I Wish You All A Merry Christmas @ A New Blog

Well I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. And most of all remember our men and women in the military who are serving overseas and here at home and cannot be with their families during the holiday season.
I am having such a good time with the blog on Military History, I thought I would start another blog on Coal Region History Chronicles. It will deal with all types of coal region history. My first post will deal with the famous airliner accident that happened at Aristes in June of 1948. The Crash of United Airlines DC-6 Flight 624. The aircraft that nearly crashed into the Mid Valley Coal Breaker at Wilburton. I will be posting other stories and events that I have catalogued over the years.

Stu

The Link to this Blog is...http://coalregionhistorychronicles.blogspot.com/

A Tribute to The Mules Who Served

The Army Mule The Most Inglorious Veteran of the War

I wanted to share this little article with everybody, it has nothing to due with a particular soldier from Schuylkill, but it is about something that we have held in hi esteem here in the coal fields of Schuylkill the Mule. For me it is a wonderful tribute to a creature that has paid a heavy price in serving us humans, they have worked in our coal fields since the beginning of mining and up until the 1950’s when it became illegal to use the animal in under ground work. These great animals have served our military from the Rev war on up to the use by Special Forces in Afghanistan. As a matter of fact a large percentage of the mules utilized in World War One came from the anthracite coal fields. By taking the mules from the mines it actually put a big burden on the coal production. This article was found in an old National Tribune on 3/18/1889, The Tribune was the voice of the GAR veterans from the Civil War. This tribute was written about the Army mule during the Civil War. And I for one feel the Mule is deserving of all we can give them.

The Army Mule


The unknown, unsung, unpraised, unpromoted, unbreveted, unpensioned hero of the war was the Army Mule. No one is quite too much to prosecute hostilities to the bitter end. No one said less about soldiering or compromising, no one troubled himself less about the slavery question; none gave less opposition to the arming of Negroes. He went in at the very first call and stayed through till after Appomattox. He was always present for duty, that is, except when he managed to eat his own halter. He went on every march and into every fight that his regiment went. He plodded through all the mud, sleet, and snow, and never left the line of march. He never left camp without orders, except when he could get away. He fell on every battlefield, where loyalty struggled with treason and an infinite number of other places beside. He was beaten and startled to death in a thousand circling camps. His bones bleached on every hill side, his lifeless corpse was the “Quartermasters Mile Post” where ever Union armies marched. He was hungry more often than he was well fed, and after straining all day to bring food for others, he has been compelled to make his supper of cottonwood pole, with wagon tongue for desert. It was hard to get along with him, but utterly impossible to get along without him. He had to endure more causes of insult and opprobrium than all the rest of the army put together, and yet he was never known to talk back. As to his kicking back that is another matter. He has heard himself, and all his family to the third and forth generation described in terms of burning insults, yet taken it all with sanity and meekness.
After four years of arduous service for the Union, after enduring perils and hardships beyond the power of the tongue to describe, he was disbanded and sold to a street car company to pass the evening of his days in slavish observance to the tinkle of the conductor’s bell and the lash of an underpaid tough of a driver.
The mule has never had justice done him. Without him the war could not have been carried on a day. He was the corner stone of the fame of Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Meade and Sheridan. Yet he is never mentioned in connection with then. It is only today, after the last mule that took part in the struggle has passed beyond the reach of the shinning pithead and the piercing lash that we begin to really appreciate how much we owe him.
It has been said that any army is like a snake, because it travels on its belly. That picture of the mule represents his day of army usefulness, when he was the sole means of communication over muddy mountainous roads, between the ever hungry front and the plenteous rear. It will bring a flood of recollections to the mind of the veteran on days when six mule team power could not get rations up to him, and of the days when he himself struggled with the poor animals over the awful roads with the labor and weariness of war which made the heart sad.

A One Of A Kind Soldier Letter From The Civil War

When doing military history research you always hope you come across a great find, well here is one a truly wonderful letter written by the Surgeon of 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Dr. Charles H. Haeseler who resided in Schuylkill County during the war and had a practice in Pottsville. Dr. Haeseler entered the service in Capt. T. S. Richards Cavalry Company on July 2, 1863. On the 10th, while his company lay at Harrisburg, he was commissioned Assistant Surgeon and assigned to the 20th Pa. Cavalry Regiment, Co; John E. Wynkoop. Dr. Haeseler had medical charge of the regiment during its six month service. His care and attention to the command as the surgeon, was highly appreciated, that the members of the regiment presented him with a fine handsome sword.


Charles H. Haeseler Surgeon 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry…6 Months

Springfield, West Virginia
December 16, 1863

Dear Journal; I have always liked you, but never realized your sterling worth as much as now, that your weekly visits bring me tidings from the community I love so well. In one of your late numbers I have read Mr. Torrey’s beautiful little poem mid associations that added a peculiar charm to it. Imagine a dilapidated Virginia log house, whose sash less windows closed over with thick canvass, admitting daylight of a kind only whose spectral solemnity almost frightens me. But now it is night and my quarters is illuminated partly by the dim flames of a candle, and chiefly by the burning logs in a huge hearth, for stones are fabulous productions hereabouts. On the floor by my side are lying, in sublime disregard of all taste and sobriety, my associate Assistant Surgeon, the Hospital Steward, and several nurses-male nurses, if you please sleeping, perchance dreaming of the devoted wives, “heroic maids” they left in goodly homes. Implements of war are scattered all around, and my eyes in glancing along the logged walls that modestly surround me light upon sabers, pistols, carbines, saddles, bridles, boots, blankets and all the garniture of cavalry warfare in indiscriminate profusion. A military blanket box is the table on which I am writing and a cracker box my chair. Thus it was when I read that “God is with the right” And then I drew my seat before the blazing fire in the hearth, solemnly smoked a cigar, and watched the flame with its beautiful ultramarine base, ascending in sig zag turrets of bright ochre from the scarlet embers of the burning pine. With this before me and the poetry in my soul, I thought of home. The home whose peaceful inmates were happily wrapped in quiet slumber-and the poetry whose author was imbibing inspiration from dreams of other visions. Do you know dear Journal, I think that all of the comfort that soldiers have, thus scattered from their homes and friends, aside from that derived from the consciousness of doing their whole duty-is in these quiet reveries; these solitary musings of the soul with the spirit abroad of those we love. But a truce to the sentimentalism! Yet if I do not bolster my letter plentifully with thoughts from the army, it will be but a small production, for important news are scarce in this vicinity.
Our regiment was ordered to this place from Sir John’s Run about two weeks ago. Our march was over a tract of the enemy’s country, a distance of about sixty miles. This Springfield is a small nest of unscrupulous rebels, in whom I could excite no charitable feeling for the suffering sick under my charge; but had to accommodate them as best I could in this miserable hut, without any of the little attentions and delicacies which I see in the Journal, the good ladies of Pottsville lavish so kindly on the soldiers here. Indeed it fills my heart with joy whenever I read of their benevolent actions, and I feel proud to call attention of everybody to them. God bless the ladies everywhere, who are thus devoted to the soldiers. In centuries to come their deeds will be alluded to as the most sacred of all the associations of the infamous rebellion. We are engaged here in scouting about the country, as we say, “in the front”. This morning a hundred of our men led by the gallant youth Capt. Singheiser, returned from five days scout. In which they marched about ninety miles in the interior, destroyed an important furnace to the rebels, captured eight mules, some horses, and at least of all, about a dozen lean, miserable, hungry looking Butternuts. The furnaces destroyed was the Columbia furnace which the soldiers of our army had no time reached heretofore.
In about two weeks our term of service will expire though there seems to be a strong disposition with a large portion of the regiment to reenlist for three years. A remarkable fact, and one much worthy of mention, is that though the regiment has had quite a number wounded in guerilla fights; was exposed last summer to undergo forced marches during the very wet weather that we had after the battle of Gettysburg, followed by a protracted heated term in July and august, during which the men suffered greatly form dysentery and diarrhea; though they were encamped during the entire Fall on the banks of the upper Potomac, a country much infected with malariuos minsums, causing an abundance of intermittent and other fevers; though we never had less than a hundred and fifty sick to report at the end of each month, yet we had not had a single death to mare the pleasures of our friends at home. I don not think there is another regiment in the service, that had served six months and can say the same itself. And as one of its medical officers. I feel an indescribable joy and satisfaction at this fortunate result.
W have among us a character so decidedly unique and original, that – as he may not have another opportunity to shine in public print, I will give him the benefit of a big notice. Old Pete is the only name that our regimental Farrier is known by. He is a German by birth, and sixty seven years of age. He arrived in this country about the time of the Florida War; joined our army then and has been in ever since-a period of about twenty one years. He was in the Texan and afterwards in the Mexican War; serving in the latter regiment commanded by Jeff Davis. He has been through the whole Peninsula campaign in Virginia during the rebellion. He was wounded at least a dozen different times. Once at the Battle of Buena Vista, a Mexican shell took a portion of his skull away leaving a cavity in his head into which I have laid the ends of two fingers. At one time in Florida, an Indian rushed upon him with uplifted tomahawk, and struck for his head; but missing that descended upon his left hand while Pete was charging bayonet on him, cutting the hand almost in twain. I asked Pete how he got rid of the Indian. “Got rid of him?” said he with broad accent, “Why I did run the copper colored rascal through mit mine bayonet, dats how I got rid of him.” At another time a Mexican was lying on the ground feigning death during one of the battles. Pete gave him a kick and passed on; but had not progressed far when a shot from the Mexicans musket grazed his leg. He immediately turned around upon the enemy, and did not give up the pursuit till he had dispatched him too. He served in the battles before Richmond as a gunner under General Doubleday, who thought a great deal of him. But poor Pete’s mind is at times a little weak, from the effects of that injury to his brain at Buena Vista, though his general health is as good as ever. He was never married, and probably never will be, as he likes the soldier’s life for its own sake. It has become his business his trade, and he would be the unhappy fellow outside the army. At night he lies down on the ground, no matter what kind of weather, wrapped up in his overcoat, without any other shelter. He said to me one day, when I asked him about his heath, “Oh, I feels always good when I drinks no whiskey. Mine head is a little weak, but I knows everything what I dos when I drinks plenty cold water; aver when I drinks shuts one leetle whiskey, den I bees right away one damn fool.”
Unfortunately, however, Pete is just weak minded enough not to resist the temptations at al times and occasionally gets very top heavy. Aside from this he is as great a hero as many a one who are exploits are recorded on the pages of history. The other day I was pained indeed, to find this old man after all the service he rendered to our country; after all the honorable scars he had received in its defense had been ruthlessly thrust in a common guard house, for trespassing on the exclusive privilege of commissioned officers-the privilege of getting ,”tight”.
Another quaint genius among us is Bellford, the one armed private. He lost left arm in one of the battles of the rebellion, and was discharged. His home is in Virginia, some twenty miles from here. He asked to be taken into the regiment as a guide, and as he was said to be well acquainted with all the country hereabouts, he was accepted. He does not appear to have the remotest idea of any such thing as fear, for he frequently rides out by himself beyond the outpost of pickets, and scouts about the country infested with guerrillas and bushwhackers with perfect abandon. His ear is as quick as a hawk’s and any noise he hears, or the remotest glimmer of a light he sees, he will drop his horses bridle and take his pistol instead, letting the horse go quietly along; guided only by his knees, until he discovers the source of his alarm. Every now and then he comes back with several prisoners. A few days ago he alone – this one armed man, brought in six armed rebels as prisoners of war. When he came across them, after having ascertained their number he immediately advanced on them calling back to an imaginary force behind him to “Charge !” The Rebs hearing this command, at once there down their arms and gave themselves up, and he marched them in front of him into our camp with the greatest imaginable nonchalance.
After all there is a great deal in this soldier life that is very attractive; and although its tediousness and monotony grow heavy on a person at times yet how many thousands are there who after having returned from it to civil life, soon become anxious and impatient to don again the uniform they were so eager to put off. And they grow square shouldered and fat withal. Do you know, my dear Journal, that I am just finding out what a scientific thing this soldier’s fare is? The men who invented it ought to have a patent, a leather medal, and the everlasting gratitude of mankind. Coffee and “Hard Tack”, bacon and bean soup. “I doff my sandals as I tread before you!” You see, we grease the lining of our stomach with a piece of fat bacon and that fortifies it against the sharp edges of the hard tack. Well, after we drink the coffee, these angular pieces will keep floating and dodging about on it making the old stomach believe it doesn’t want anything more. Then at noon we feast on bean soup, the thin portion of which being generally absorbed by evening, we drink more coffee; this swells the remaining beans up again, and fools the stomach with the idea of being satisfied till morning. Now I appeal to the good sense of everybody, whether this isn’t a capital invention. So simple too, withal, and so perfectly consistent with much of this dear world of ours by observing a system of such splendid deception.
Another discovery that I have made in this my military life, is tin relation to sleeping on the floor instead of a bed, and here are the arguments in its favor. In the forst place, you cannot fall out of bed and break a limb; secondarly, no evil minded person can hide under the bed by day and come out at night to steal your purse; thirdly, no possible emergency can make the slats break or the rope tear, fourthly and lastily, you are always ready to take up yur bed and walk. Now, if I have not convinced you the utility of a a soft floor for a bed, and your elbow for a pillow, then I will incontinently knock under.
C.H.H.
Charles H. Haeseler

Where Do We Get Such Men Part 3

The Vosges Mountains are located in the northeast portion of France. Heavy fighting took place there in August and September of 1944. The fighting there would terminate the foot hold German troops had on France. Fighting in this area was the famous 3rd Infantry Division. Because of their fierce fighting methods the Germans still held a portion of the Belfort Gap in the Vosges. On the 15th of September the 3rd ID was on the move marching north toward the French town of Faucogney.

