Carrie Sheads House

By Joe Bordonaro · Originally published March 2020 · p. 13

Carrie Sheads is truly an icon of American History. Twenty-seven years old at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, Caroline (Carrie) S. Sheads was the principal of the Oakridge Seminary for Girls. Her heroic actions, and that of her students, were hailed at the time; Carrie was featured in Frank Moore’s 1866 book Women of the War, and should be remembered by all Americans today. Her 11room family home also served as her seminary. The Sheads family suffered tragic losses due to the Civil War; two of Carrie’s four brothers, Elias J. Sheads, Co. F, 87th Penn. Vols., killed July 9, 1864, at the Battle of Monocacy, Md., and J. James Sheads, Co. B, 21 Penn. Cav., who died in the City Point, Va., hospital Oct. 25, 1864. Another brother, Robert E. Sheads, Co. A, Veteran Volunteers, was wounded at White Oak Swamp. He survived his wounds, but died at a young age not long after the war ended. In addition to these terrible personal losses, the seminary building suffered extensive damage due to its use as a hospital where both Confederate and Union soldiers were treated during and after the battle. In addition, the house was hit by artillery fire, and today still has a cannon ball stuck in the brickwork on one side. The building was hit in more than sixty places, and two shells passed entirely through it. The losses to his house and crops resulted in Carrie’s father, Elias, being awarded $180 by the government after the war. The house also was witness to Carrie’s heroic actions, when she hid a Union officer’s sword and thus prevented his being shot. The officer, Lt. Col. Charles Wheelock, 97th New York Infantry, had refused an order from a Confederate officer to surrender his sword, and was on the point of being shot, when Carrie intervened and pleaded for the colonel’s life. Distracted by the entrance of other prisoners, the Confederate officer left for a moment and did not see Carrie remove the sword from the officer’s belt and hide it in the folds of her dress. When he returned, the sword was nowhere to be

Debbie and Tim wedding photo.

Sheads seen and Lt. Col. Wheelock told him that he had surrendered it to another Confederate. The ruse worked and Carrie kept the sword safe. Five days after the battle, Lt. Col. Wheelock showed up unexpectedly and reclaimed his sword. He had escaped from the Confederates while being marched over South Mountain. He returned to duty with his sword and used it until his death, of “camp fever,” in Washington City in January 1865. Today, Tim and Debbie Sheads live in the famous Sheads House, located on Chambersburg Pike “Buford Ave.” (Rt. 30), not far from the center of town. Tim, a direct descendant of the Carrie Sheads family who bought the house when it finally came on the market, and Debbie operate S&S Sutler of Gettysburg, based in a building located behind their house. Many of their high-quality reproduction wares can be seen by visiting their well-known tent at larger Civil War reenactments. Tim and Debbie also participated in many Civil War reenactments before starting their business. Joe Bordonaro is a USAF veteran (1973–1977), Glassboro State College graduate (1980), Catholic school teacher (St. Joseph’s ProCathedral, 1983–1988), and retired public school teacher (Mullica Township School, 1988–2009). He has been involved with Civil War reenacting/living history since 1999. Joe began submitting articles to the Civil War News in 2005 and has been covering events for the News on a regular basis since 2016. Joe lives in Mount Laurel, NJ, and has been married to his wife Karen for 31 years. If you wish to contact Joe, you may send an email to [email protected].