Elizabeth Thorn: Wartime Caretaker of Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery

Before, during and following the Battle of Gettysburg, Elizabeth Thorn endured possibly the most unique experiences of any Gettysburg civilian. As caretaker of the Evergreen Cemetery, Elizabeth buried the first soldiers from the battle in the rockiest region of the cemetery. Unaware of her husband’s whereabouts with the Union Army and unsure if her unborn child would survive the grueling task of digging the graves in the heat and stench, Elizabeth Thorn proceeded to do her job and meet each challenge with courage and strength. With their book, Elizabeth Thorn: Wartime Caretaker of Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery, Kathryn Porch and Sue Boardman offer the first comprehensive look into her life and legacy.