Fighting with the 3rd ID was Schuylkill Countian Sgt. Harold O. Messerschmidt born in Grier City, Schuylkill County. Sgt. Messerschmidt enlisted in the U.S. Army at Chester, Pa. On the 17th of September Messerschmidt’s unit, Company L 30th Infantry Regt. was in the process of trying to capture a small village west of Faucogney named Raddon. Company L had just taken a heavily forested ridge that dominated an important and strategic road. About mid day a heavy tank and artillery fire swept the ridge immediately followed by advancing German infantry over 200 strong. One member of the unit stated” They rushed into our fire in an insane manner, as if they had been given liquor or drugs.” For six hours Sgt. Messerschmidt and the men of his squad held the right flank of the company and resisted wave after wave of the fanatical German troops. Sgt. Messerschmidt ran out of ammunition and was the only member of his squad still standing, he used his Tommy gun as a club to kill as many Germans as he could. A last ditch charge by the enemy came rushing up the slope and caught Sgt. Messerschmidt still wielding his empty weapon were upon he was killed. At the end of this engagement Company L was down to only four squads and very nearly out of ammunition, but they held the ridge.

Sgt. Harold Messerschmidt was awarded the Medal Of Honor posthumously on 17 July 1946.

The Citation:

Sergeant Messerschmidt, Harold O. Army
Medal of Honor

SERGEANT HAROLD O. MESSERSCHMIDT

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Radden, France, 17 September 1944. Entered service at: Chester, Pa. Birth: Grier City, Pa. G.O. No.: 71, 17 July 1946.

Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Braving machinegun, machine pistol, and rifle fire, he moved fearlessly and calmly from man to man along his 40-yard squad front, encouraging each to hold against the overwhelming assault of a fanatical foe surging up the hillside. Knocked to the ground by a burst from an enemy automatic weapon, he immediately jumped to his feet, and ignoring his grave wounds, fired his submachine gun at the enemy that was now upon them, killing 5 and wounding many others before his ammunition was spent. Virtually surrounded by a frenzied foe and all of his squad now casualties, he elected to fight alone, using his empty submachine gun as a bludgeon against his assailants. Spotting 1 of the enemy about to kill a wounded comrade, he felled the German with a blow of his weapon. Seeing friendly reinforcements running up the hill, he continued furiously to wield his empty gun against the foe in a new attack, and it was thus that he made the supreme sacrifice. Sgt. Messerschmidt's sustained heroism in hand-to-hand combat with superior enemy forces was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service .



Sgt. Harold O. Messershmidt is buried in the:
Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery
Barnesville
Schuylkill County

Sgt. Harold Brigade Gave All For His Country

"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud –rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities and in the end they are the guys that wars can’t be won without.”

Ernie Pyle
War correspondent.

This is the story of a man a hero to his country, a man who sacrificed all for the love of his country. A man who I am proud to say was my uncle. Sgt. Harold R. Brigade.

Harold was born and raised in Palo Alto,Pennsylvania he was my mother Isabel’s older brother. This is the story of how I found out what happened to my uncle. You see my mother only knew he was killed in action during the battle of the Bulge in December of 1944 and January of 1945. She only knew from a member of his unit that he was trying to help a wounded comrade and was killed in the process. My mother always talked about Harold's medals he earned the Bronze Star for actions in 1944 and the Silver Star awarded posthumously for the above mentioned action.
With my search and lust for all information that concerns the U.S. military I decided to write up a history of my grandson Nathaniel Dixons family lineage. He has someone who has served in every conflict excluding the Korean War, the United States has been in since the Revolutionary War.
In researching Harold’s story I utilized the wonders of the Internet. Harold was a member of the 86th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron 6th Armored Division. And fortunately for me there was a web site of the 86th CRS. I contacted the web master, a Mr. Charles W. Barbour and asked him in an email if anyone knew of a Sgt. Harold R. Brigade. This is how the story unfolded.

Feb.11, 2002
Mr. Richards;
Harold Brigade slept in the bunk next to me in Company C of the 86th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion when both of us were recruits in April 1942. I remember the first night we were together. He was I think 17 at the time and had enlisted because he wanted to get those Japs. I was an old man of 22 at the time. Harold really hit it of with another 17 year old from Philadelphia named Frank Dalton and they were inseparable. Both became sergeants and both were killed in action.

I remember that Harold once told me he had been nicknamed “Buckets” because he fumbled in a football game.
In September 1943 the battalion was split up and only those assigned to assault guns remained with the company, which was designated as E troop. The rest of us were scattered around the other troops. I wound up in Headquarters, Harold in B troop and Frank in Troop B.

Harold was with Troop B on January 9, 1945 when it was attached to Combat Team 9 (for 9th Infantry) commanded by Lt. Col Frank J. Britton when it was ordered to attack a deep dug in position in woods east and just south of Bastogne. Harold and eight other troopers were killed in action and another 17 wounded.

I talked with Capt. Donald L. Tillemans, the commanding officer of B troop after the war and he told me Harold came to him and told him knew he would not be coming back from this one and gave him his watch. Tillemans was convinced that his troops should never have been used in that fashion, but there was nothing he could do about it.

There are very few of us survivors left. The one we had in our last reunion in Arlington, Va in 2001 was Antony Olivo, who had been his platoon leader in Troop B.

I am sending you by snail mail an excellent picture of Harold and one of Frank Dalton together. I have treasured them down through the years but feel they more appropriately belong to his family.

C.W. Barbour

Email A. Olivo
February 13, 2002

Dear Stu;
Thanks for writing me…I will try to recap what I remember. On January 9th we were given a mission to become observers to watch the troop movements of the Germans. Our assignment was to get into the woods and watch the Germans on the road below the woods, before I left I asked the Colonel for at least a tank or two for protection, but he said, Don’t worry, there is nothing in those woods. I told my men if we encountered any enemy fore to withdraw at once and don’t wait for my command. As we approached the edge of the woods the Germans were in foxholes at the very edge of the woods and as we got closer they opened fire on us. Your Uncle was on my left flank leading a group of men and I was in the center column and another Sgt. Was on the right flank. I looked over to my left and saw your Uncle was shot and screamed to him to “Stay Down”, instead he jumped up and proceeded a few feet and was hit again and he did not get up. The thing that upset me so much was that before this action he was notified that he had just become a father to a son. This is all I can tell you I ended up in the hospital for four months. I was hit on the same day as your uncle was hit.

Tony Olivo

Bronze Star Awarded: Sgt. Harold R. Brigade (B) GO 56-44
Silver Star Awarded: *Sgt. Harold R. Brigade (B) GO 205-45

CASUALTIES AND AWARDS
INTRODUCTION
The 86TH received its share of honors for its accomplishments.
Troops A and D were awarded Distinguished Unit Citations for their gallantry at the Prum and Eder Rivers, respectively. Individually, 117 troopers received the Silver Star Medal, 401 were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, two (T5 Mark H. Doren and T5 Ralph W. Wheeler of Troop A) received the Soldier's Medal and 171 were awarded the Purple Heart. T5s Doren and Wheeler received their Soldier's Medals for entering a crashed, burning plane and removing the pilot from the wreckage. They were thwarted in their attempts to rescue a second person when the plane exploded.

It must be remembered, however, that these awards are only those cited in General Orders of the 6th Armored Division, and that many others were made to individuals in hospitals. A man evacuated to the hospital who did not return to the squadron could only have gotten his award from the hospital. For instance, while only 171 troopers received the Purple Heart through division General Orders, more than twice that number had to have received the award through hospitals.

Capt. Frederick H. Eickhoff of Troop A-Headquarters, Capt. Jimmie H. Bridges, 1st Lt. Deforest Sweeney and 2nd Lt. Elroy W. Lesher of Troop D and First Sgt. Knox C. Bellingham each received an Oak Leaf Cluster to go with his Silver Star Medal.

Sgt. Anton Geiger of Troop D received the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and 2nd Lt. Joseph J. Policastro of Troop B, Sgt. Charlie Cole of Troop A and T4 Robert W. Thoms and T5 John L. Craven of Troop D received two Oak Leaf Clusters with their Bronze Stars.

Overall, Headquarters Troop received nine Silver Stars and 36 Bronze Stars, Troop A received 27 and 82, Troop B received 17 and 59, Troop C received 12 and 25;4 Troop D received 22 and 119, Troop E received 14 and 54, Company F received 8 and 24 and the Medical Detachment received 8 and 8.

Nine enlisted men received battlefield commissions as second lieutenants: First Sergeant Lowell Cornelius and Staff Sergeant Casey J. Rodgers from Troop A, Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Policastro from Troop B, Staff Sergeant Roy L. Ryse from Troop C, First Sergeant William M. Johnson and Staff Sergeant Elroy W. Lesher from Troop D, Staff Sergeant Bert H. Emerson from Troop E, and Staff Sergeant Harold Weeks and Staff Sergeant William J. Speckerman from Company F.

Capt. Delaney of Troop E and Capt. Hughes of Company F firmly believe that their commands were short-changed in both recognition and awards because of the support roles to which they were relegated.

"Company F had the thankless mission to support the recon troops, usually on a piecemeal basis," Capt. Hughes said. "We were rarely mentioned in Troop After Action Reports except as an afterthought. As an example, did you know that a platoon from Company F was with Troop D when it received a unit citation?

"My comments are not written in bitterness, but with regret that so many fine, dedicated men served so well and received so little recognition."

"Because of the constant assignments and reassignments with the Troops of the 86th, the combat commands, even outside Infantry and other operations--and these fluctuated on almost a daily basis--we in Troop E, and I'm sure the same thing applies to Company F, really did not get full accreditation for things we were involved in because we were attached troops," Capt. Delaney said.

"When we did work as a unit on several occasions, especially after we started operating as Artillery, in support of whomever, I think the accreditation was fine. But it was when we were bouncing around constantly and the Task Force commander was the CO of whatever unit we were attached to that we were considered as a secondary rather than a primary part of that particular unit. Of course, this was just a simple fact of life."

Neither Capt. Delaney nor Capt. Hughes begrudges the units they supported any of the recognition they received. They just feel that their commands deserved a fair share of the credit and that when a unit received a special citation the attached troops should have been included.

The squadron also had its share of casualties. Battle casualties included eight officers and 101 enlisted men killed in action, 18 officers and 301 enlisted men wounded in action and four enlisted men missing in action. Non-battle casualties, including only men evacuated from the squadron, numbered 28 officers and 355 enlisted men. Total casualties, battle and non-battle, were 54 officers and 759 enlisted men. Of that number, 236 returned to duty and 573 were replaced by reinforcements.

On the following pages are listed the names of the 109 - 86thers killed in action, copies of the Distinguished Unit Citations awarded to Troops A and D, and squadron members who received the Silver Star Medal or the Bronze Star Medal through General Orders of the 6th Armored Division, with the GO number and year of award.

This is from the 86th Cav Recon Sqdn web site and includes the action y uncle was killed in.

THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN
Christmas Day was spent in Metz with religious services and a turkey dinner, plus an opportunity for many of the troopers to tour the fortress city and avail themselves of the hospitality of the citizens of Metz.

