The Wentz house, which stands at the intersection of the Emmitsburg and
Wheatfield roads, is now a Government-owned property, and is marked with
an iron tablet with the inscription “Wentz House.” It is not the house
that was there at the time of the battle; the original building was
dismantled and the present building erected on the same site.
At the time of the battle the house was owned and occupied by John
Wentz, who cultivated the small tract of land belonging to it. He was
twice married, and at this time was living with his second wife, who was
the mother of Henry Wentz, the principal actor in an interesting
incident of the battle of Gettysburg.
For many years before the beginning of the Civil War, carriage and
coach-building was one of the leading industries of Gettysburg. Henry
Wentz served an apprenticeship with the Ziegler firm of Gettysburg. He
was frequently sent to deliver the products of the firm, and thereby
became well acquainted with the different sections where sales were
made.
In the early ’50’s he decided to move to Martinsburg, Va. (now W. Va.),
and establish a carriage-building shop of his own. When a local military
organization was formed and designated the “Martinsburg Blues,” Henry
became a member. Equipped with uniforms and arms, the members were
drilled from time to time. Similar organizations were formed throughout
the North as well as the South. Most of the members of the Martinsburg
Blues, including Henry Wentz, decided to cast their lot with the
Southern cause, and were assigned to places in the armies of the South.
But, by the irony of fate, he was destined to get back to his old home
and command a battery posted back of the house on his father’s land.
During the first day the Wentz property was not in danger, but when
General Lee extended his line of battle south along the line of Seminary
Ridge, and General Meade prolonged his line opposite on Cemetery Ridge
in preparation for the battle of the second day, the Wentz family, with
the exception of the father, decided to seek a safer location. On the
night of the second day, after Sickles’ advanced line at the Wentz house
had been repulsed and occupied by the forces under General Lee, Henry
Wentz visited his old home and was greatly surprised to find his father
still there.
Early in the morning of the third day, 75 guns, in command of Colonel E.
P. Alexander, were moved forward from Lee’s first line to the line held
by Sickles’ advanced line on the second day. The battery in charge of
Henry Wentz, who held the rank of lieutenant, was posted back of his old
home, and he took an active part in the terrific artillery engagement
prior to Pickett’s Charge that ended on that part of the field. Henry’s
father kept to the cellar and, singularly, passed through it all
unharmed and unhurt.
After the repulse of Pickett’s Charge, the guns were withdrawn to their
first line. During the night of the third day, Henry was anxious to know
whether or not his father was still safe. He therefore went over to the
house and found him fast asleep and unhurt in a corner of the cellar.
Not wishing to disturb his much-needed rest, he found the stump of a
candle, lit it, and wrote, “Good-bye and God bless you!” This message he
pinned on the lapel of his father’s coat and returned to his command
preparatory to the retreat to Virginia.
Early on the morning of the 4th, the father awoke from his much-needed
sleep and found that all the soldiers had departed. He then walked back
to the ridge and saw Lee’s army making hurried preparations for the
retreat.