Dealing with my upcoming paper on public opinion toward the battle of Gettysburg, a slight snag has arose. I have come across a first hand account on the internet to the battle from the diary of one Tillie Alleman. Yet with this account has come no biographical information dealing with her personally, ie. her age, education, etc. I was wondering if anyone has any idea as to who Tillie actually is. As my paper is near completion, this information would be invaluable.

May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. Sheldon Dickson

Sheldon:

Tillie was a young girl of 15 and a resident of Gettysburg during the battle. Her maiden name was Tillie Pierce. Her family home still stands on Baltimore St. in G-burg.

During the first day's fighting, her family moved her out of the town to a farm, thinking she would be safer there. It turned out that she ended up right behind the Union lines on the second and third day. The farm where she stayed became a field hospital, and this young girl witnessed much suffering and death.

Later in life, Mrs. Alleman wrote an account of of what she saw, and it is considered a very accurate and excellent first hand source. I have yet to read it, but I believe the title is "Gettysburg: What One Girl Saw.'

Perhaps one of the esteemed women of the group who are working on women in the Civil War can give you more detaliled information on Tillie Pierce Alleman.

Respectfully,

Guy M. Greeneltch

Esteemed member Marc73@aol.com contributes:

In regards to Tillie Pierce (Alleman was married name after the war) I take the following from "At Gettysburg, or What a Girl saw and heard of the battle" by Mrs. Tillie Pierce Alleman.

Matilda (Tillie) J. Pierce was born in Gettysburg in 1848 to James and margaret Pierce. She would be 15 at the time of the battle. Her father was a butcher by trade and the family lived in comparative financial comfort. He married Tillie's mother in 1835 who was Margaret McCurdy of Gettysburg. Tillie had two brothers James and William and one sister Margaret A. Brother James was with Co K 1st PA reserves and WilliamCo E 15th PA Cavalry, both survived the war.

Her father's butcher shop was at the SW corner of S baltimore and Breckridge Street.The original bldg is at 301-303 Baltimore Street.

Tillie was attending in 1863 the "Young Ladies Seminary" at gettysburg.

The book is widely available in reprint and i suggest all to read it as it gives a unique and corroborated account of what she saw at the battle. It is a very interesting read.

The reprint is by Butternut & Blue.

She Horace P. Alleman in 1871 who was a lawyer. They had 3 children and lived in Selinsgrove, PA (Our Town since 1976) Tillie died in 1914 and is buried in Selinsgrove at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetary which I am sad to say is in a very poor state.

Marc Riddell