Gettysburg Licensed Town Guides

08/21/2026

07/15/2026

From our friends at Gettysburg History.

If you are interested in learning more about Gettysburg's black history, see our website at https:// www.gbltg.com or call 717-253-5737 for tour information. Tours can also be scheduled with Viatour GetYourGuide.

Born in Carroll County, Maryland, Lloyd Watts moved with his family to Adams County before he reached the age of 16. His parents purchased a small farm south of town along the Emmitsburg Road, and Watts continued his education in the local schools. During the Civil War, he enlisted and served in the 24th United States Colored Troops and was promoted to Sergeant. After the war, he taught at Gettysburg’s “colored school,” was ordained a minister, and served as deacon of St. Paul’s A.M.E. Church for many years. He was active in pursuing justice and equality for all.

We look forward to sharing more stories of Gettysburg's Black community at the Hopkins House Museum, where the lives and contributions of individuals like Lloyd Watts will be remembered and celebrated.

07/10/2026

The Battle of Gettysburg was not Belle Stewart's last perilous experience. In the 1880's Belle, her brother Will, and cousin Catherine Foster were living in a small Cambria County town near the Conemaugh River, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh. The place they called home was Johnstown.

On May 31, 1889 heavy rains caused an earthen dam upriver to break apart sending floodwaters and debris through the town. The flood killed 2,208 people but by luck and providence, although their home was trapped in the floodwaters Belle, Will, and Catherine survived.

When Leander Wilcox, the soldier who Belle and Catherine sheltered during the battle heard the news, he was quick to respond. Belle wrote back assuring him of their safety. On June 26, 1889 he replied:

"Dear Miss Stewart,
..I am delighted to get the glad news of your wonderful escape. It seems your good Christian lives and my almost worthless one survive the awful incidents of wars and calamities & for some good purpose I hope.

I...shall be glad to personally render you any service, if you need anything, that I can, as your heroic conduct on my behalf at Gettysburg is as fresh in my memory as 26 years ago. I know from experience, you have the true courage to face even this horror, the worst ever known. I have seen you in one about as awful, only we were struggling for a principle but why this should come upon Johnstown no philosophy can solve."

We do not know if Belle took up Leander's offer of assistance. The family remained in Johnstown, where Will's daughter was born in 1893. Sometime before 1900 the family moved to Pittsburgh, where Belle passed away.

07/04/2026

Belle describes July 4, 1863 in Gettysburg:

"Saturday morning we arose to find ourselves again out of the Southern Confederacy, and once more under the "Stars and Stripes." What a happy 4th of July it was to the citizens of Gettysburg, one which by them will ever be remembered. But how many brave and noble men fell on the dreadful scene of conflict, how many hearts were made sad, and how many homes were made desolate throughout our land. What should we not be willing to sacrifice for those gallant men who came to our assistance, and were so successful in driving the enemy from our soil? And how truly thankful we should ever be to our kind Creator for the protecting care which he extended over us and for preserving us during those terrible three days battle."

But...unbeknownst to Belle...there is another frightening experience to come in the future.

07/03/2026

July 3, 1863 began no better than July 2 for Belle and the Fosters.

"Friday morning at daybreak the battle was again renewed with heavy musketry and cannonading and also a great deal of shelling. We were compelled to keep to our cellars all day. But here I must tell you of our providential escape.
..cousin and I were carrying some things off the [kitchen] table but the danger seemed so great that she went to the cellar but I still remained upstairs till I heard the shell penetrating the walls above. I then went to the cellar & I do not think five minutes had elapsed until one entered below through the room in which [we] had been...

Oh Mother you know nothing about war. Neither can I describe the sights I have seen. There was one man and his horse shot before our door the first day of the fight. Hundreds of the dead are yet unburied but it would take sheets to tell all."

In her back-to-school essay Belle writes, "During Friday we remained in the cellar almost all the time going up now and then to see if anything was on fire."

Friday ended better than it started and Saturday, July 4, was even better.