The squadron marched 68 miles to Stegen, Luxembourg, on December 26 and relieved the 1Oth Armored Division's 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized the next day, moving the CP to Schieren, Luxembourg. Troops A and C were running patrols on the squadron front, maintaining roadblocks and observation points. Troop D was attached to CCA until December 29, when it rejoined the squadron on a move of 44 miles to Anlier, Belgium. Squadron was placed under direct control of division, but on December 30 four armored cars and three peeps from Troop D were attached to each combat command. Troop B made a route reconnaissance from Sure, Belgium, to Martilage, Belgium, where it established its CP before placing guards on five bridges in the vicinity of Sure, Chene and Rodange, Belgium.

On New Year's Day of 1945 Troop A was assigned to CCB, Troop C and one platoon of Troop D were attached to CCA and two platoons of Troop B were guarding bridges as squadron moved 14 miles to Traimont, Belgium. The remainder of Troop D plus one light tank platoon from Company F were attached to CCA on January 3 and Troop B and another light tank platoon from Company F followed on January 5. Squadron moved 12 miles to Assenois, Belgium, where it prepared for future operations through January 11. It was during this period that Troop B, assigned by CCA to Combat Team 9 (Lt. Col. Frank K. Britton), was ordered to attack a dug-in German position in the woods east and just south of Bastogne. Denied tank support, Troop B nevertheless made its attack. 1st Lt. Clifton E. Gordon, in his first major battle with the squadron, was killed along with Sgt. Harold R. Brigade, Cpl. Irving Fabricant, Pfc. Edward M. Crosier, Pfc. Arthur A. Pregosin, Pfc. Robert G. Stevens, Pvt. Albert J. Abrams, Pvt. Howard N. Cowan and Pvt. Waiter L. Ware. Another 17 enlisted men were wounded. The attack failed and it eventually took a much stronger force to drive the enemy from the woods.

The 86th was under control of CCA on January 12 when it moved five miles to Marvie, Belgium. The S2 halftrack was demolished by land mines on arrival, leaving Maj. Kennon, Capt. King, driver Norman L. McLaughlin and radio operators Walter Wesolowski and Guido Frazzoni temporarily "homeless." Troop C, supported by tank destroyers and Engineers and followed by two platoons of Troop D, attacked from the woods and reached its objective--Wardin, Belgium--taking 68 prisoners without losing a man. Company F sent a platoon of light tanks north of Bastogne in an attempt to observe enemy movement on the eastward road from Lalompre to Comonge.

The squadron (-) attached to Reserve Command on January 14, moved 2 1/2-miles back to Bastogne on the 25th and marched 27 miles to Weicherdange, Luxembourg, on the 28th. There it regained detached troops, established outposts and prepared for future operations.

On January 30 the 86th was ordered to relieve elements of the 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, and CCB and to contain and defend the sector on the line just north of Fischback-Heinerscheid-Kalborn with the 128th Field Artillery Battalion in direct support, the 696th Field Artillery Battalion in general support and one company of the 68th Tank Battalion attached for command purposes. The CP was moved to Hupperdange, eight miles away.

Maj. Brindle's summary for the period:
"This month brought forth new experiences in cavalry reconnaissance work. The squadron was broken down to cover most all task forces of the division. The majority of our strength was absorbed by CCA.

"The division changing from offensive to defensive status necessitated further breakdown of reconnaissance personnel. The troops were broken down into platoons and distributed over the entire division front to tie in, fill gaps, outpost task force fronts and continue aggressive patrolling to the front.

"The above breakdown of cavalry organizations did not greatly curtail the efficiency of the squadron. However, control by the troop CO was difficult at the best."

"This period covered winter conditions that had not been experienced before, such as icy roads, failure of vehicular engines due to extreme low temperatures, constantly living out of doors and use of winter camouflage. The troops were able to adjust themselves to winter conditions rapidly.

"In all operations during this period the high standard of proficiency in operations established by the squadron in prior monthly reports was even improved."

"Reinforcements were considered adequate both in officers and enlisted men."

Where Do We Get Such Men Part 1

While watching TV the other day and one of my favorite movies was playing the phrase "Where do we get such men?" was said, a very lamentable phrase it is actually the closing line in the movie, The Bridges of Toko-ri made from the novel of the same name by James Michener. A senior naval officer says it in wonder at the self-sacrificial heroism of several naval aviators, killed fighting in rice paddies of Korea after their aircraft went down. I think on this phrase alot of times when I read about the heroism of the men and women from Schuylkill County who have sacrificed so much. Below find the stories of two of our Medal of Honor holders who served in World War ll. Capt. Robert Roeder and Corporal Anthony Damato



During World War ll, Mt. Battaglia in Italy located near the Po Valley was a very strategic point. From the 27th of September to the 3rd of October 1944, the 2nd Battalion of the 350th Infantry Regiment 88th Division was assigned the duty of holding this strong point. The Germans also knowing the value of such a strategic point also wanted this peak. For seven days the Germans made numerous deadly counter attacks. The attacks would start with heavy artillery and mortar barrages, followed by squad level infantry attacks using small arms to include hand to hand and grenade attacks. Each and every attack on this peak was beaten back by the men of the 2/350th. The weather during these attacks was terrible low hanging clouds made the visibility nearly zero, the terrain was rough and rocky. Pack mules were needed to bring the supplies to the battalion. At times the ammunition was so low the men resorted to throwing rocks at the advancing Germans. The evacuation of the wounded proved to be a serious matter because of the weather and the terrain and the incessant artillery bombardment by the Germans. For their outstanding fighting and courage displayed by the men of the 2/350th the regiment was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Fighting with G Company of the 350th was a Schuylkill County native born in Summit Station, on July 25, 1917. Captain Robert Roeder. According to information published in the Pottsville Journal Captain Roeder was once rejected for service in the U.S. Navy because of a punctured eardrum. This was back in 1936, a week before he enlisted in the Army. He served two enlistments in the Regular Army and was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, in 1942. Upon graduation, he was assigned to a rifle platoon in Company G, 350th Regiment, subsequently becoming executive officer and company commander. Prior to the fighting on Mt. Battaglia Roeder was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for fearless and aggressive leadership in leading an assault on hill 316 in southern Italy on the morning of the 12th of May, 1944 , on Hill 316 the hill was taken, at 1320 hours thus completing the action by the 350th.
Captain Rober Roeder is a true hero of Schuylkill County, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions on top of Mt. Battaglia in September of 1944. Captain Roeder was with company G 350th who’s assignment on this day was to hold the summit of Mt. Battaglia. The first enemy attack came 35 minutes after the company was in position, but was repulsed along with five others in the ensuing 34 hours on the mountain. After the seventh attack made by the Germans using artillery and flame throwers, Captain Roeder gallantly lead his company in a hand to hand fight. An exploding shell rendered him unconscious and he was carried by his me to the command post. Following his Captain Roeder’s Citation for Bravery and being awarded the MOH.
ROEDER, ROBERT E.
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company G, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division. Place and Date Mt. Battaglia, Italy, 27-28 September 1944. Entered Service at: Summit Station, Pa. Birth: Summit Station, Pa. G.O. No.: 31, 17 April 1945.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Roeder commanded his company in defense of the strategic Mount Battaglia. Shortly after the company had occupied the hill, the Germans launched the first of a series of determined counterattacks to regain this dominating height. Completely exposed to ceaseless enemy artillery and small-arms fire, Capt. Roeder constantly circulated among his men, encouraging them and directing their defense against the persistent enemy. During the sixth counterattack, the enemy, by using flamethrowers and taking advantage of the fog, succeeded in overrunning the position Capt. Roeder led his men in a fierce battle at close quarters, to repulse the attack with heavy losses to the Germans. The following morning, while the company was engaged in repulsing an enemy counterattack in force, Capt. Roeder was seriously wounded and rendered unconscious by shell fragments. He was carried to the company command post, where he regained consciousness. Refusing medical treatment, he insisted on rejoining his men although in a weakened condition, Capt. Roeder dragged himself to the door of the command post and, picking up a rifle, braced himself in a sitting position. He began firing his weapon, shouted words of encouragement, and issued orders to his men. He personally killed 2 Germans before he himself was killed instantly by an exploding shell. Through Capt. Roeder's able and intrepid leadership his men held Mount Battaglia against the aggressive and fanatical enemy attempts to retake this important and strategic height. His valorous performance is exemplary of the fighting spirit of the U.S. Army.
Captain Roeder is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 12

Where Do We Get Such Men Part 2

Corporal Anthony Damato Hero

During the Marine advancements in the Pacific theatre of World War ll, And the rapid seizure of Kwajalein Atoll led Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean the date for Operation Catchpole, the invasion of Eniwetok Atoll, was set for 17 February 1944. On the morning of 17 February 1944, the task force of the V Amphibious Corps made up of the Army 106th Infantry regiment and the 22nd Marines landed in the Eniwetok lagoon and began coordinated operations. The next day 18 February 1944, the Marines landed on Engebi Island, supported by naval gunfire and by shore-based artillery placed on three adjacent islets the day before. After ferocious fighting with ill-prepared defenders, Engebi was secured the same day, including the airfield. One Marine veteran claimed that the fire the Japanese put forth was the heaviest he ever came under. The next day, 19 February, the 106th Infantry faced heavier resistance on Eniwetok Island, but after two days of fighting reinforced by 3rd Bn, 22nd Marines, Eniwetok was taken on 20 February. The Marines' attack on Parry Island on 22 February, followed by landings on smaller islands, eliminated the Japanese resistance and the entire Eniwetok atoll was in U.S. control by the evening of 23 February.
Operation Catchpole cost Marine casualties 254 killed, 555 wounded and Army casualties of 94 killed and 311 wounded. About 3,400 Japanese died and 66 were taken prisoner.
Landing on Engebi Island with the 22nd Marines was Marine Corporal Anthony Damato born and raised in Shenandoah Schuylkill County, Pa. He was born on March 28, 1922 and went to school in Shenandoah, prior to his enlistment in the Marine Corps Anthony worked as a truck driver. On January 8, 1942 Anthony Damato enlisted in the Marine Corps. After boot camp and initial training he was posted to Londonderry, Northern Ireland in May of 1942.
During the planning stages of Operation Torch, (The Invasion of North Africa) It was determined that weapons training was needed for U.S. Navy boat crewmen who would be involved in the Algerian portion of the landing as part of the Eastern Task Force. In September 1942, Marine Corps instructors were brought in from Londonderry and London to establish a three-week training camp at the naval base in Rosneath, Scotland.
Marines trained four Army infantry divisions in assault from the sea tactics prior to the North African landings. Leading the way during Operation Torch, the November 1942 North African
invasion, Marines went ashore at Arzeu, Algeria, and moved overland to the port of Oran, where they occupied the strategic Spanish fortress at the northern tip of the harbor.
While with the Marine units during Operation Torch Damato distinguished himself, volunteering for special duty with a select invasion party that took part in the landings. He was later advanced in rank for especially meritorious service in action while serving aboard a U.S. Naval ship during the landings at Arzeau, Algeria. On November 8, 1942 he landed with an assault force entering the port from the seaward and assisted in boarding and seizing vessels in the harbor as well as the port itself.
In March of 1943 Corporal Damato returned to the United States. Three months later he sailed for the South Pacific. And on the night of February 19-20, 1944 after fighting to secure the Engebi Island Corporal Damato was in a fox hole with two fellow Marines, the Japanese using small unit tactics continually attacked the Marine force. While on his companies defensive perimeter which was thinned out due to the withdrawal of nearly half of the company. Creeping up on the Marines an enemy soldier approached Damato’s foxhole undetected and threw in a grenade, desperately grabbing for the grenade in the dark and not being able to get rid of fast enough Corporal Anthony Damato threw himself on top of the grenade taking the full force effect of the explosion and was instantly killed, and saving the life of his two fellow Marines.
On April 9, 1945 the town of Shenandoah turned out for the presentation of the Medal of Honor. The presentation was made in Damato’s high school in Shenandoah. Presenting the award was Brigadier General M.C. Gregory, USMC who presented the medal to his Mother Mrs. Francis Damato a widowed mother of eight.
Corporal Damato was initially buried in the American Cemetery on Kirrian Island in the Marshall Islands. And was later interred in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Corporal Anthony Damato Medal of Honor Citation Reads.
DAMATO, ANTHONY PETER
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 28 March 1922, Shenandoah, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault company in action against enemy Japanese forces on Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, on the night of 1920 February 1944. Highly vulnerable to sudden attack by small, fanatical groups of Japanese still at large despite the efficient and determined efforts of our forces to clear the area, Cpl. Damato lay with 2 comrades in a large foxhole in his company's defense perimeter which had been dangerously thinned by the forced withdrawal of nearly half of the available men. When 1 of the enemy approached the foxhole undetected and threw in a hand grenade, Cpl. Damato desperately groped for it in the darkness. Realizing the imminent peril to all 3 and fully aware of the consequences of his act, he unhesitatingly flung himself on the grenade and, although instantly killed as his body absorbed the explosion, saved the lives of his 2 companions. Cpl. Damato's splendid initiative, fearless conduct and valiant sacrifice reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades.
Seven months after Mrs. Damato accepted the Medal of Honor for here son, she was invited to New York Harbor to be part of the ceremony that christened a new destroyer named in honor of her son Marine Corporal Anthony P. Damato.
The USS Damato was a 2,400 ton destroyer and launched on November 21, 1945 and Commissioned DD-871 on the 27, April 1946. This vessel was decommissioned in December 1980 and given to the Government of Pakistan.

