The Henry Winebrenner House located on Frederick Street southwest of the town square in Hanover, Pennsylvania, was located on part of the June 30, 1863 battlefield. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
The Henry Winebrenner House on Frederick Street in Hanover, Pennsylvania, was struck by a Confederate artillery round during the Battle of Hanover on June 30, 1863. Confederate Cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart engaged Union forces in this area southwest of the town square.
Henry Winebrenner was born June 29, 1809 in Heidelberg Township, York County, Pennsylvania, and died March 25, 1886 in Penn Township, York County, Pennsylvania. The 1850 census shows that he was a farmer in Heidelberg Township, but by 1863 he was a Tanner in Hanover. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
His wife, Sarah “Sally” (Forney) Winebrenner was born September 23, 1807 in Heidelberg Township, and died January 8, 1878 in Penn Township. Sarah and Henry were married on October 6, 1836 in the Emmanuel Reformed Church (Lutheran) in Hanover, Pennsylvania. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
The children of Henry and Sally Winebrenner were Peter Forney Winebrenner (1837-), David Edwin Winebrenner (1839-), Mary Forney Winebrenner (1841-), Sarah R. Winebrenner (1843-1913), Martha C. Winebrenner (1845-1928), and Henry Calvin Winebrenner (1848-). This is the northeast side of the house. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
We are looking back toward Frederick Street. During the Battle of Hanover on June 30, 1863, the Confederates first attacked from the southwest, or from left to right in this picture. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
During the fighting, Confederate artillery shells were fired toward the town, and the southwest side of the house. Most of the family was “huddled” on the first floor… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
…but Mrs. Winebrenner (Sally) and daughter Martha were on the second floor on the balcony, watching the action. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
Sally and Martha were standing near the door in the center of the balcony looking towards the Confederates to the southwest, when they saw a flash and heard the “roar” from a Confederate artillery piece. “We had better go downstairs; We are in danger here,” Sally told Martha. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
An artillery shell penetrated the balcony door, went through a chest of drawers, and somehow emerged in a first floor room where the rest of the family was gathered. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
The shell struck a brick wall, but failed to explode. Mr. Winebrenner then threw the shell outside into the yard. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
The walking tour of the Battle of Hanover, which is very good, contains approximately 17 waysides. Here is the wayside on the northwest corner of the Winebrenner House. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.
Here is a closeup of the wayside, which tells the Winebrenner story. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.