Brian Farm

Abraham Brian (colloquially Bryan as early as 1891){{Cite map |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |year=1891 |title=Battle Field of Gettysbug |url=http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/tx-wotr/id/1579/rec/7 |series=1895 War of the Rebellion Atlas |id=Plate 95 |access-date=2012-06-01}} was a free black man who purchased the farm in 1857 just south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (his wife died soon and he married a third wife.) The farm included an additional farm dwelling along the Emmitsburg Road. Prior to the battle, Bryan and several other blacks left the area to avoid capture and enslavement.

Battle of Gettysburg: Federal troops positioned around the Bryan House and barn were assaulted by Confederate troops of Mississippi{{Specify|reason=what unit?|date=May 2014}} under the command of J. Johnston Pettigrew.

After the battle the house walls were filled with bullet holes, windows were broken, and the furniture was tossed about. Farm fences were gone, crops were trampled, and his orchard trees were useless.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} Bryan's $1,028 federal claim for property damage resulted{{When|date=May 2014}} in $15 paid for damage by Union troops{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} (he sold the farm in 1869.){{Citation |title=[unspecified document] |location=GNMP vertical file 14-CF-14, Abraham Brien }} (Cited by [http://www.gdg.org/gettysburg%20magazine/gburgafrican.html Vermilyea webpage.)] Postbellum additions to the Abraham Brian Farm House included a 2nd floor.{{Cite book |last=Bachelder |first=John Badger |author-link=John B. Bachelder |year=1873 |title=Gettysburg. What to see How to see it. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Perfk3Hn3AC&q=high+water&pg=PA78 |format=Google Books |access-date=2012-05-30 |quote=The white cottage in the field at the left [North of the Codori house] was General Hays' headquarters. It has received a second story since the battle. The Union line ran between the house and barn...}}

The 1883 Gettysburg Cyclorama (which was made in conjunction with William H. Tipton photographs) has a painted image of the house.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B4IlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3fQFAAAAIBAJ&&pg=796,1588281|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=5 June 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=15UyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5eYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6795,2532548 | title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search |website=News.google.com|access-date=5 June 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ohAmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qf0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4135,105177 | title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=5 June 2022 }}

The last inhabitant was Ernest Strickhouser in 1940, {{circa|lk=no|1950}} the 2-story farm house was demolished, and a 1-story reproduction of the Civil War structure was built.{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} Battlefield monuments on the tract include the 111th New York Infantry Monument, 11th Mississippi Infantry Marker, and the Camp Colt commemorative pine tree and marker. The Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association acquired a 19th-century right-of-way and built a carriage road between the house and barn--Grand Central Avenue (now Hancock Avenue) was Telfordized (paved) shortly after GBMA lands transferred to the War Department before the turn of the century.{{Cite Gettysburg Commission Reports |dateform= mdy |version= 1905 |access-date= July 12, 2011}}

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{{cite web |last=Swain |first=Craig |date=December 21, 2008 |title=The Brian Farm Marker |url=http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=31192 |format=HMdb.org webpage, marker 16864 |access-date=2012-05-31 }}

{{Cite web|title=Abraham Brian Farm House (Structure Number 022, LCS ID 004456) |url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=9 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121214004957/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=9 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-14 |format=NPS.gov webpage |work=List of Classified Structures: GETT p. 1 |publisher=NPS|quote=Entered-Documented … 01/23/2004 … House figured prominently in Battle due to its position within Union line on Cemetery Ridge during 2nd & 3rd days of Battle. …house suffered from infantry & artillery fire. Used by Gen Hays for HQ after Battle. … One-and-one half story 2 bay wide by one room deep frame farm house… Centered entrance flanked by 6/6 double hung sash. Flush laid horizontal siding, gable roof with wood shakes, Gable ends have two 2/2 double hung sash. One end gable internal stone and brick chimney stack with stones exposed on east end. Pent roof porch runs length of house on South side. }}

{{Cite book |last=Scherfy |first=Marcella |year=1972 |title=The Brien Farm and Family |publisher=NPS Resources Management Division |pages=4–5}} Cited by Smith webpage for the following: "Born in Maryland in 1804, Brian had moved to Gettysburg by 1840. In 1857 he purchased twelve acres from James A. Thompson. The property contained two dwelling houses: one near the crest of Cemetery Ridge and a smaller tenant house along the Emmitsburg road. Brian and his family lived in the house near the crest. He usually kept at least one or two horses and cows. In 1863 he was growing wheat, barley, and hay, and had some of his land in meadows and orchards."

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Category:Buildings and structures in Adams County, Pennsylvania

Category:Gettysburg Battlefield

Category:Farms in Pennsylvania