There should be a Memorial for the Horses

I found this bit of info on the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry Horses in the National Archives, is quite interesting of what a Cavalry unit did..


There Should Be A Memorial For Horses
The Horses of The Seventh Penna. Cavalry


During the Atlanta campaign, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry was heavily engaged in scouting and skirmishing with the rebels. The men suffered daily and also their horses. Here is a report taken from the monthly regimental reports found in the National Archives in Washington D.C. about how the horses suffered.

HQ 7th Penna. Cav.
Near Blakes Mills, Ga
Sept. 13, 1864

Capt. R. Burns
A.A.A.G.
1st Brig. 2nd Cav. Div.

Sir, I have the honor to report that the 7th Reg. Penna Vol. Cav. started on the 30th day of April with 919 horses, fresh from the corral at Nashville and unused to military duty. The majority were young horses not aged. 300 of the enlisted men were raw recruits some had never been on a horse before. They entered the service and without drill. We travelled along the line of the Nashville and Chat. R. Rd. for 48 consecutive hours the horses were without feed and travellled 43 miles passing a depot from which forage was carried at least eight miles. May 5 we marched 23 miles without feed. At Ned City rec'd 28 Ibs of corn for 3 days to be carried upon the horses in addition to 5 days rations and travelled 33 miles crossing at Raccoon Sand and a spur of Lookout Mtn. The young horses commenced to lag. A few were abandoned and the hearty and strong horses were fatigued. The Col. Wm. B. Sipes then commanding instituted morning inspections compelling every man to groom his horse and graze when an opportunity occur ed.
From the 16th of May to the 19th the horses had no feed except the leaves and short grass to be found in the hills around Andersonville, Ga. During this time we travelled 35 miles. The last 5 from Kingston to the free badge was travelled at a gallop causing the horses to give out by the dozen (as figures will prove.) That night we rec'd the first forage the horses had for 3 days. Out of 72 hours the horses were under saddle for 60 hours and receiving all the attention the men were able to give. On the morning of May 22 the comdg. officer of companies reported the loss of 76 horses as died of starvation and abandoned. Upon investigation the vet. surgeon corroborated the statement and pronounced 43 were unserviceable and unfit to travel. Up to this point the horses were groomed as regularly as circumstances would permit. Out of the 43 horses left to recuperate 15 were returned to the command Aug. 5/64. From May 26 to June 2 (7days) the horses were without and actually starved. One battalion (the 3rd) lost in action trying to procure forage 33 horses and 101 were starved to death and compelled to be abandoned. A detail commanded by Capt. Garrett travelled 30 miles and returned without forage. June 11 and 12 no forage. A detachment commanded by Capt. Newlin travelled 26 miles returning with 1 qt. for a horse. From July 13 to 18 rec'd half forage. From 19 to 22 no forage. But stuble field to graze in. June 20 lost in 26 horses. From June 23 to July 17 rec'd 1/2 rations. July 18 and 19 no forage. From July 27 to 30 forage on the country for 20 miles around Stone Mountain. All was hacked upon the withers of the horses doing as much harm to the horses as the feed did good causing sore backs. From Aug. 1 to Aug. 15 the command was 5 miles away from the horses. 4 horses were groomed by 1 man cause consequently they were not as well taken care of as the ride would give them. For 48 hurs they were without feed.
Aug 15 and 16 rec'd 1 qt. per head and travelled 24 miles over a country devastated by the army. Aug 17 and 18 rec'd 1 pint feed from 3d Div. Aug 19, 20, 21,22,23, and 24 travelled 120 miles feeding but once on green corn. 1/2 ration of forage was issued to Sept. 9 Sept. 9 ,10,11 no feed and no grazing. The stock rec'd no salt or hay during the campaign. Lost in action Aug. 20 112 horses.

Started with 919 horses
captured 42 horses

total 961 horses


Abandoned
and died 230 horses
killed and
captured 171 horses

Total Lost 401 horses
Present in
the field 560 horses

961 horses.

From the Regimental Records Book
National Archives.

Schuylkill County Color Bearers During the Civil War Only the Brave were Chosen

ONLY THE BRAVE WERE CHOSEN.
THE FLAGS AND COLOR BEARERS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
REGIMENTS.

The regimental flag was to be protected at all costs, even with the lives of the men entrusted with its care, the color bearers and the color guard. To be selected as a member of the color guard was one of the most distinguished honors bestowed upon a Civil war soldier. To carry the colors into battle meant that one was in the fore front of the regiment. One knew that enemy fire would be focused on one's position and the possibility existed that one would be killed or wounded. It took a man of extraordinary courage to be a color bearer, and men from Schuylkill County courageously filled this post of honor often paying with their lives. Not once in battle did a Schuylkill county regiment permanently lose their colors to an enemy regiment.
At the out break of the Civil War every regiment had a flag that was either given to them or was purchased by the individual companies comprising the regiment. The call went out in 1862 for volunteers to enlist for three years. These regiments were formed from the remnants of the three month volunteers. After forming and being mustered into service the regiment was issued a regimental flag by the State of Pennsylvania. The flag had the regimental number painted on the center red stripe and the state coat of arms was centered in the blue canton surrounded by the stars representing the States of the Union.
In 1861-1862 Governor Andrew Curtin of Pennsylvania personally presented the flags to the regiments. He presented the 48th's at Camp Curtin on the outskirts of Harrisburg just before their departure from Camp Curtin. The 50th P.V.I. was drawn up in position of a three square, with Col. Christ in the center. Governor Curtin arrived and presented the regiment with their flag in the name of the Commonwealth. After an emotional speech by the Governor, the flag was accepted by Col. Christ and he returned his most grateful thanks to the authorities of the State.
On November 6, 1861, the 96th P.V.I. marched down from their Camp on Lawton's Hill to the American House hotel in downtown Pottsville. There at the hotel was Governor Curtin, with flag in hand. He addressed the men in a long, patriotic speech, and at the conclusion of his speech he presented the flag to Col. Cake, who made a short acceptance speech. When the ceremony was over, the men cheered the Governor and the flag.
The 129th, also encamped at Camp Curtin, had their flag presented to them by Col. Samuel B. Thomas, an aide to the Governor. On a cold December 18, 1861 the 7th Penna. Cavalry marched dismounted into Harrisburg and formed in front of the Capitol and listened to a stirring speech by the Governor who then presented the State Standard and 10 guidons to Col. George C. Wynkoop. Many other men from Schuylkill County in various other regiments would witness the presentation of their regimental colors by the Governor or his aide.
The regiments carried their State flags into battle and also flags that were presented to them by the people from their communities. The 96th carried with them a flag that was presented to the old 25th Regiment and Col. Joseph W. Cake who commanded it. This flag was carried on the Peninsula Campaign and was used in the fight at Crampton's Pass Md. on September 14, 1862. On June 11, 1863 a flag was presented to the regiment by a group of men on behalf of the Ladies' Aid Society Of Pottsville. It was a magnificent flag that carried the names of the battles that the 96th had participated in up till that time. On February 22, 1864, Webster Bland of Pottsville, the Surgeon of the Regiment, brought home the battle damaged and worn flag.
The 48th carried a flag given to them by a citizen of Pottsville, a Mr. John T. Werner. The flag had the regimental number painted on the center red stripe, and in the blue field were painted the words "In The Cause of The Union We Know No Such Word As Fail." This flag was carried by the regiment until 1864.
The men of the 48th came home on veteran furlough in 1864 and while at home were presented with a blue regimental flag with the state coat of arms on one side and the national arms on the other. Surrounding the coat of arms were the names of four battles the 48th participated in. This flag was presented to the regiment by Representative John H. Campbell on behalf of Mrs. E.R. Bohannon and Miss. Miesse both ladies of Pottsville.
The 7th Penna. Vol. Cavalry received a blue standard and 12 swallow tailed guidons on March 1, 1864, given to them jointly by the Ladies Aid Societies of Pottsville and St. Clair. They also carried two state standards throughout their service.
The 129th, a nine month regiment carried a state flag and a national flag, both of which would fall into enemy hands during the battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863, but would be immediately recaptured by the heroic actions of Col. Jacob Frick and returned to the regiment.
In February 1865 Pottsville lady friends of Capt. Edward H. Lieb, of the Fifth United States Cavalry, presented a flag to the regiment. They valued his service and that of the regiment and had a silk flag made that was on display in Capt. David A. Smith's store on Center street in Pottsville. The flag was forwarded to the regiment in February but was delayed in getting to them. The 5th did not receive the flag until June of 1865. J.W. Maron of the 5th U.S. wrote to the Ladies of Pottsville thanking them for the flag.
The color company of a Civil War regiment was usually" C" company and always placed in the center of the regiment. The other nine companies were placed around the color company usually by the seniority of their Captain. Such as:
A.F.D.I.C.(colors)H.E.K.G.B.
The color guard was composed of eight corporals and one or two sergeants who were selected to carry the flags. The formation of the color guard was highly visible in line of battle as these men were usually out in front marching ahead of the regiment. The color guard was formed up in the following fashion.
CORP. SGT. SGT. CORP.
CORP. CORP. CORP.
CORP. CORP. CORP.
As men were wounded, the color guard would naturally diminish in size and upon the order to halt, the colors would retreat behind the double lines of infantry and remain there until the order of "advance the colors" was given. At that time they would move to the front once again.
On September 14, 1862 the 96th P.V.I. went into action at Cramptons Gap, Md. northeast of Harpers Ferry, in an effort to thwart Robert E. Lee's proposed invasion into Maryland and the taking of Harpers Ferry. Opposing the 96th were Confederate soldiers of Gen. Lafayette McLaws.
Advancing in line of battle and being shelled by Confederate artillery postioned on the slopes of South Mountain, the 96th approached a stone wall that was heavily defended by Confederate infantry . The order to halt was given by Col. Cake. John. T. Boyle, the captain of company D, continues the narrative which he wrote for the Pottsville Republican on September 30, 1871.
" The disposition for the final charge having been made, the 96th was ordered forward to draw the concentrated fire of the enemy, and turn his left which was immediately in front, and held by the 16th Georgia. Stepping over the reclining men of the 27th New York picket reserve, whose ammunition was nearly expended, the regiment some distance in the advance of the main line, pressed forward to the attack. Obliquing to the left to keep as much as possible under cover of foliage and a slight elevation, it moved forward until within five or six hundred yards of the enemy, when the right was delayed by a stone wall, and the left by a high worm fence and by a galling cross fire of the enemy.
Col. Cake, on foot, as were most of the officers, was the first man on the right to leap the fence, waving his sword and calling on the men to follow. Seeing some hesitate, he returned toward the fence from which he and others had gone a dozen steps or more, just as some of the more nervous of the men fired their muskets at random, some in the air, others into the earth at no great distance ahead, and a few in the direction of the enemy. The very great majority, however, returned their fire, and a few moments thereafter used it most effectively.
The regiment or that part of it which now remained, was within forty or more paces of stone wall behind which the enemy was fortressed. Here a narrow patch of standing corn hid the centre companies from view, the right companies being fully exposed to the foe together with the left, which was a distance to the rear of the 5th Maine, 16th New York, and Newton's Brigade. It was her that the regiment met with the heaviest loss. Scarcel had it entered the corn patch than the companies were thrown into charging disorder, and their further progress momentarily stayed by a tremendous reserve fire from the enemy behind the stone wall. First Lieut. John Doughert, commanding Company F. Who was some few paces in advance of his command, and waving his sword in the air and calling on his men to follow, received a ball in his breast and sunk down within sword length of the writer.
"Here, Casey," he exclaimed to his first sergeant, "take my sword and follow the Colonel." Casey moving near received the sword from the hand of his dying leader, whirled it around his head and called on the men who were now as fierce as bloodhounds, to move forward. For this act which transpired under the immediate notice of Colonel Cake, the sergeant received honorable mention in that officer's official report, and shortly afterwards became the recipient of a second Lieutenant's commission, which he foully disgraced. A moment after Dougherty fell, the gray headed Scotchman color Sergeant Sol. McMinzie of company C, who was bravely upholding the State Ensign received a mortal wound in the breast. "I am shot," he exclaimed, as he staggered forward his eyes sparkling with unearthly luster and his manly frame - inured to war by twelve years in the Royal Artillery - trembled all over with excitement, and again he cried. As the flag staff slipped from his nervous grasp, and with shattered thigh, he sank with a sigh into the arms of death. The old standard shot-torn and gory with the blood of Gaines Hill, had scarcely kissed the earth, before the regimental or Col. Joseph C. Cake flag, which thus far had been borne by Sergeant Thomas Oliver, of company C. trailed its drooping folds in the dust, its carrier having received a disabling wound in the foot. A cry of exultation went up from the rebel line, and a chill of dismay shivered through the frames of those of the regiment who saw the occurrence. The situation was critical; The moment one of terrible apprehension enough to appall the stoutest heart.
Ordered by Captain Royer, private William Ortner,of company H, stopped to take the flag staff from the hands of Sol. McMinzie, but scarcely had he touched it before he was struck by a ball, which forced him to relinquish his hold. Color Sergeant Johnson raised the staff, but relinqushed it with a disabling wound. Seeing this private Charles Ziegler of the same company, with distinguished gallantry, rushed from his position, grasped the staff and essayed to roar it in the air, but before he could accomplish it, a bullet deprived him of life and he fell forward to earth, covering its silken folds with his blood. Nothing daunted by the fate of his comrades, Corporal Henry H. Hunsicker caught up the standard and had the honor unscathed of carrying it through the rest of the engagement. The other flag after passing through the hands of private David Thomas, William Miller and others, came at length into the keeping of gallant Patrick Powers, of company F. who bore it full high advanced to the top of the mountain."

