Mystery Hub Case Files

Dr. Charles MacGill

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Dr. Charles MacGill appears to have been a significant unknown contributor to US Civil War history, as he and his family were apparently strong supporters of the Confederacy. He owned a property outside of Leitersburg, and had an office on Potomac Street prior to the Civil War. He was also co-founder of the Hagerstown Herald newspaper.

Map of an area with various names and locations marked, highlighting the name 'Margill' near the bottom left corner. — Property location for Dr. MacGill outside Leitersburg.

An old map of Hagerstown, Maryland, featuring illustrations of a factory and two buildings, labeled with streets and landmarks from 1850. — Property location for Dr. MacGill outside Leitersburg.

MacGill was arrested in 1861 or 1862, depending on which account you read.

A newspaper clipping reporting the arrest of Dr. MacGill in Hagerstown, Maryland, noting that he was sent to Fort McHenry and mentioning his son, Dr. O. G. W. MacGill, who was also arrested the same day.

MacGill had a rather colorful personal history.

A memorial plaque previously in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA (installed 1909, removed in 2020), contains the following inscription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY MOTHER / MRS MARY RAGAN MACGILL / BORN INHAGERSTOWN, MD / JUNE 12TH, 1807 / DIED IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, MAR 10TH, 1897/ WIDOW OF / CHARLES MACGILL MD / “HER CHILDREN ARISE UP, AND CALL HERBLESSED” / AND / IN MEMORY OF MY BROTHERS / CHARLES G W MACGILL MD /BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, MAY 10TH, 1833 / SURGEON IN STONEWALL BRIGADE,C.S.A. / DIED IN CATONSVILLE, BALTIMORE, MD, APRIL 28TH, 1907 / DAVIDGEMACGILL / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, AUG. 8TH, 1836 / PRIVATE IN CO. C. 1ST,MARYLAND CAVALRY, C.S.A. / DIED IN ROCKINGHAM CO., N.C. JULY 8TH, 1897 /FRANK MACGILL / BORN IN HAGERSTOWN, MD, SEPT 4TH, 1851 / DIED IN GALVESTONTEXAS, FEB. 17TH, 1900 / “MAKE THEM TO BE NUMBERED WITH THE SAINTS INGLORY EVERLASTING.” / ERECTED BY / MOLLIE R MACGILL ROSENBERG / 1909

It is important to note that this memorial plaque hung among other plaques dedicated to important Confederate figures including Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.

The Mystery

The MacGill family being honored in on the same level as Jefferson Davis or Robert E. Lee strongly indicates that he may have been a much more significant contributor to the Confederacy than many realize. As a doctor, MacGill would have had significant finances to help fund the cause. As a newspaper publisher, MacGill could have had contacts to help pass covert messages among Confederate sympathizers.

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