Harrisburg, PA

HARRISBURGH, the seat of justice of Dauphin co., and capital of Pa., is situated on the east bank of Susquehanna river, 97 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and 110 miles from Washington. It is a borough, built on rising ground, which subsides toward Paxton creek into a plain. From the elevation upon which the Statehouse stands, appears a wide and varied prospect of hills, fertile vales, and winding streams...Manufactures, to a considerable extent, are produced in Harrisburgh, and the town is gradually increasing in population and wealth. (Fanning's, 1853)
Place Unit Type
City or Town
Containing Unit
Date Type
Abraham Lincoln secretly heads directly to Washington arriving in the early morning hours Campaigns/Elections
Abraham Lincoln visits Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and from there secretly travels directly to Washington Campaigns/Elections
Abraham Lincoln's funeral train leaves Harrisburg and rolls across the Pennsylvania countryside to Philadelphia Personal
Alleged fugitive slave arrested in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and sent that evening to Philadelphia Slavery/Abolition
- Andrew Gregg Curtin serves as Governor of Pennslyvania Legal/Political
At ten o'clock in the morning President Lincoln's remains reach Baltimore to lie in state there for several hours Personal
Confederate cavalry occupy Mechanicsburg, just nine miles from the Pennsylvania state capitol Battles/Soldiers
Eli Slifer elected to his second term as Pennsylvania State Treasurer Campaigns/Elections
Failed rescue in Philadelphia of a Virginia fugitive being returned to slavery Slavery/Abolition
First company of volunteers from Carlisle, Pennsylvania leaves for training, equipment, and service Carlisle/Dickinson
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania elects Democrat William H. Kepner as its first mayor Campaigns/Elections
In Harrisburg, Andrew Gregg Curtin sworn in as the Pennsylvania's first Republican governor Campaigns/Elections
In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Republicans nominate former Union General John White Geary for governor Campaigns/Elections
In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, white soldiers smash up African-American dwellings and establishments Crime/Disasters
In Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania legislature enacts pensions for war widows with children Lawmaking/Litigating
In Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania legislature postpones the Philadelphia municipal election Campaigns/Elections
In Johnstown, Pennsylvania, disaster strikes for hundreds when a viewing platform collapses. Crime/Disasters
In Pennsylvania, the Prince of Wales tours the state capitol in Harrisburg US/the World
In Pennsylvania, thousands of logs travel down the Susquehanna on a flood when a log boom breaks Business/Industry
In Philadelphia, the U.S. Commissioner frees Harrisburg alleged fugitive slave Daniel Dangerfield Slavery/Abolition
In Tennessee, the Seventh Pennsylvania's bold cavalry charge wins their leader a Medal of Honor Battles/Soldiers
James Buchanan enters the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legal/Political
Major General N.J.T. Dana named as the commander of the defenses of Philadelphia Battles/Soldiers
Pennsylvania Democrats convene in Harrisburg, praise the president, nominate Hiester Clymer for governor Campaigns/Elections
Pennsylvania has a public debt of more than thirty-eight million dollars Lawmaking/Litigating
- Pennsylvania Opposition Party Convention nominates Cameron for President and Curtin for Governor Campaigns/Elections
Pennsylvania Republicans meet in Harrisburg and Philadelphia to ratify the recent nominations in Chicago Campaigns/Elections
Pennsylvania votes $500,000 for the expansion of its militia Lawmaking/Litigating
Philadelphia Constitutional Unionists support the postponement of the city elections Campaigns/Elections
Philadelphia Democrats protest the postponement of the city elections Campaigns/Elections
Reading, Pennsylvania militia artillery unit called to service arrives in Harrisburg Battles/Soldiers
Robert Brown, a fugitive slave from Virginia, arrives in Philadelphia after crossing Potomac on horseback Slavery/Abolition
Senator Douglas's campaign swing reaches Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Campaigns/Elections
- The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church meets in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in a special session. Religion/Philosophy