The two color bearers who gave their lives on this gallant charge were Solomon McMinzie, a forty - one year - old native of Scotland, who resided in Pottsville at the time of the Civil War. He laid in pain for an additional day with a minnie ball lodged in his chest. The second color bearer, Charles Ziegler, died painfully with his left thigh shattered and broken by a musket ball. He was initially wounded while at the stone wall with a bayonet to the stomach.
On April 2, 1865 the largest cavalry force ever used in the Civil War was on the move near the outskirts of Selma, Alabama. This force was commanded by a young Brigadier General named James H. Wilson. Wilson was ordered by Gen. George H. Thomas commander of the Department of Tennessee and the Cumberland to mount an attack against Selma, Alabama, a vital munitions depot. The campaign began on March 22, 1865 and the troops arrived on the perimeter of the heavily fortified city of Selma about 3 P.M. on the 2nd of April.
Riding with Wilson on this raid was the Seventh Penna. Cavalry consisting of two full companies of Schuylkill County boys. Along with the Seventh in their brigade was the Fourth Michigan, Fourth Ohio and the Seventeenth Indiana. This brigade and other brigades numbered 13,000 mounted troopers.
Facing the Seventh and her sister regiments was a formidable array of defenses. The Union troops looked out upon an open field with no natural cover. If that field was successfully crossed while enduring constant enemy shot and shell, the troops would fall upon abatis, sharpened wooden stakes pointing toward them. If they made it beyond the abatis, they entered into a deep ditch which fronted a fifteen foot embankment. Behind the embankment, the rebels waited to repulse their Union enemies.
A mounted attack would never work on this type of defense so Gen. Wilson ordered the men to dismount. The Brigade Commander, Gen. Eli Long, gave his 1500 men the command to advance. With officers out in front, the Seventh boys, now dismounted, started across the open field to their front. Under heavy shot and shell the whole way across the open field, the Seventh successfully reached the stockade where they pulled out some of the abatis and made a small opening through which they passed. Just outside the fortification, Sergeant John Ennis, color bearer from St. Clair, was fatally wounded by a minnie ball. Sergeant Louis Bickel, company I, retrieved the standard from the dying grasp of John Ennis and carried the colors to the top of the embankment and into the rebel held fort.
This charge cost the life of one officer killed, three wounded and forty seven enlisted men wounded. The Seventh captured 198 prisoners, seven pieces of artillery and over 250 enemy muskets and rifles.

John Ennis was the only enlisted man from the Seventh killed in the charge. He would lay wounded for five more days dying on April 7, 1865 two days before Gen. Robert E. Lee would surrender to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virgina. He was also a member of the British Cavalry participating in the famed charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in the Crimea, holding several medals of honor for his service to Crown. He was commended in orders numerous times with the Seventh Pa. Cav. Also the John Ennis Post No. 44 of the Grand army of The Republic was named in his honor by his comrades from St. Clair.
On December 13, 1862 the battle of Fredricksburg was raging. As the 129th P.V.I. was attacking the enemy postions on the Heights above the city, most of the color bearers were down with wounds. Leading his men, Col. Jacob Frick of Pottsville, saw the State Colors fall to the ground. He ran to them, picked them up and waved them over his head and advanced forward. While charging, a rebel bullet would shatter the flag staff. Col. Frick retrieved the colors back to the Union lines and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his deed.
Again on May 3, 1863 Col. Frick would be involved in another rescue of the regiments colors at the batte of Chancellorsville. While rebel soldiers tried to capture the regiment's colors, Col. Frick recognized the danger and went forward and in hand to hand fighting rescued and saved his regiment's colors.


The color bearers from Schuylkill County were:


FORTY EIGHTH P.V.I.
Sgt. John Roarty Company C. to 10-02-64.
Sgt. Samuel Bedall Company E. 10-02-64 to 07-20-65. Tamaqua.
Sgt. John Taylor Company A. 04-02-65. Port Clinton.
Sgt. Arthur Hatch Company C. Port Clinton.
Sgt. Edward Flanagan Company G. Pottsville.

NINETY SIXTH P.V.I.
Sgt. Joseph S. Johnston Company H. Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons
Gap.
Corp. William Ortner Company H. Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Sgt. Charles B. Zeigler Company H. Killed 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Sgt. Solomon McMinzie Company C. Died 09-17-62 Cramptons Gap. Pottsville.
Corp. Thomas Oliver Company C. Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Port Carbon.
Pvt. Harry Hunsicher Company H. Carried Flag at Cramptons Gap.
West Brunswick.
Sgt. J.W. Conrad Company Wounded 5-9-64 at Spotsylvania Va. Campaign. Pottsville.
Corp. George W. Foltz Company C. Wounded 05-10-64 Spotsylvania Va. Campaign. Tremont.
Corp. William Beynon, Co. A Killed May 11, 1864.
Sgt. Fredrick Snyder, Co. B wounded May 10, 1864.
Sgt. Charles Fisher, Co. C wounded May 10, 1864.
Sgt. Ezra Hendley Company D. Wounded 05-10-64 Spotsylvania Va.
Campaign.
Sgt. William Lord Company A. Carried Colors 05-10-64 Spotsylvania Va. Campaign. Pottsville.
Sgt. John Shan, Co. H. Wounded May 10, 1864 died May 15, 1864.
Sgt. John Keegan Co. I.
Sgt. John Gough, Co. D killed May 10, 1864.


SEVENTH PENNA. CAVALRY.
Sgt. John Ennis Company A. Killed Selma Alabama, 07-04-65. St. Clair.

EIGHTY FIRST P.V.I.
Corp. Thomas Foster. Company I.
Sgt. James B. Murray. Company H. Killed Reams Station. Va.
08-24-64.

THIRTY FIRST P.V.I. 2d RESERVES.
Corp. Thomas J. Foster.
Fifty-Second P.V.I.
Corp. Samuel Williams, Co. I
Fifty-Fifth P.V.I.
Color Sgt. Michael Murry, wounded at Cold Harbor. 6-3-64
Color Sgt. James Miller, died of disease at Beaufort, South Carolina. He was a native of Scotland and had served in the Crimean War, and lived in Minersville.
One Hundred and Sixteenth P.V.I.
Sgt. Charles Mauer Co. F. The regiments last color Bearer.
Sgt. Edward Kelly Co. F.
Pvt. James M. Seitzinger Co. G
One Hundred and Twenty Ninth P.V.I.
Sgt. Lewis S. Boner Co. E
Col. Jacob Frick rescued and carried the colors at Fredricksburg.

