In the Eye of the Storm: Gettysburg and the Civil War is a five-part series focusing on an expanded view of the citizens of Gettysburg and Adams County prior to, during and after the greatest battle in American history. Much of the information will be based on the instructor's 15 years of research into this fascinating field of study.
Classes will be taught by Timothy Smith, Licensed Battlefield Guide. Each class costs $25, or all five may be taken for $100. Classes will be held at the Gettysburg Campus of HACC at 731 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg.
Part I: The Marsh Creek Settlement will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7-9 p.m. This class will present a concise history of the area, including its early settlement and the formation of the town and county. Also covered will be the development of the town leading up to the Civil War, including social, economic and political factors.
Part 2: Civil War Gettysburg will be offered Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7-9 p.m. This class will present an overview of the atmosphere of the town and its surroundings at the outbreak of the American Civil War. It will cover the people of Gettysburg, the town's economic activity and the businesses they operated. The instructor also will describe the recent attempts by historians to map out the town and battlefield, dwelling by dwelling, and describe the inhabitants of each residence and farm at the time of the battle.
Part 3: The Citizens of Pennsylvania and the Gettysburg Campaign will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7-9 p.m. This class will focus on the events of the Confederate invasion prior to the battle and how the citizens of Pennsylvania reacted to them.
The leading elements of the Army of Northern Virginia reached Chambersburg, PA, on June 15, 1863. It would not be until June 30 that General Buford's Northern Calvary moved to Gettysburg.
Class will discuss how the Southern army marched back and forth across the Pennsylvania countryside for two weeks gathering supplies, provisions and contraband. Participants will learn how Jubal Early's Division marched across Adams County during his raid toward the Susquehanna River on June 26 and 27.
Part 4: Gettysburg and the Battle will be offered Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7-9 p.m. This class will focus on the battle that was the better part of four days, involving 160,000 soldiers and 70,000 animals occupying an area that normally was inhabited by 3,000 residents.
During that period, some of the most desperate fighting in the history of the U.S. occurred in and around the town of Gettysburg. Class will discuss what it was like for the citizens of Gettysburg and how they coped, examining the details of the fighting in and around the town as seen through the eyes of the citizens themselves.
Part 5: The Aftermath will be offered Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7-9 p.m. This class will focus on the aftermath of the battle, the hospitals, the clean-up, the effort of the local populace to receive compensation for their losses, and the transformation of Gettysburg from battlefield to national shrine.
Registration and information for these and other community education, professional development, and workforce training classes is available in HACC's noncredit course schedule at Website below or by calling (717) 338-1010.