''The Compiler'' was a newspaper founded in 1857 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that also serviced the wider Adams County. The successor to '' The Republican Compiler'', the newspaper's owner, publisher, and editor, Henry Stahle, rebranded the newspaper after the advent of the Republican Party, due to the newspaper catering to local Democrats.

History

The newspaper would play a prominent role in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, namely by being the main voice in Adams County opposing the war. Stahle was vehemently against a war with the south, and had his newspaper often ran pro-Democrat, anti-Black, and anti-War material. On May 4, 1863, the newspaper moved to a larger building and sought to take a more prominent role in state politics, hosting a conference of Democratic newspapers in

Harrisburg Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

on June 1, 1863. The Compiler missed their first ever edition the week of July 7, 1863, the week after Gettysburg was under occupation of Confederate troops during the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

, two weeks later the newspaper reported the arrest of its own owner, Henry Stahle, by a

U.S. Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals Service serves as the enforcement and security arm of the U.S. federal judiciary. It is an agency of the U.S. Department of Jus ...

who sent him to be detained in

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under accusation of aiding the Confederates during the occupation. He would be released two weeks later without being formally charged of any crime. During Stahle's imprisonment his cousin, M. E. Doll, acted as owner, editor, and publisher in his place. Despite weekly articles attacking the local Black community in Gettysburg, the newspaper still reported on the creation of Black Regiments in the Union Army, and printed abolitionist declarations sent to the newspaper. However, the newspaper strongly attacked the

Gettysburg Address The Gettysburg Address is a Public speaking, speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, U.S. president, following the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The speech has come to be viewed as one ...

, calling it the "Relief of the Contrabands," and "The Negro Proclamation," warning their readers that the millions of freed slaves will move to the north and flood major U.S. cities. After the Civil War in 1866, the newspaper ceased publication as Stahle rebranded ''The Compiler'' into '' The Gettysburg Compiler''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Compiler Newspapers established in 1857 Defunct newspapers published in Pennsylvania 1857 establishments in Pennsylvania 1866 disestablishments in Pennsylvania History of Adams County, Pennsylvania Publications established in 1857 Publications disestablished in 1866