A Marines Marine MOH Holder Alexander Foley In the Boxer rebellion

A MARINE’S MARINE

The Story Of Sergeant Alexander Foley

It has always amazed me how common everyday citizens of Schuylkill County have played an important part in history. One man in particular is Alexander Foley a man who grew up in Lost Creek. Like most boys growing up in the small anthracite coal mining patch towns of the late nineteenth century Foley was the son of a coal miner, a breaker boy and coal miner himself. This is the story of 1st Sgt. Alexander J. Foley a Marine or as his fellow Marines called him “A Marine’s Marine,”.
Sgt. Foley’s story begins on February 19, 1866 in Heckschersville, Pa. A healthy son born to Edward and Catherine (McDonald) Foley. Early in his childhood Alex moved with his family to another coal mining patch town that of Lost Creek. Here Alex worked as a breaker boy and miner in and around the local collieries for about 12 years. On October 29, 1888 at the age of 22 Alex decided that he wanted something different than working in the coal mines. That same day he traveled to Philadelphia to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He raised his right hand and enlisted for five years. In 1893 he was mustered out but once again enlisted for another five year hitch. So began his career in the Marines. Alex was rated, during his first enlistment, as having an “excellent character”. By the end of his second enlistment, Alex served for three years on sea duty, and served and saw combat with the Marine Battalion in Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish American War. During the summer of 1899, now corporal Foley, was with the Marine Battalion serving in the Philippines. He helped put down an uprising by Filipino Nationalists. Because of his conduct during the hot fighting at Luzon, he was promoted to Sergeant. In the summer of 1900, Sgt. Foley was stationed with the First Regiment of Marines at Cavite, Philippines. On June 14, 1900 Sgt. Foley, 100 enlisted men and six officers were put on board the U.S. S. Newark and sailed for Taku, China. They arrived 4 days later on June 18th, 1900.
At the end of the 19th century China was rife with anti-foreign sentiments. The Chinese people were deeply angered with foreign nations for trying to divide their country into different spheres of influence. Some Chinese wanted to accept Western ideas, while others felt strongly that they had to drive the foreigners out of their country. Included in the latter were a fanatical group of Chinese Nationalists known as the “Righteous Harmonious Fists”, or, as the Europeans called them, the “Boxers”. Their objective was to drive every foreign devil out of China and thus remove every realm of Western influence. In the beginning the Boxers committed sporadic murders, killing mostly missionaries and their families. They hated the missionaries for opposing their ancestor worship and their other ancient religious beliefs. In 1900 the Boxers assassinated the German Minister to China, Baron V Ketteler at Peking. They quickly moved against the different foreign legations stationed in Pekin. Fearing for their lives 200 men, women and children of the legations took refuge in the British Legation and a siege of over two months by the Boxers followed.
At the same time in the city of Tientsin, the international settlement was under siege from the Boxers. Tientsin was the major stronghold of the Boxer uprising. A coalition of nations formed a force to go to the aid of the besieged westerners in Tientsin. Over 5,000 troops, including soldiers from Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, U.S. Marines and men of the 9th U.S. Infantry.
It was clear that the legations in Peking needed help. The Boxers had severed the railroads leading from Tientsin, Peking was cut off. On June 10th, 1900, a detachment, under the command of British Admiral Seymour and numbering 1,945 men, set out to cut its way through to the besieged legation in Peking. Included in this force was a small detachment of U.S. Marines. Within a week the column had made about 65 miles and was only 25 miles from Peking. Continually harried by red scarved Boxers and Chinese Imperial soldiers who just joined the Boxers, the relief force fought continually for sixteen days. Near starvation and badly cut up, the relief force was left with two options; complete annihilation or retreat back to Tientsin. The column turned back. From 18 to 22 June, the column marched back to Tientsin, with over 200 wounded men the force became bogged down. In a last ditch effort the U.S. Marines and Royal Marines, supported by German soldiers, fought their way to a point about 6 miles from Tientsin. Of the 112 U.S. Marines included in this multi national force thirty-two were killed or wounded. The Marines sustained twice as many casualties as any other unit in the force. On June 21, 1900 in fierce fighting outside the International Compound at Tientsin, Sergeant Foley distinguished himself for fighting bravely. He eventually received a personal citation from the Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long for his actions on this date. The citation read:” The Department highly commends your meritorious conduct, which so well upheld the traditions of the United States Naval Service.” Sergeant Foley had the honor of hearing this citation read before his regiment on Sept. 9, 1901 at Cavite, P.I.
On June 22, 1900 the Boxers were well entrenched on the outskirts of Tientsin. The city was surrounded by a high mud wall 20 miles in circumference. The objective of the coalition was to capture the city, and then move on to Peking and the relief of the British legation held there. The Boxers were dug in and determined to die to the last man.
Late in the day of July 11, a large naval bombardment commenced from the warships at Taku, The bombardment lasted for a day and a half. In the early morning of the 13th the collation forces began their attack. The Japanese were assigned the center of the line, British on the left with the 9th U.S. Infantry 1st Marines and the French on the right when the assault began. The 9th U.S. Infantry was advancing over a low mud wall when they came under intense enemy fire. They were on an open field and exposed to heavy fire. The field was very muddy because the Chinese flooded the area. They were trapped in the open unable to advance or fall back and had no option but to try and dig in to protect themselves.
While the 9th Infantry was fighting for its life, Foley and the 1st Marines were advancing toward the south gate of the city. The Marines charged the area and themselves became pinned down. Both the Marines and 9th Infantry were taking heavy casualties all day long. In the dimming twilight, the survivors of both units made their escape to safety but had to leave many wounded behind. In the early evening, Sergeants Alexander Foley, P.S. Burch, Corporal H.E. Swift and Private William Hanrahan all members of Company F, 1st Marines went out on a search of the area for wounded comrades. They came upon a badly wounded Major James Regan of the 9th Infantry.
Major Regan stated about the action that night, “ Our position was a serious one and we were subjected to a hot fire all day. Our comrades at the outer, or mud wall, could not relieve or support us, but at the close of the day, under the protection of darkness our Marines and British Marines came on the field under fire to assist in removing the wounded from the field, and bravely did they continue their work until the last man was carried to a place of safety.
“It was with the greatest difficulty and persistence in their noble work that they got me off the field. They placed me on an improvised litter made of two flannel shirts and two rifles, the men at the suggestion of the surgeon shedding their shirts for the purpose.
“I was a heavy man and with the greatest of care over the roughest kind of ground, under fire, they carried me to a Marine Hospital in the city, a distance, I judge of about three miles.”
Sergeant Foley was mentioned in the after action report for this day by his Company Co. Captain Fuller. He was commended for carrying of messages on this day.
After Tientsin fell, the back of the Boxer resistance was broken when the coalition advanced on Peking. After a brief battle and very little resistance from the Chinese, the city fell. Sergeant Foley marched into the city with the 1st Marine Regiment and secured the survivors of the British Legation.
In October Sergeant Foley and his company F were assigned to the 2nd Marine regiment and sent back to Cavite, Philippines on September 9th , Foley received his letter of Commendation for actions on June 21st at Tientsin.
Almost a year later a grateful Major Regan wrote a letter to the commander of the 1st Marine Regiment in Cavite Philippines.
Sir: “I have the honor to state that at the close of the day of the Battle of Tientsin, being completely helpless from my wounds, I was helped off the battlefield, while still under fire, by four United States Marines.
“I told these men at the time that if I knew their names, I would especially mention them to their commanding officer, to which they are fully entitled for their splendid and difficult conduct on the night of July 13. The names of these men are sergeants Alex. J. Foley, Sergeant P.S. Burch , Corporal H.E. Swift, and Private William Hanrahan, at present, officers of company F First Regiment of Marines.
“It is with pleasure and gratitude that I bring the conduct of these men to the attention of their commanding officer, with the hope that they may be suitably mentioned and rewarded.” On May 11th, 1902 at Cavite, Philippines while standing in front of his Regiment Sergeant Foley was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Citation Reads:
In the presence of the enemy in the battle near Tientsin, China, 13 July 1900, Foley distinguished himself by meritorious conduct……Medal of Honor
From the United States Marine Corps Archives the following is written:
Outstanding acts of heroism and self sacrifice marked the conduct of U.S. Marines during the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century. No Individual action however surpassed the gallantry of Sergeant Alexander Foley, U.S.M.C.
During the bitterest period of fighting, Sergeant Foley concerned himself with the number of American wounded, who lay helpless under direct enemy fire. With complete disregard for his own safety he organized and led a rescue squad to evacuate the fallen.
So conspicuous was his bravery that a U.S. Army Major whom he carried from the field stated: “This man is worthy of the distinction the Government can confer upon him.” And sergeant Foley was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor.
On August 1, 1902 Foley was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. He reenlisted for the fourth time on December 3, 1903. From May 5, 1905 to July 10, 1906 GSgt. Foley served on board the U.S.S. Monadnock with the Marine detachment. On December, 2, 1908 GSgt. Foley enlisted for the fifth time. On April 1, 1908 he was transferred to the battleship Idaho and promoted to 1st Sgt on July 10th. After a tour of sea duty on the U.S.S. Idaho, 1st Sgt. Foley was transferred to garrison duty at Culbera, Puerto Rico.
Sergeant Foley returned home to his native Lost Creek for a last visit sometime in 1908 and according to a relative of his he was the picture of health.
Sadly on the 14th day of January 1910, 1st Sgt. Alexander J. Foley was stricken with a heart attack and died while on duty. Foley was only 44 years of age. The Marine’s Marine was gone. He was buried with full military honors at the base in Culbera, P.R.
1st Sgt. Foley’s decorations included the Medal of Honor, citation for exceptional bravery, Foreign Service campaign Medal; Philippines Campaign Medal, West Indies campaign Medal. Good Conduct Medal, two bars, Sharpshooters Medal.
“SEMPER FIDELS “1st Sergeant Alexander J. Foley, a Schuylkill County hero a Marine’s Marine.

J. Stuart Richards

1. The Saga of Sergeant Foley, Shenandoah Evening Herald, May 29, 1951. James F. Haas
2. The Old Corps , John C Bonnell , 20023. Role of the U.S. Marines Boxer Re

Part 2 Cavalry and Artillery soldiers from Schuylkill who served at Gettysburg

This is part 2 of the list of soldiers, the Cavalry and Artillery boys.



Cavalry Regiments from Schuylkill
County That Served
At Gettysburg.



1st. Pennsylvania Cav.
9 Companies Army Headquarters.
344 Engaged 2M

Monument located on Hancock Ave.
" At the opening of the artillery fire on the afternoon of July 3 the Regiment was in line to the left and rear of this position with orders from General Meade to Charge the assaulting column should it succeed in breaking the infantry line."

1. Corp. Henry H. Brownmiller Co. L/ Orwigsburg/ Wounded twice.
2. Corp. John Richards Co. G/ Mahanoy Township./ Wounded and captured 6-24-64 died Andersonville8-17-64
3. Pvt. William Ells/ Co. G/ Orwigsburg
4. Pvt. Joseph H. Lindemuth Co. L/ Auburn.
Mr. Lindemuth was used as the model for the statue of the cavalry man on the 1st. Pa. Monument.
5. Pvt. Reuben Wagner Co.L/ Frackville.
6. Pvt. Samuel Slocum Co. C/ Girardville./ Wounded 6-24-64.


" The first Federal soldier killed in the battle was a cavalryman Ferdinand Usher from the 12th Illinois Cav.. He was struck by a shell."


3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry
Cavalry Corps, 2nd Div., 1st Brig.
394 Engaged 3k-15wd-6m

Monument located on Gregg Ave. East Cavalry Battlefield.
"July 3rd engaged mounted and dismounted with the confederate cavalry divison on this field from 2 P.M. until evening. Portions of the regiment advancing in a mounted charge and driving the enemy beyond the Rummel Farm Buildings."

Company L
Company L was armed with 264 Sharps carbines during the battle, 165 men carried colt 44 revolver's and 184 men carried colt 36 Navy revolvers. Also they were armed with 332 sabers.

1. 1st. Lt. Howard Esmonds/ Ashland/ Wounded 7-3-63
2. Sgt. Dan Jones/ Captured 8-1-63 dies in Richmond12-30-63.
3. Corp. William Green.
4. Corp. David Reese.
5. Corp. Joseph Mann/ Ashland
6. Corp. James Johnston/ Frailley.
7. Corp. John Stonehouse/ Branch Township

8. Pvt. John Brennan/ Cass Township
9. Pvt. Calvin Brower/ Frailey.
10. Pvt. William Bainbridge/ Reilley Township.
11. Pvt. William Devine/ Reilley Township/ Capt. 8-27-63
12. Pvt. John Donnelly/ St. Clair/ Captured and dies in Richmond.
13. Pvt. Fredrick Gunther/ Minersville.
14. Pvt. Daniel Kent/ Frailley.
15. Pvt. George Kries/ Frailley.
16. Pvt. James Lawler/ New Castle/ KIA Mine RUn 11-18-63.
17. Pvt. Joseph Miller Bugler/ Butler Township.
18. Pvt. Erneiquildo Marquez Bugler/ Pottsville.
19. Pvt. John Mealey/ Cass Township.
20. Pvt. Larry Mc Knight/ Branch Township.
21. Pvt. James McCabe/ St. Clair/ Captured 11-29-63 dies at Andersonville.
22. Pvt. William Knoble.
23. Pvt. Christian Ochner/ Minersville.
24. Pvt. Joseph Patton/ Branch Township.
25. Pvt. Andrew Wilson/ Ashland
26. Pvt. George Wilson/ Donaldson/ KIA July 3 1863 Gettysburg.
27. Pvt. William Waterhouse/ Reilley Township./ Captured 1-27- 64 and dies in Andersonville.
28. Pvt. Calvin D. Wright/ Donaldson.
29. Pvt. George Kriese/ Tremont.


4th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Cavalry Corps, 2nd Div. 3rd Brig.
307 engaged 1k

Monument located Hancock Ave.
" Detatched on the morning of July 2nd from the brigade at the junction of White Run and the Baltimore Turnpike, ordered to report to HQ. Supported a battery temporarily near this position. On picket at night, retiring late on the afternoon of the 3rd to 2nd Cavalry Div."

The regiment was armed with 165 Sharps carbines, 166 Colt Army 44's and 42 Colt Navy 36's. The men carried 203 light sabers.

1. Capt. W.K. Lineweaver Co. F/ Moved to Pottsville.
2. Pvt. Isaac Mease Co. F/ Tower City.



6th Pennsylvania Cavalry
9 Co. Cavalry Corps, 1st Div., Reserve Brigade.
366 engaged 3k-7wd-2m

Monument located Emittsburg Road Nera Meade's HQ
" This regiment detached with 2nd corps covered the rear of the Army on the march from Virginia."

The regiment was armed with 231 Sharps carbines, 122 Colt Army 44's and 49 Navy 36's. The men also carried 276 sabers.

1. Corp. John Walker Co. C
2. Pvt. Daniel Christian Co. B/ Pottsville
3. Pvt. John Sauerbury Co. B
4. Pvt. John Richardson Co. E/ Wounded in Wilderness 5-7-64.
5. Pvt. Christian Stein Co. E/ Transferred to Co. E 2nd Prov. Cav.

" There was between 3000 and 5000 horses killed in the battle"

8th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Detached in Md. woth its Brigade.

1. Corp. John J. Payne Co.B Cressona.
2. Pvt. George Burton Co. K Cressona.
3. Pvt. James Moyer Co. M Tamaqua

4. Pvt. Andrew McCann Co. M Tamaqua.

" The Estimated total Number of Horses at Gettysburg was 72,243"


17th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Cavalry Cporps, 1st Div. 2nd Brig.
448 Engaged 4m.

Monument located Buford Ave.
" The regiment held this position on the morning of July 1, 1863
from 5 O'clock until the arrival of the 1st Corps troops. The brigade then moved to the right, covering the roads to Carlisle and Harrisburg and holding the enemy in check until relieved by troops of the Eleventh Corps. It then took position on the right of the infantry and later, aided in the retreat of the Eleventh Corps to Cemetery Hill, where it went into position with the division on the left of the army."
Note Company H did not arrive on the field until the afternoon of the 3rd.