07/02/2026

In her July 10, 1863 letter home Belle describes how July 2 began:

" [At] daybreak we heard a terrible pounding on the door. On going down and opening the door whom should we meet but two very savage looking rebels. They asked if we had Yankees hid. On telling them we had none they said they could take no man's word and demanded a light to search. By this time uncle had come downstairs and while we went to get a light they demanded of him $50 & pointed their gun at his breast. He told them he had not that much but he gave them his purse and what he had in it. They then left without searching the house. But you may imagine how frightened we were."

Belle and the Fosters lied. They provided shelter to a Yankee solder who was hidden in the cellar.

Sometime after the battle Belle's teacher asked her students to write a description of the battle. In what ranks as the ultimate "What I Did This Summer" back-to-school essay Belle further describes the incident, saying that the rebels told her uncle they would not search the house if he gave them $50 "and with his gun pointed at uncle's breast one of them told him he would shoot him if he did not give it to him. He (uncle) told them they would have to shoot for he had not much in the house but he gave his pocket-book and what he had in it. They then left, without further ceremony. We began to fear least our soldier in the cellar was not safe."

As the family will find out on July 3, the cellar was safer than the house.

07/01/2026

On July 10, 1863 Belle writes a letter to her parents to reassure them of her safety. She describes her experiences during the three day battle. Here's what she had to say about July 1:

"Our lives have been mercifully preserved and I feel that we cannot be too thankful, for we no doubt made some very narrow escapes...

Firing commenced on Wednesday...the infantry began to come in and only a small part came through town but I can safely say that they were two hours in passing the street. Oh it was so hard to see the poor fellows just marching on as fast as they could to the cannons mouth...

Towards evening our forces fell back through town...the rebels then took possession of the town. Heavy cannonading was kept up from 4 till 9...and Mother, such a night I never passed and hope I never shall as long as I live. There we were entirely surrounded by the rebs and altogether at their mercy. We did not know what minute they might break in and perhaps take our lives. I do not think we slept an hour the whole night."

Belle and the Foster family had a wakeup call at daybreak on July 2.

06/27/2026

On June 27 Belle Stewart writes home to her brother Will about the June 26th invasion:

"...almost every day we would hear that the rebels were coming...after all our looking for and expecting them they took us almost by surprise as we did not hear they were coming until they were almost in sight. They entered the town yesterday evening around 4 o'clock.

The cavalry came first, then the infantry which marched through to the Diamond where they hoisted their miserable flag. The cavalry rode and took all the horses they could find.

They behaved themselves very honorably while in town, were very polite and quiet...the general placed a guard around the saloons and taverns and would not allow their men to have any liquor.

The news today is that Ho**er has crossed and is in pursuit of the rebels and also that Lee is on this side with his whole force.

I am afraid that they will yet make Pennsylvania the battle ground."

Little does she know that the battlefield will include the town.

06/19/2026

In 1863 nineteen year old Belle Stewart moved from her home in Westmoreland County to Gettysburg to board with her cousin Catherine Foster and attend the Gettysburg Female Institute. On June 19, 1863 she wrote a letter to her sister Anna. Exerpts of the letter are below:

"We have had very exciting times here all this week. On Monday evening we heard that the rebels had crossed the river...and that they were to be here that night."

"The citizens here at first thought that if they would come they would burn the town but they do not think so now as we have not heard of them burning any...all that they want seems to be horses and provisions."

"I never saw such excitement as there has been here all this week. Every day we hear something new, and so much so that it is altogether without foundation that we can scarcely credit anything that we hear."

"...I do not think that there is any danger. At first I was very much frightened to hear of the Rebs coming but now I do not feel afraid."

How does Belle feel after the battle? More to come from Belle in the days ahead.

06/16/2026

Welcome to Jim Foster, our third and latest addition to the Gettysburg Licensed Town Guides! Jim brings a lifelong passion for history and education to every tour.

Jim, a graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in history, has more than 30 years experience as a high school history and civics teacher. His decades in the classroom have helped him develop a talent for making historical events engaging, relevant, and memorable.

Jim lives in Gettysburg and has been inspired by the town's rich heritage and profound stories of courage and suffering. He is looking forward to helping visitors connect with those stories.

P.S. Jim also enjoys World War II reenacting.