Nellie E. (Aughinbaugh) Leeds was born in Gettysburg on August 18, 1843. Though she and her family moved around Gettysburg, when the Battle of Gettysburg occurred on July 1-3, 1863, 19-year-old Nellie and her family were living on Carlisle Street. Her personal experience of the Battle of Gettysburg has been relayed by her daughter, Louie Dale Leeds, and has been preserved by the Adams County Historical Society. Below is an excerpt of her story, in which “Mother” refers to Nellie Aughinbaugh, and “grandfather” refers to Nellie’s father, Jacob Aughinbaugh.
“During the first day of the battle a Union soldier was shot down right in front of Mother’s home. Soon after, a Confederate came along, and he searched the dead man’s clothes, but finding nothing of value, he tossed what he did find into the window of Mother’s house, saying they might be interested. The principal thing was a small picture of the dead man and apparently his wife and two little children. My grandfather went out, rolled the body up in a blanket that belonged to the man, and laid it near the house. In a few minutes another Confederate came along, rolled the body out of the blanket and went through the pockets, as the other had done. Again grandfather went out and repeated his previous act. This he had to do in intervals all day, as long as the body remained there…
Sharp shooters were stationed all through the town to do their deadly work. Mother and her father stood at their door talking to a Union soldier, when a bullet from a sharp shooter concealed in a building across the street, struck a button on the soldier’s blouse and glanced off. Mother said he very calmly took out his knife, cut off the button, and handed it to her as he remarked, ‘Young ladies are often fond of souvenirs. Maybe you would like to have this one.’”
You can read Nellie’s full story in her book, Personal Experiences of a Young Girl During the Battle of Gettysburg, for sale now at the Adams County Historical Society and online here. Also, check out our other Battle of Gettysburg Civilian Accounts, At Gettysburg by Tillie Pierce and Memories of the Battle of Gettysburg by Mary Warren.
This first-hand account has been reprinted exactly as it was originally written, with all spelling and grammar errors preserved for the sake of historical accuracy.
