Harrisburg, PA

Headnote
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/node/9152.