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Miss Carrie Shead ran a school for young ladies in the family home on the Chambersburg Pike, between Seminary Ridge and Gettysburg. On the afternoon of 1 July the Battle of Gettysburg engulfed her home as Union forces began to fall back from Seminary Ridge. As the tired troops retreated towards Gettysburg, many of them took shelter in the Shead house. One such was Col. Charles Wheelock of the 97th New York.

Wheelock ran into the house, closely followed by several Confederate soldiers intent on taking him prisoner. He fled down the basement, but the Rebels --and Miss Shead-- followed him. A Confederate sergeant demanded that Wheelock give up his sword. The latter refused. Before the sergeant could take it, a second group of Rebels came down the stairs, herding some Yankee prisoners. After a moment's confusion the sergeant renewed his demand for Wheelock's sword. But it was gone, taken, Wheelock said, by one of the other Confederate soldiers. The sergeant went off angrily, deprived of his precious souvenir. Wheelock was later herded out of the house with several other prisoners. He managed to escape. Several days later he returned to the Shead house to pay his compliments to Carrie and recover his sword, which she had hidden under her skirt.

The Shead house was crowded that day in July. Pvt. Asa S. Hardman of the 3rd Indiana Cavalryhad fought all morning with the other troopers along Seminary Ridge. The Shead house provided him with temporary shelter as well. He too was taken prisoner, but was unable to elude his captors. Eventually exchanged, Hardman also paid a return visit to the Sheads, so that he could marry Carrie's sister Louisa.

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