York promotes its Revolutionary War successes foremost, despite a warning from a diarist writing to her cousin. The Confederate invasion, Cassandra Small writes, is a “matter never to be forgotten.” Those witnessing the lowering of the American flag that day undoubtedly connected an irony of two historical events happening in York: On that spot, the Articles of Confederation were adopted, creating a confederacy of states in the face of the British invasion. On the same spot 86 years later, the lowering of the flag symbolized that the confederacy had come apart in the face of an invasion by another foreign power.
Further details: This image came from the York County Heritage Trust’s book “Lewis Miller, Sketches and Chronicles.” That 1966 publication, now out of print, contains many – but certainly not all – of the trust’s collection of 19th-century scenes by the carpenter/artist.
Posts in this series:
– 400 years ago, John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay – 1/31 iconic images
– Declaration signer James Smith tops York County patriot list – 2/31 iconic images
– Going to market a longtime York County pastime – 3/31 iconic images
– William C. Goodridge: From slavery to success story – 4/31 iconic images
– Rebs’ short York visit creates long memories – 5/31 iconic images
–Artist Horace Bonham captured everyday life – 6/31 iconic images
–York County farm vs. factory tension relieved in overnight raid – 7/31 iconic images
– York County stood firmly behind Allies on all fronts in WW II – 8/31 iconic images
– Downtown thrived in post-WW II York – 9/31 iconic images
– After WWII success, Farquhar sells assets to out-of-town outfit – 10/31 iconic images.
– Sears, York County Shopping Center in the middle of things – 11/31 iconic images
– Three Mile Island emergency indelibly written into memories – 12/2 iconic images.
– People of varying religious groups founded York County – 13/31 iconic images
– President Reagan: ‘Harley is back and standing tall’ – 14/31 iconic images
– York’s mayor: ‘We are no longer unprotected’ – 15/31 iconic images
– Grange Hall represented past way of York County life – 16/31 iconic images.
– York County Honors Choir product of proud moment – 17/31 iconic images.
– Meeting of riot victims brought hope for racial accord – 18/31 iconic images.
– Property rights foundational factor in Lauxmont dispute – 19/31 iconic images.
– New baseball diamond serves as York cornerstone – 20/31 iconic images
– Season 2 of York’s campaign to come back – 21-23 of 31 iconic images
– York on knees as its men storm Normandy beaches – 24-25 of 31 iconic images
– One image illustrates two long-neglected subjects in York area – 26-27 of 31 iconic images
– Images explain changes in York County factories, farms – 28-29 of 31 iconic images
York County still home to unvarnished beauty – 30/31 iconic images
Latinos most recent migrant group to call York County home – 31/31 iconic images
To see the full series of iconic photos in a special York Daily Record/Sunday News publication, click here.
