Cow on the Tracks

Name: Cow on the Tracks
Start: 2026-01-05T18:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-05T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 401 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 17325

Schedule

Mon Jan 05 2026 at 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

401 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 17325 | Gettysburg, PA

Cow on the Tracks
On the afternoon of June 24, 1863, 700 men of the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment were steaming towards Gettysburg where they were to be placed in the mountains west of Gettysburg as a blocking force against a possible Rebel Invasion of the county. As luck would have it, an elderly woman was driving her cow on a railroad bridge crossing a gully over Swift Run, east of town. Suddenly, the unscheduled train appeared, and although the woman was able to reach safety, the Cow was struck and killed, derailing the locomotive and sending several cars over the embankment. As a result, the 26th Pennsylvania never did reach its assigned destination. Join Timothy H. Smith as he discusses how a cow on the tracks may have altered the entire course of the Gettysburg Campaign.
As in past winters, the program will be held in Sweney's Tavern, with the speaker starting at 6:30 p.m. Food and drinks are available, before and during the program starting at 5 p.m. Free parking is available in rear of the Farnworth House. Admission is $10 per person. Call 717-334-8838 to get your tickets today!