Companies D and H were on detached service at Fifth Corps headquarters and did not participate in the first days fight. Captain Thompson served directly under General Meade and rode with him over the battlefield on the morning of the second. Company H would be on continuous duty during the on the second and was positioned on Culp's Hill during the famous charge of Pickett on the third.

Company H

The regiment was armed with 127 Smith carbines 108 Merrill carbines 4 Colt army 44's and 392 Remington 44 revolvers. They also carried 376 light sabers.

1. Capt William Thompson/ Pottsville.
2. 1stLt. William Allen/ Pottsville
3. 2nd Lt. George Garrett/ Pottsville.
4. Sgt. Thomas Hoch/
5. Sgt. acob Schlabeman/
6. Sgt. J. E. Fertig
7. Sgt. John Smith/
8. Corp. Emanuel Moyer
9. Corp. George Herring/
10. Corp. Franklin Rhoades/ Tremont/ Vet 1865
11. Corp. Joseph Beadle/
12. Corp. William Douty/
13. Pvt. saddler Philip Artz/
14. Pvt. Samuel Beaber/ Ringtown
15. Pvt. Jonas Bankus/ Ringtown
16. Pvt. Lewis Bankus/ Ringtown
17. Pvt. George Bankus/Ringtown.
18. Pvt. Joseph Bitler/
19. Pvt. Jacob Baker/
20. Pvt. Isaac Blue/ Barnesville.
21. Pvt. Emanuel Bolich/ Barry Township
22. Pvt. John P. Clauser/ Branch Township.
23. Pvt. George Doutel/
24. Pvt. Henry F. Denglar/ Barry Township/ Shot in the leg 64.
Company H 17th.

25. Pvt. Daniel Derr/ Barry Township.
26. Pvt. Ellis Derr/ Barry Township.
27. Pvt. Charles Eyster/
28. Pvt. Peter Feterolf/ Ashland.
29. Pvt. Bennville Ganker/
30. Pvt. Daniel Hoy/ Ravine.
31. Pvt. John Hoffa/
32. Pvt. Thomas Halley/
33. Pvt. Benj. Klock/ Barry Township.
34. Pvt. Lewis Langdon/
35. Pvt. Phil Lukner/
36. Pvt. Levi Michael/
37. Pvt. Dan McDonald/ New Phila.
38. Pvt. Solomon Maury/ Gordon.
39. Pvt. William Markle/Shennandoah.
40. Pvt. Daniel McMullion/
41. Pvt. William Michael/
42. Pvt. John Norris/
43. Pvt. Solomon Obenhauser/
44. Pvt. Elias Reed/Pottsville.
45. Pvt. Daniel Rumbel/ Pottsville.
46. Pvt. Frank Schrope/
47. Pvt. Mike Schober/
48. Pvt. John Snyder/
49. Pvt. Isaac Sell/
50. Pvt. Charles S. Troy/
51. Pvt. Jacob Werner/
52. Pvt. Jonas Weiss/Butler Township.
53. Pvt. Isaac Yarnell/ Ashland.
54. Pvt. Hiram Yorkey/
55. Pvt. Jacob Zimmerman/
56. Pvt. William Zimmerman/


1st US Cavalry: Christ Bloomfield, Samuel Cover, Patrick Gilmore, Francis Leman, Henry Miller

5th US Cavalry: Captain Edward T. Leib, John H. Wilson, Charles Weaver

6th US Cavalry:
William Everly
Morris Everly
Thomas Turner
John Kane
Thomas Kelly
Corporal William H. Mattern (Co H)
John Bird (Co D)
Benjamin Mills (Co A)
Henry Fields (Co A)
Abraham Heck (Co A)
Martin Lawler (Co A)
James Brennan (Co A)
Sergeant Charles Lucas (Co A)
Joseph Davies (Co A)


" The Federal Cavalry Corps in the battle of Gettysburg lost 5 Officers 86 enlisted men killed, 39 officers 315 enlisted men wounded and 8 officers 399 enlisted men captured or missing."

Artillery Men From
Schuylkill County.


1st Artillery
43rd Regiment.
Battery F & G
Ricketts Battery.

6 Ordnance Rifles 144 men engaged.
6k-14wd-3m

Monument located on East Cemetary Hill.
"July 2nd. Reached the field and took this position in the afternoon and engaged the Rebel batteries on Benners Hill. 8P.M. A rebel column charged the battery and a desperate hand to hand conflict ensued which was repulsed after every round of canister had been fired."

1. Corp. Eugene Moore/

Part 1 Schuylkill soldiers who fought at Gettysburg

This is a project I started a few years ago. I know it is probably not complete but I think I got most of those listed on the Pa. monument. If I missed someone please feel free to email me and I will add the soldier.


HISTORICAL GUIDE OF SOLDIERS
FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
WHO SERVED AT GETTYSBURG

During the battle of Gettysburg the state of Pennsylvania supplied over 23,400 men and Schuylkill County alone had over 700 men engaged in the conflict. Pennsylvania would suffer 5,886 men to the battle, Schuylkill all though much lower would lose 13 men in the battle. Men in the 151st P.V.I. would have the honor of serving in a regiment that was listed as having the second highest loses of Union regiments at Gettysburg having 337 casualties and a 72.2% loss. 13 men would serve in 107th P.V.I. that would have over 165 men captured. On the third day Schuylkill countain's riding with the 3rd Penna. Cavalry would fight and be listed as the 8th highest casualties for cavalry regiments in the battle.

THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTIANS
AND THEIR REGIMENTS.

11TH PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
1st Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
292 engaged 5k-52wd-60m.

Monument located on Doubelday Ave.


1. PVT. David Adams Co.H / West Penn.
Killed in action July 1.
2. PVT. Terence Cunningham/ Co. H/ Tamaqua.
3. PVT. Joseph Herring Co. H/ Rahn/ Coaldale
4. PVT. John Koch Co. H/ Tamaqua
Wounded July 1.
5. PVT. Joseph Moser Co. H/ Rahn /Coaldale
6. PVT. Josiah Poh Co. H/ Rahn Township
Wounded at 2nd Bull Run/Killed in action July 1..
7. Pvt. Christian Halderman/ Tamaqua.
8. Pvt. Lewis Moyer/ Tamaqua.


23rd PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
6th Corps 3rd Div. 1st Brig.
538 engaged 1K-13 wd.

Monument located Slocum Ave.
" The regiment was placed in reserve in rear of this position at 9:30 a.m. of the 3d, and subsequently five companies advanced into the breast works. During the heavy cannonade it moved with the brigade to support the left center."

1. Pvt. Benjamin Jenkins Co. H/ Pottsville.
2. Pvt. John Killrain Co. C/ Tamagua.

23rd PVI.
6th Corps 3rd Div. 1st Brig.
Monument located on Slocum Ave.

The regiment was placed in the reserve of the rear of this
position at 9:30 a.m. of the 3rd. and five companies advanced into the breast works. During the heavy cannonade it moved with the brigade to support the left.

3. Lt. William Clark Co.E/ Pottsville.
4. Pvt. James Buchanan Co. E/ Shenandoah
5. Pvt. Reuben Dewald Co. H.


26th PENNSYLAVANIA INFANTRY
3RD CORPS 2ND DIV. 1ST BRIG.
365 engaged 30k-176wd-7m

Monument located Emmitsburg Road.
" July 2nd went into action here."

1. Pvt. James Goldsmith Co. F/ Pottsville.
Captured at Gettysburg.
2. Pvt. William Owuller Co D./ Donaldson.

27th Pennsylvania Infantry
11th, Corps. 2nd Div. 1st Brig.
324 6k-29wd-76m

Monument located on
East Cemetery Hill, July 1, 1863 the regiment moved with the brigade on the afternoon to N.E. side of Gettysburg where it became actively engaged covering the retreat of the Corps. It finally moved into the cemetery where it remained until the close of the battle.


1. Pvt. John Herrman Co. D/ Pottsville.


28th PENNSYLAVANIA INFANTRY
12th Corps 2nd Div 1st Brig.
370 engaged 3k-23wd-2m

Monument located Slocum Ave. near Rock Creek.
"Arrived at 5pm. July 1st and went into postion on the ridge north of little Round Top. at 6:30 am. July 2nd moved to Culp's Hill where the regiment advanced to Rock Creek to support the skirmish line. At Dark retired and moved with the brigade. Returned at About 3 am. July 3rd and at 8 am. relieved the troops in the breast works; was relieved in turn and again advanced and occupied the works from 4pm. to 10 pm."

1. 1st Lt. James Silliman Co. A/ Pottsville
2. Sgt. Alex. Mckecheny Co. A/Lost Creek
3. Corp. William Moyer Co. A/ Tamaqua/ Mahanoy City.
4. Pvt. AAron Moser Co. E/ Rahn Township.
5. Pvt. Gideon Moser Co. E/ Rahn Township.
6. Pvt. Herbert Weston Co. E/ Tamaqua
7. Pvt. Thomas Young Co. E/ Blythe
8. Pvt. James Shirey Co. A/ Mahanoy City
9. Pvt. Dan Sittler Co. A/ Mahanoy City 10. Pvt. Thomas Cunnigham Co. A/ Rush Township.
11. Pvt. Harrison Hill Co. A/ New Silver Brook.
12. Pvt. Patrick McShea Co.A/ Kelayres
13. Pvt. Richard Brennan Co. E/ Blythe Twp.
14. Pvt. Michael McAllister Co. E/ Pottsville/Blythe.
15. Pvt. Robert Petit Co. E/ Pottsville
16. Pvt. Maberry Trout Co.E/ Tamaqua.
17. Pvt. Joseph Zehner Co.E/ Tamaqua.
18. Pvt. Edward Boyle Co. E/ Coaldale.


29th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
12th Corps, 2nd Div., 2nd Brig.
485 engaged 15k-43wd-8m

Monument Located

Slocum Avenue
July 2nd position of the regiment at 7p.m. the Brigade was withdrawn, and on returning during the night found the enemy in these works. The regiment took position in rear of this line, with its right as indicated by the tablet located to the left and rear. And from their a charge of the enemy of the 3rd was repulsed

.
1. Sgt. Patrick Downey Co. F/ Pottsville.
2. Pvt. Matthew Dornar Co. A/ Cass Twp.




30th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. Charles Bowman Co. B/ Shenandoah.
2. Pvt.Harrison Foreman Co. E/ Port Clinton.



34th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. John H. Johnson Co. B



35th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY


Monument Located on

1. 2Lt. Jacob Bonewitz Co. k/ Pottsville.
2. Mus. Emanuel Kurtz HQ./
3. Pvt. Joel Metz Co. E/ Ashland.
4. Pvt. Henry Kern Co. A/ Ringtown.
5. Pvt. William Ackey Co. E/ Port Clinton.


46th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
12th Corps 1st Div. 1st Brig.
262 engaged 2K-10wd-1m

Monument located on Slocum Ave.
" July 2 the regiment constructed and held these works until evening when the division moved to the support of the left of the line. Returning in the night the enemy was found in the works and the regiment was posted in the open field to the rear until the enemy was driven out, when it returned and held the
works until the close of the battle."

1. Pvt. Cornelius NeisshwenderCo. K / Mahantongo Valley.
2. Pvt. John A Gilger Co. K / Pottsville.
3. Pvt. Samuel Weidner Co. E/ Tamaqua.
4. Pvt. Edward Hume Co. K/ Park Place/ Mahanoy City.


49th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. Jacob Hill Co. B/ Mahanoy City.



53rd PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. Patrick McLaughlin Co. C/ Rahn Twp.
2. Pvt. Johnn Sennet Co. B/



56th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
1st Corps 1st Div. 2nd Brig.
252 engaged 14k-61wd-55m

Monument located on Reynolds Ave.
"The regiment here delivered the opening fire of the infantry in the battle of Gettysburg in the forenoon of July 1st 1863.

1. Sgt. John C. Delaney Co. D/ Foster Twp.
Dies 13 Dec. 1863
2. Corp. George Allison Co. K Port Carbon
KIA Spottsylvania C.H. May 1864.
3. Harrison K. Smith Co. K Port Carbon
KIA Gettysburg July 1, 1863.
4. Pvt. Isaac Jones Co. K/ St. Clair/ Ashland.
5. Pvt. Mike Moher Co. K/ East Mines.
6. Sgt. Harrison Smith Co. K
7. Corp. Isaac Jones Co. K
8. Pvt. Michael H. Ealy Co. C/ New Mines.
9. Pvt. Jeremiah Hutchison Co. K/ Branchdale.
10. Pvt. John Mason Co. K/ Mahanoy City.
11. Pvt. Michael Shaughnessy Co. D/ Kelayres.
12. Pvt. John Lambert Co. F/ Pottsville.




