I may have to take back the part about the picnickers at the Gettyburg battle. I apologize for my error.
Yogi Berra once said, ' What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.'
I will try and relook at a few of the books I read one summer regarding the Civil War, back about 15 years ago.
In the meantime, found a couple of facts posted at
http://www.gettysburg.com/
As the two armies departed Gettysburg to continue the war elsewhere, the 2,000
citizens of Gettysburg
came out of their cellars and
back from their hurried escape to nearby towns. They returned to a community in shambles with almost every property damaged, houses looted, and all crops and food destroyed or stolen. Left behind were tens of thousands of casualties in and around the town. Nearly every house, barn and public building housed countless wounded badly needing attention. Many dead were left decaying where they fell, thousands of others were in shallow graves being dug up by animals. Lingering odors were sickening. Picture left: Trostle Farm after the battle with dead soldiers and horses in the yard.
Only civilian killed during the Gettysburg battle- Jennie Wade.
Between the Union line on Cemetery Ridge and the Confederate outposts in the town, was the home of Mrs. McClellan with her new baby. Helping her with the child’s care were her mother and her unmarried sister, Jennie Wade. Throughout July 1 and 2 Jennie baked bread for grateful Union soldiers. On the morning of July 3rd, while Jennie stood in the kitchen kneading dough, a bullet pierced the door and struck her, killing her instantly. The cries of her sister and mother attracted Union soldiers who carried Jennie’s body to the cellar. Jennie was the only Gettysburg citizen killed in the battle.