Salome “Sallie” Myers was a 21 year old school teacher in Gettysburg who, like other civilians in the town, became a nurse during and following the battle. National Park Service seasonal intern Karen Cox, a student at Mount St. Marys University gave a “first person” presentation of Sallie’s experiences. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
Salome “Sallie” Myers was a 21 year old teacher at the High Street School in Gettysburg when the battle occurred in 1863. National Park Service Seasonal intern Karen Cox presented Sallie’s story to an audience this morning behind the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. Karen is very flexible in her portrayal of civilians at Gettysburg. She was previously featured with her presentation of Cornelia Hancock.
The day is July 7, 1863, and Sallie Myers is welcoming visitors to the hospital, and preparing them for the work ahead in this video clip. This view was taken from the east facing west at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
In this video clip, Sallie describes June 30, 1863 when Buford’s Cavalry arrived in Gettysburg, and the welcome given Buford’s men by the civilians. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
On July 1, 1863, Sallie spent most of the day with her family in the basement of their house on West High Street. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
In this video clip, Sallie describes how badly the battlefield smelled in the days and weeks following the battle. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
Sallie Myers’ Diaries are some of the best accounts we have of day to day life in Gettysburg. Unfortunately, her 1863 diary was stolen from the Adams County Historical Society years ago, and we only have the highlights that were copied before it was stolen. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.
In this clip, Sallie describes how she was asked to go to work at the hospital at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and how the first person that she met, Alexander Stewart, told her to help someone else because he was going to die. Sallie would later marry his brother. Their son, Dr. Henry Stewart, became a prominent physician and historian in the Gettysburg area. This view was taken from the southeast facing northwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Friday, August 1, 2008.