The Shriver House in Gettysburg is one of the town’s much-visited attractions, known for telling the stories of the Shrivers and their home during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house has been investigated to verify blood stains in its attic, which was a shelter for Confederate sharpshooters during the battle and the site of at least one Confederate death.

George Washington Shriver’s life in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was emblematic of the many civilians whose lives were upended by the Civil War. Born in 1836, George grew up on a prosperous farm that included a distilling business. George grew to be an entrepreneur and a family man, living with his wife, Henrietta “Hettie” Shriver, and their two daughters, Sadie and Mollie. As war loomed, George’s life took a dramatic turn, leading him from the quiet streets of Gettysburg to the battlefields of Virginia and ultimately to a tragic fate in one of the Confederacy’s most notorious prison camps.

Life Before the War: Business and Family

Before the Civil War, George Shriver was building a life for himself and his family in Gettysburg. In 1860, he constructed a new brick home on Baltimore Street, which housed his family on the upper floors. His plan was to operate a tavern and ten-pin (bowling) alley in the building’s basement, hoping to attract both locals and travelers. These businesses would provide entertainment and refreshments, contributing to the local economy of Gettysburg.

However, the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 brought those plans to a sudden halt.

Enlistment in Cole’s Cavalry

With the war raging and Union territory under threat, George Shriver enlisted in Cole’s Maryland Cavalry Battalion, also known as the 1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry. This unit, formed from Maryland and Pennsylvania men loyal to the Union, played a crucial role in defending the border regions between Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. As part of the cavalry, George and his fellow soldiers patrolled the Potomac River, conducting reconnaissance missions and engaging in skirmishes with Confederate forces.

One of the most persistent threats to Cole’s Cavalry came from John S. Mosby’s Rangers, a Confederate partisan unit known for its guerrilla tactics and surprise raids. The skirmishes between Mosby’s men and Cole’s Cavalry were a constant element of the conflict in Northern Virginia, making the service of men like George Shriver both perilous and unpredictable.

The Battle of Loudoun Heights and Capture

On January 1, 1864, George Shriver’s fate took a decisive turn during the Battle of Loudoun Heights. This engagement occurred near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and was part of the ongoing clashes between Cole’s Cavalry and Mosby’s Rangers. Mosby launched a surprise attack on the Union forces, catching many of Cole’s men off guard. The battle saw fierce fighting, and several members of Cole’s Cavalry were captured, including George Shriver.

After his capture, George was likely moved to a Confederate holding facility in Virginia, possibly passing through the infamous Libby Prison or Belle Isle, which were common transit points for Union prisoners. His journey through the Confederate prison system eventually led him further south to Andersonville Prison, formally known as Camp Sumter.

Life and Death at Andersonville

George Shriver arrived at Andersonville in early 1864, during the initial months of its operation. The prison, located in Georgia, had been established to house the growing number of Union prisoners captured by Confederate forces. Though intended to hold 10,000 men, Andersonville quickly became overcrowded, with more than 32,000 prisoners confined in its open stockade at its peak.

Conditions at Andersonville were brutal. Prisoners faced severe overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of clean water, and unsanitary conditions. The camp offered little shelter from the elements, with many prisoners relying on makeshift tents or simply sleeping in the open. Food was scarce, and what was available was often of poor quality. The lack of adequate nutrition led to widespread scurvy and dysentery, while poor sanitation contributed to outbreaks of disease.

For George Shriver, the hardships of Andersonville proved too great to endure. Like many of his fellow Union soldiers, he succumbed to the dire conditions of the prison, dying in 1864. His death left a profound impact on his family, who were already struggling with his absence and the challenges of living in a town scarred by the recent battle.

Hettie Shriver: Life After George

While George faced captivity in the South, Hettie Shriver managed the household in Gettysburg, raising their two daughters amidst the upheaval of war. During the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, Hettie took her children to the relative safety of her parents’ farm, just five miles from town, while Confederate soldiers occupied their Baltimore Street home. After the battle, she returned to find Gettysburg forever changed, with homes and businesses—including theirs—turned into makeshift hospitals and shelters for wounded soldiers.

The death of George left Hettie a widow, struggling to support her daughters without his income or assistance. She remained in Gettysburg until her death in 1870, only a few years after George’s passing. Their story is one of loss and resilience, emblematic of the countless families whose lives were irrevocably altered by the Civil War.

Legacy of the Shriver Family

Today, the Shriver House stands as a testament to the civilian experience during the Civil War. The home has been restored to its 19th-century appearance and now serves as a museum, offering a window into the lives of George, Hettie, and their children before, during, and after the war. Visitors can see evidence of its wartime occupation, including bullet holes and artifacts left behind by Confederate sharpshooters who used the home as a vantage point during the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Shriver family’s story highlights the impact of the Civil War on ordinary Americans. George’s transition from an aspiring businessman to a soldier, and ultimately to a prisoner of war, underscores the unpredictable and tragic nature of the conflict. The loss faced by Hettie and their daughters is a reminder of the sacrifices made not just by soldiers on the battlefield but by the civilians who struggled to maintain their lives in the war’s shadow.

In remembering George Shriver, we also honor the resilience of the countless families like his who lived through the turmoil of the Civil War, their lives forever intertwined with the history of Gettysburg.