- The fugitive slave case of Daniel Dangerfield from Harrisburg causes popular excitement in Philadelphia Legal/Political
The Governor of Pennsylvania misses his connection with the President at Hanover Junction Education/Culture
The Pennsylvania Democratic State Convention opens in Harrisburg Campaigns/Elections
The Prince of Wales is in Washington, DC, hosted at the White House US/the World
- The Prince of Wales visits Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania US/the World
The Wills family hosts President Lincoln for the night in Gettysburg Education/Culture
Burial Place of
Name Type
Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, PA Location or Site
Date Title
Alexander Kelly McClure to Eli Slifer, November 20, 1854
Joseph C. Bustill to William Still, March 24, 1856
Joseph C. Bustill to William Still, April 28, 1856
Joseph C. Bustill to William Still, May 31, 1856
New York Times, "Views of Senator Cameron on Public Affairs," January 22, 1857
New York Times, "Freshet in the Susquehanna River," February 10, 1857
New York Times, “The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Question,” April 27, 1857
G. S. Nelson to William Still, May 27, 1857
Ezra L. Stevens to William Still, July 11, 1858
Boston (MA) Liberator, “The Underground Railroad,” October 8, 1858
New York Times, “Democratic State Convention at Harrisburg,” March 19, 1859
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “Slave Arrested in Harrisburgh [Harrisburg], Pa.,” April 4, 1859
New York Times, “Fugitive Slave Case in Pennsylvania,” April 5, 1859
James Buchanan to Charles E. Wentz, April 22, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American, “Arrest of a Supposed ‘Harper’s Ferry Insurrectionist,’” October 26, 1859
Carlisle (PA) American Volunteer, "The Underground Railroad," November 3, 1859
Alexander Kelly McClure to Eli Slifer, April 14, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “As Was Expected,” September 18, 1860
New York Herald, “Cabinet Rumors from Pennsylvania,” January 1, 1861
Worthington G. Snethen to Abraham Lincoln, February 15, 1861
Abraham Lincoln's Reply to Andrew Curtin at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1861
Abraham Lincoln's Address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly at Harrisburg, February 22, 1861
Atchison (KS) Freedom’s Champion, “Mr. Lincoln at Washington,” March 2, 1861
New York Times, “Hon. David Wilmot United States Senator,” March 15, 1861
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin's Proclamation, April 20, 1861
William Willey to Waitman Willey, April 22, 1861
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “Interesting Incident at Camp Curtin,” April 25, 1861
William Willey to Waitman Willey, April 29, 1861
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “Does It Pay to Feed Passing Troops?,” July 3, 1861
New York National Anti-Slavery Standard, "Speech of Rev. M.D. Conway," August 9, 1862
General Order of General Darius Couch, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1863
Lowell (MA) Citizen & News, “Points of Present Interest,” June 17, 1863
New York Times, “Pennsylvania and Her Governor,” June 17, 1863
New York Times, “A Word to Pennsylvania,” June 26, 1863
Washington (DC) National Intelligencer, “Rebel Occupation of Carlisle,” June 30, 1863
New York Herald, “The Rebel Occupation of Carlisle,” July 1, 1863
Cincinnati (OH) Gazette, “Excitement in Lancaster,” July 2, 1863
Philadelphia (PA) North America and United States Gazette, “A Desperate Battle At Gettysburg,” July 3, 1863
New York Times, “What Pennsylvania has Escaped,” July 6, 1863
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “A Great Peril Escaped,” July 7, 1863
"A Voice from the Dead," Patriot and Union Editorial, November 24, 1863
Entry by Samuel Elliot, December 26, 1864
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Reception of Colored Troops,” November 15, 1865
Philadelphia (PA) North American, "Reception of Colored Troops," November 15, 1865
Bangor (ME) Whig and Courier, “Protection of the Freedmen,” November 22, 1865
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "Generals Meade and Butler on Negro Soldiers," November 25, 1865
Resolutions, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Convention, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1866
Selected Resolutions, Pennsylvania Republican Party Convention, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1866
How to Cite This Page: "Harrisburg, PA," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/9152.