Notable People
Henry P. Fletcher
Henry P. Fletcher
Henry P. Fletcher
Diplomat, Statesman and Rough Rider
Corporal Rihl
Corporal Ulric Dahlgren
Anderson Family
First Union Soldier Killed North of Mason-Dixon Line
June 22, 1863
Corporal Ulric Dahlgren
Corporal Ulric Dahlgren
Corporal Ulric Dahlgren
"Dahlgren Incident" in Greencastle, PA
Captain Ulric Dahlgren
Famous "Dahlgren Incident" in Greencastle, PA
On Thursday, July 2, 1863, Capt. Ulric Dahlgren, Union cavalry, with a small contingent of 10 men, secreted themselves in the southeast corner of the square and lay in wait for a group of Confederates as they entered the square from South Carlisle Street. Gunfire erupted and a skirmish of several minutes ensued with the Union soldiers becoming the victors. Confiscated from a valise was a message from the high command in Richmond to Gen. Robert E. Lee, informing him that no more troops would be sent to back him up at Gettysburg. Instead of Lee reading the message, it was in the hands of Gen. Meade by late evening of the same day. Was the skirmish on the square in Greencastle and the captured message meant for Lee the impetus behind the turning point in the Battle of Gettysburg?
Capt. Ulric Dahlgren was considered by the people of Greencastle to be their “hero!” He and his men were the first Union soldiers they had seen in weeks, during the invasion of their homes, farms, and town by thousands of men in their gray and butternut uniforms. Dahlgren was honored by the town of Greencastle, by naming one of its streets in the southern part of town after him.
