"Tell Mother Not to Worry": Soldier Stories From Gettysburg’s George Spangler Farm

by Ronald D. Kirkwood

The George Spangler Farm in Gettysburg is a place of reverence. Nurses held the hands of dying soldiers and prayed and spoke last words with them amid the blood, stench, and agony of two hospitals. Heroic surgeons resolutely worked around the clock to save lives. Author Ronald D. Kirkwood’s best-selling “Too Much for Human Endurance”: The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg established the military and medical importance of the Spangler farm and hospitals. “Tell Mother Not to Worry”: Soldier Stories From Gettysburg’s George Spangler Farm is Ron’s eagerly awaited sequel.Kirkwood researched thousands of pensions and military records, hospital files, letters, newspapers, and diaries of those present at the hospitals on Spangler land during and after the battle. The result is a deeper and richer understanding of what these men and women endured—suffering that often lingered for the rest of their lives. Their injuries and deaths, Yankee and Rebel alike, carried with it not only tragedy and sadness for parents, spouses, and children, but often financial devastation as well.“Tell Mother Not to Worry” profiles scores of additional soldiers and offers new information on events and experiences at the farm, including the mortally wounded Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead. This sequel also includes another chapter on the often-overlooked First Division, II Corps hospital at Granite Schoolhouse, a wounded list for that division, and a chapter on Col. Edward E. Cross, who died at Granite Schoolhouse in the middle of Spangler land. Kirkwood concludes by continuing the story of George and Elizabeth Spangler and their four children after the war and ends with an uplifting chapter on their modern-day descendants and how they were found after the release of “Too Much for Human Endurance.”Kirkwood’s sequel increases the understanding of the lives of the soldiers and their families and adds depth to the story of George and Elizabeth Spangler’s farm.

Genres: Civil War

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 9, 2024

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gettysburg-a small town in Pennsylvania that is known for the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. From July 1st-July 3rd, men of the Army of Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia fought each other that cost over 50,000 casualties. The whole area was converted into a hospital. The Spangler Farm was among the many farms that became a hospital. Ronald Kirkwood's book tells the story of the men who fought at Gettysburg and were taken here for care. Each chapter tells a story of a soldier or soldiers from both sides. The most famous patient at the Spangler Farm was Lewis Armistead, who was one of Pickett's brigade commanders and put his sword through his hat as he led his brigade across the field to Cemetery Ridge. There is an explanation of how the person died at the end by a doctor.

I enjoyed this book a lot because it tells the human story of the battle. It is not tactics and strategy; it is about men who joined their respected side to fight for what they believed in. These men were sons, brothers, friends, husbands, and fathers when a war destroyed their lives. The stories in this book are touching. The one that stood out to me was Colonel Edward Cross of Caldwell's division of Hancock's Second Corps, who eerily predicted that Gettysburg would be his last battle. His story was emotional to read and symbolizes the tragedy of war.

I can't recommend this book enough. It is a short but powerful read. Kirkwood excels letting the stories of the soldiers be told and including the expertise of medical professionals. A great book!

[Mark Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must begin with this disclaimer. I am a docent at the Spangler Farm, and I count the author of this book as a personal friend. Even so, I believe I can say with credibility that this book is an excellent and necessary addition to any Civil War bookshelf.

After setting the stage in his inaugural Spangler Farm book, Too Much For Human Endurance, Kirkwood follows with an important companion work telling additional stories of the men who found themselves at the farm as patients during and following the Battle of Gettysburg. Historical sites are only important because of the stories of the individuals who occupied those spaces, and this book adds even more dimension the Spangler Farm story.

All Civil War battles, including Gettysburg, were much more than the soldiers and officers in combat; the wounded post battle and the civilians and the surgeons and the nurses and the civilian support organizations were as much a part of the story as the fighting. And Kirkwood ensures that we have a clear understanding of those stories.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

i heard about this book on a gettysburg-related podcast that i listen to and had to read it for myself. my 3x great-grandmother’s first husband was wounded on lower culp’s hill and taken to the XI corps hospital at the spangler farm where he died july 4, after having his arm amputated on the property.

i read hopefully, wondering if the author had maybe uncovered something of his experience that i hadn’t found yet. here’s a spoiler: he didn’t (my ancestor was in the XII corps and was taken to spangler as a matter of exigency in the pre-dawn of july 3), but he did uncover and retell some really amazing stories from other men and women who labored, perished, or recuperated at the spangler farm.

“too much for human endurance” is next on my list and i’ll be picking up a copy next time i’m out in gettysburg (which will be happening soon, after reading this work).

[W Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron Kirkwood has followed up his very successful first book on the George Spangler farm at Gettysburg with a wonderful companion volume. Kirkwood takes a deeper dive into a few topics touched upon in the first book but also provides the reader with more details on the impact the death or wounding of a soldier had on his family. He brings individual stories to life of soldiers before, during and after the war. If they perished at the farm he focuses on the impact that had on those left behind. This book is well worth reading.