Concluding Remarks

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, November 25, 1835. He died in Lenox, Massachusetts, August 11, 1919.

Carnegie was 27 years old when he traveled to Columbia Farm with William Coleman for an inspection visit.

Due to a working relationship with Thomas A. Scott, Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, young Carnegie became Scott’s right hand man and private secretary. Scott was appointed Assistant-Secretary of War, the rebellion being imminent, and Carnegie was assigned by Scott to an extremely responsible position. His duties involved the overseeing of the transport of troops, equipment and supervision of a vast network of railways and telegraphs.

Carnegie had a clear head and handled this complicated maze of critical jobs. Then he was wounded, not by bullet, shrapnel or sword, but by a telegraph wire which sprung loose and cut his neck badly. One source states that Carnegie was the third man wounded in the Civil War. The gash didn’t keep him down for long. He was busy inventing and putting into use codes or ciphers for rapid dispatch of messages. He was in some battles including Bull Run but did not fight. He was directing the placement of war supplies.

Other than his first trip to Columbia Farm in the fall of 1861 (the Civil War had broken out in April), Carnegie probably would not have had time to pay other visits due to his duties for Scott with war supplies. His working relationship with the Columbia Oil Co. during this war period couldn’t have been hands-on, but he no doubt kept in touch (probably with Coleman) and certainly collected his dividends.