Soldiers experience death, floods, disease, and extreme boredom in Laurel while protecting the only rail line between Washington and the North during the Civil War. Includes recreated Civil War hospital rooms and disabled veterans information. Laurel Museum 817 Main Street, Laurel, MD February 3-l December 22, 2013. Wed., Fri., 10am-2pm; Sun. 1-4pm. FREE 301-725-7975. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Lindsey Baker, 301-725-7975, Cell: 443.670.2283
director@laurelhistoricalsociety.org or
Karen Lubieniecki 301-490-7434, karenlub@aol.com
Photos: William H.S. Bean, Civil War Map of Laurel Station, Logo
Artwork
January 30, 2013
Stationed in Laurel: Our Civil War Story Runs Through
December at Laurel Museum
Laurel, Maryland…Laurel, Maryland had at least two Civil War hospitals. A flood washed away
a railroad bridge and the soldier guarding it. Between 1861-1865 at least 10 different units of
Union Civil War soldiers from New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Michigan camped around
what is now the American Legion and MARC parking lots. Soldiers experienced death, floods,
disease, and extreme boredom in Laurel while protecting the only rail line between Washington
and the North during the Civil War.
Stationed in Laurel: Our Civil War Story, invites visitors to learn about these and other
unexplored aspects of how the Civil War affected the town. Laurel experienced no battles, but its
strategic location on the only rail line between Washington, DC and the northern states, and a
Patuxent River crossing meant Federal forces quickly and continuously stationed troops along
the rail line and bridge in the town during the war. The Federals called the area “Laurel Station”
likely because of its proximity to the town’s railroad depot. One of the exhibit’s highlights is a
reproduction of an actual Library of Congress map sketching the Laurel Station encampment by
Civil War mapmaker Frederick Munther showing several of the structures, and their relationship
to the railroad, the town and the river.
The exhibit brings to light long-forgotten incidents of accidental death, disease, loneliness and
boredom, and even a possible rape. Soldiers’ letters home, and a series of newspaper articles sent
to the Elmira, New York paper by Chaplain Thomas Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe,
explore additional details of Laurel Station camp life. In addition to letters, the exhibit includes
cups, badges and other Civil War-related items belonging to soldiers who served in various units,

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and especially in the 109th
New York. These include materials belonging to William H.S. Bean
including photos and his sword, on loan to the LHS from Hawaii-based collector John Bowen.
The exhibit also explores some incidents that demonstrate how the Northern soldiers reacted to
the Southern-sympathizing community in which they found themselves.
Mar. 10. I attended another party tonight up on the Pike. …I am getting acquainted considerably
with Maryland Society. Mar. 13 Very cold. Went to another part this evening. Think I shall not
go anymore. I am utterly disgusted with Maryland society and manners. “ Diary of H.C. Leach,
Courtesy Broome County (NY) Historical Society“
Another soldier, William H Cole, was convicted of rape, but ultimately pardoned by Abraham
Lincoln after his commanding officer and fellow soldiers interceded.
More Civil War soldiers succumbed to disease (450,000) than died by wounds (204,000). Laurel
Station was no exception War wounded were not sent to Laurel, but there were at least 2
hospitals in town during the course of the Civil War. Men were treated for diseases, such as
diarrhea, typhoid, measles, and smallpox. Some died. The first known hospital was in a hospital
tent in the camp at Laurel Station attached to the 141st
New York. By January 1863, with the
arrival of the 109th
New York, the hospital was moved to 377 Main Street, at the corner of
Avondale and Main Street. The building still stands. The exhibit includes a recreation of the
Main Street hospital room.
Information on the Main Street hospital comes from a book written by its matron (head nurse)
Sarah Palmer, who wrote Aunt Becky’s Army Life about her Civil War experiences, which
included time at Laurel. Soldiers wrote home about her.
“There is a woman here in the hospital that came out with us. They call her Aunt Beck.
She is a perfect mother to all the boys and they think the world of her. She has found out
I am fond of soup and she gives me some most every meal.” August 29, 1863 Edward
Brigham (109th
NY)
Two of the units stationed in Laurel later in the war were members of the Veterans Reserve
Corps (VRC). Originally called the Invalid Corps, these units were made up of soldiers who
from either wounds or disabilities were unable to serve in the regular fighting forces and found
job prospects and public acceptance in short supply outside the military. The VRC guarded
railways, transported prisoners and performed many other important tasks, but ultimately

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received little recognition or respect from other soldiers in a society that had many wounded
veterans, but little ability to deal with them.
Notes LHS Executive Director Lindsey Baker: “Through this exhibit, we hope visitors will be
able to explore on their own what it was like in a town where no battles took place, but where
tensions between differing sides simmered below the surface.”
While the exhibit focus is on the units serving at Laurel Station the exhibit also briefly explores
other topics, including the local African Americans (slave and free) who may have been drafted,
and the town’s post-war attitudes to former combatants.
Children and adults at the exhibit will have an opportunity to “picture” themselves in the army
with full-size cutouts representing Laurel-based soldiers. Visitors can take a picture of
themselves in the cutouts, and bring home a souvenir of their visit. The artwork for the cut-out
was created by LHS Assistant to the Director Monica Sturdivant.
Stationed in Laurel: Our Civil War Story runs until December 22, 2013. The Laurel
Museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-2pm, and Sundays 1-4pm. Free. Visits by
school groups and tours over 10 people can be scheduled other days by appointment. The
Laurel Historical Society John Brennan Research Library is open Mondays by appointment. For
more information visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org, or contact the Laurel Museum at
info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org, 301-725-7975. The Laurel Museum is at 817 Main Street,
Laurel, Maryland, 20707.
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Infantry Regiments/ (or parts of regiments) that are believed to have camped in Laurel:
6th Massachusetts
21st Massachusetts
1st Michigan Infantry
7th New York
23d New York
109th New York
131st New York
141st New York

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6th
VRC
18th VRC