Little is said in the novel about the civilians in the Gettysburg area and how the battle affected them. However, this battle did not take place in isolation; it had a devastating effect on the people living there.
During the battle, inhabitants of Gettysburg hid in their houses, often in basements. They generally did not venture upstairs until night because it wasn't safe. In fact, reports tell of women killed by stray bullets while baking in their kitchens.
Many of the inhabitants risked death by hiding Union soldiers trapped behind Confederate lines after the Union retreat through Gettysburg. Those soldiers had to remain hidden for the three days of the battle, while the Confederates searched residences to find them. Protecting the Union soldiers required courage and creativity.
While July 4th brought the end of battle and cheers from the victorious soldiers, the after-effects of the battle would be felt for months. Out in the open, surgeons continued to amputate, embalmers worked on those that didn't make it, soldiers searched for anyone who might still be alive, and curiosity-seekers came out to gawk at the destruction and collect souvenirs. Local people took wounded into their homes, public buildings were also used as hospitals, and a tent hospital was set up on the east side of town. A number of the wounded remained in Gettysburg for several months, and the local population also took in a number of relatives who came to care for wounded soldiers.
