Lynn and Julianne Herman on"The Allegheny Arsenal Explosion"

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The Allegheny Arsenal, near Pittsburgh, producedammunition for the Union army. By 1862 the workersturned out some 128,000 cartridges daily by workingsix days a week, twelve hours a day. The arsenalemployed one hundred fifty-six ladies and girls. In thesummer of 1861, the arsenal had dismissed over onehundred young boys when they discovered theircareless behavior with matches and tobacco. Theydiscovered replacing the boys with girls was just asefficient and by 1862 had employed many young girlsand women using their small hands and fingers topack the cartridges at a rapid rate. Although they allare aware of the danger working with black powder,the chief ingredient in making the ammunition, they continue on filling the cartridges asfast as possible depending on the supervisors to keep them safe.On September 17, 1862 (the day of the Battle of Antietam), a spark from a horse's shoeignited that powder. The resulting explosion and fire saw 78 workers lose their lives, 72of whom were women. The Allegheny Arsenal explosion was the worst civilian disasterduring the Civil War.Julianne Herman worked for 45 years as a Registered Nurse in the operating room.She has long been drawn to the study of historical events, both nationally and 2worldwide. Her interest in the Civil War increased during the 125th Anniversarycommemorations, and she began reenacting and studying various aspects of the war.As a civilian reenactor (with her husband Lynn), she became increasingly interested inwomen's roles during that time period, including the seemingly unlikely role of womenworking in a military arsenal. She is secretary of the Central PA CWRT.