61st PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. Augustus Seiler Co. G/ Pottsville.


62nd PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
5th Corps 1st Div. 2nd Brig.
426 engaged 28k-107wd-40m.

Monument located De Trobriand Ave.
" Position occupied by the regiment on the evening of July 2, 1863 after the troops on the right had retired, and where the brigade had a bayonet contest.

1. Pvt. Henry Sharere Co. I/ M.O. Vet. July 1864


69th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
2nd Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
329 engaged 40k-80wd-17m

Monument located on Webb Ave.
" This position was held by the 69th July 2nd and 3rd 1863 in the afternoon of the 2nd this regiment assisted in repulsing a desperate attack made by Wright's Brigade. About 1 O'clock P.M. of the 3rd, these lines were subjected to an artillery fire from nearly 150 guns, lasting over an hour after which Picketr's Division charged this position, was repulsed and nearly annihilated. The contest on the left and centre of this regiment, for a time being hand to hand."

1. Pvt. Charles Jenkins Co. D/ Minersville
Killed in Action on July 3rd by being wounded in the stomach.
2. Pvt. Henry Owens Co. E/ Lost Creek.
3. 1st. Lt. John Ryan Co. F/ North Manheim Twp./ Captured.




71st PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
2nd Corps 2nd Div.2nd Brig.
331 engaged 21k-58wd-19m

Monument located on Webb Ave.

" To the left of this point on July 2, the 71st Penna. assisted in repulsing the furious attack of Wright's Brigade. During the terrific cannonading of July 3rd the regiment occupied a position 60 yards in the rear of this spot, a number of men voluntarily helping to work Cushing's disabled Battery. As the enemy
emerged from Seminary Ridge the regiment was ordered forward the left wing to this point the right wing to the right rear. When Pickett's Division rushed upon the wing in overwhelming numbers it fell back into line with the right, thus bringing the whole regiment into action, with the additional use of a large number of loaded muskets gathered from the battlefield of the previous day."

1. Pvt. Reuben Miller Co. K/ Schuylkill Haven.
Wounded in the left side of the face and killed July 3, 1863. (Buried in Pa. Plot E 1)




72d PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
2nd Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
458 engaged 44k-146wd-2m


Monument located on Webb Ave.
" The regiment reached this angle at 1 a.m. took position in rear of this monument. Supported Cushings Battery A 4th US Artillery. At 6p.m. assisted in repulsing an attack of the enemy and in making a counter charge, driving them beyond the Emmitsburg Road capturing 250 prisoners."

1. Corp. Joseph W. Wythes Co. H



74th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. PVT. Charles Horn Co. K/ Ashland.



75th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
11th Corps 3rd Div. 2nd Brig.
258 engaged 19k-89wd-3m

Monument located on Howard Ave and National Cemetery.
" July 1. Fought on this postion from 2 p.m. until the Corps retired. July 2/3 Held postion at stone wall near cemetery as shown by monument there."


1. Sgt. Charles Goodman Co. F/ Schuylkill Township
2. Sgt. Joseph Newell Co. F/ Minersville
3. Pvt. Jacob Yost Co. D
4. Pvt. Philip Mohan Co. D/ Minersville
5. Pvt. Mathias Laubach Co. D/ Mahanoy City.
6. Pvt. James Cloan Co. D/ Cass Township.
7. Pvt. Charles Walzenegger Co. D/ Ashland.
8. Pvt. John Guenther Co. E/ Minersville.
9. Pvt. Jacob Busch Co. I
10. Pvt. Lorenz Long Co. I/ Ashland
11. Pvt. David White Co. A
12. Pvt. Fredrick Wentz Co. A/ Mahanoy City.
13. Pvt. Christopher Weir Co. A/ Mahanoy City.
14. Pvt. Philip Hoffman Co.D/ Ashland.
15. Pvt. Gottlieb Horning Co. D/ Minersville.
16. Pvt. John Hartman Co. E/ Blythe Twp.
17. Pvt. Louis Sechler Co. E/ Pottsville.
18. Pvt. Mathias Kaefer Co. F/ Pottsville.
19. Sgt. Barnabus Billeau Co. C St. Clair.
20, Pvt. Frederick Stutz served in the Co. C, 75th PA, 8/22/61 - 8/16/64


81st PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
2nd Corps 1st Div. 1st Brig.
190 engaged 5k-49wd-8m

Monument located Wheatfield.
"Fought on this line July 2nd."

1. Corp. James King Co. H/ Tamaqua
2. Pvt. Owen Fisher Co. H/ Rahn Township.
Captured 1864 dies in Richmond.
3. Pvt. Isaac Kennard Co. K/ Tamaqua/ Wounded 6-3-64
4. Pvt. Alex Snedden Co. H/ Coaldale.
5. Maj. Thomas Harness HQ./ Tamaqua
6. Pvt. James Murray Co. H/ Tamaqua.



82nd PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
6th Corps 3rd Div. 1st Brig.
320 engaged 6wd

Monument located Slocum Ave.
" July 3rd marched from near Little Round Top and occupied the works in front at 11:30 a.m. relieving other troops."

1. Lt. Col. J.M. Wetherill/ Pottsville./ M.O. Vet 1864
2. Pvt. George Lass Co. C/ Pine Grove./ Minersville.
3. Pvt. James Stapelton Co. A/ Tamaqua.
4. Pvt. Mark Foster Co. C/ Seek.
5. Pvt. Philip Heilman Co. C/
6. Pvt. William Higgins Co. C/ Tamaqua.
7. Pvt. David Mattson Co. G/


84th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. John A. Sneddon Co. B/ Shenandoah.


88th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
1st Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
296 engaged 4k-55wd-51m

Monument located on Doubleday Ave.
" About noon on July 1st 1863, the regiment was in line along the Mummasburg road, 200 yards SE of this monument. Later it changed direction and formed here, charged forward and captured two battle flags and a number pf prisoners. At 4pm the Divison was overpowered and forced through the town."

1. Pvt. John Beaumont Co. A/ St. Clair./ KIA Petersburg 1864.

2. Pvt. William Beaumont Co. A/ St. Clair
Mortally wounded July 1, 1863 buried in plot B73.
3. Pvt. George Beaumont Co. A/ St. Clair
Wounded Fredricksburg 12-13-62
4. Pvt. Wiliam Pugh Co. A/ Died 8-1-64 City Point Va.
5. 2Lt. Jacob Kram Co. A/ Pottsville.
6. C.W. Hoffman Co. A/ Ravine.



93rd PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
6th Corps 3rd Div. 3rd Brig.
270 engaged 10wd.

Monument located Sedgwick Ave. and North of Wheatfield Road.
" After charging with the brigade from the right of Little Round Top in the evening of July 2nd and assisting in the repulse of the enemy and in the capture of a number of prisoners, the regiment retired to and held this position until after the close of the battle."

1. Sgt. William Vogt Co. G/ Pottsville.
2. Pvt. Henry Bowman Co. A/ Sch. Haven./ Wounded in the Wilderness 1864
3. Pvt. Charles Luckenbill Co. F/ Wayne Township
4. Pvt. Joseph Southham Co. C/ Transferred to Western Gunboat Service. Tamaqua.
5. Pvt. Ezra Bougher Co. B/ Suedberg.
6. Pvt. Lt. William H. Riland Co. B Friedensburg.
7. Pvt. George K Stroud Co. C/ Tower City.
8. Pvt. James D Canada Co. H/ Pottsville.



90th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY

1. Pvt. John Donaldson Co. C.
2. Pvt. Philip Calavor Co. D.
3. Pvt. Charles Breyer Co. I/ Sch. Haven/ Wayne Twp.


A circular dated June 30, 1863 by the Army Of The Potomac Read:
" The men must be provided with 3 days rations in Haversacks and with 60 rounds of ammunition in the boxes and upon the person."



96th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
6th Corps 1st Div. 2nd Brig.
356 engaged 1wd.

Monument located on Wheatfield Road.
"Position of the 96th Regt. Penna. Volunteers, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps, from 5p.m. of the 2nd until the morning of the 5th of July 1863"


Field and Staff
1. Major William Lessig/ Pottsville
2. Adjudant M.E. Richards/ Pottsville
3. Surgeon D.W. Bland/ Pottsville
4. Asst. Surg. J. R. Shamo/
5. Quaterm. J.A. Schweers/Pottsville
6. Sgt. Maj. Edward Philips/Pottsville
7. QMSgt. C Schollenberger/ Pottsville
8. ComSgt. J.J. Dampman/



Company A
1. Capt. John Harlan/
2. 1st. Lt. Edward Thomas/ Pottsville.
3. 2nd Lt. J.P. McGinness /
4. Sgt. Frank W. Simpson /
5. Sgt. William F. Lord / Pottsville.
6. Sgt. David Pritchard /
7. Sgt. Thomas Brown /
8. Corp. James Ness /
9. Corp. Edward C. McCormack/ Pottsville.
10. Corp. Lybrand Hoffman / St. Clair.
11. Corp. William Smith / Frailey Township.
12. Corp. Joseph Gee /
13. Pvt. William Beynon / Pottsville.
14. Pvt. J. Bartholomew / Mahanoy Township.
15. Pvt. John Berdineer /
16. Pvt. Warren Crossland/ Pottsville.
17. Pvt. Dallas Dampman /
18. Pvt. John Donegan / Pottsville.
19. Pvt. William Edwards / Pottsville.
20. Pvt. John Ferry /
21. Pvt. Ed Fenstermacher/ Pottsville.
22. Pvt. Willam Gould /
23. Pvt. J. Goldsworthy / Pottsville.
24. Pvt. August Garber / Pottsville.
25. Pvt. Daniel Hartline / Norwegian Township.
26. Pvt. J.W. Hopstine / Pottsville.
27. Pvt. Edeward Linner / Pottsville.
28. Pvt. Mike Larkin / Norwegian Township.
29. Pvt. John Laffert /

30. Pvt. M. Morrell / St. Clair
31. Pvt. Sylvester G. Rice / Pottsville.
32. Pvt. Frank Strouse /
33. Pvt. Alex Smith / Pottsville.
34. Pvt. John T. Stodd /
35. Pvt. Emanuel Templin /
36. Pvt. John Thompson /
37. Pvt. Daniel Welsh / Pottsville.
38. Pvt. William Weand /
39. Pvt. Nicholas Yost / Norwegian Township.


Company B

1. Capt. Levi Huber / Pine Grove
2. 1st. Lt John Van Holland/Pine Grove
3. 2nd Lt. Lewis Luckenbill/ Pine Grove
4. Sgt. Paul F. Barr/Pine Grove
5. Sgt. C.F. Umbenhauer/ Pine Grove
6. Sgt. Davis Huber/ Pine Grove
7. Sgt. Daniel Bonawitz/ Pine Grove
8. Sgt. Jacob Geier/ Pine Grove
9. Corp. Fred snyder/ Pine Grove
10. Corp. Fred Kline/
11. Corp. Edward Jones/
12. Corp. John Harvey/
13. Pvt. J. Bonawitz/
14. Pvt. Andrew Buchner/ Pine Grove
15. Pvt. Joseph Bauer/ Pine Grove
16. Pvt. Manlove Clifton/ Pine Grove
17. Pvt. Peter Clemence/ Pine Grove
18. Pvt. Jacob Christ/ Pine Grove
19. Pvt. Alex Dubbs/ Pine Grove
20. Pvt. Victor Dubbs/ Pine Grove
21. Pvt. Joseph Eich/ Pine Grove
22. Pvt. William Fritz/
23. Pvt. Irwin Fessler/ Pine Grove
24. Pvt. R. Goebell/ Pine Grove
25. Pvt. John Hardenace/
26. Pvt. John Hornish/
27. Pvt. Lewis Kotchin/
28. Pvt. William Lemman/
29. Pvt. Jacob Keffer/ Pine Grove
30. Pvt. Reuben Kaercher/ Pine Grove
31. Pvt. W.A. Leffler/ Pine Grove
32. Pvt. Bernard Litman/ Pine Grove
33. Pvt. Matt. Lambert/ Pine Grove
34. Pvt. Daniel Martin/ Pine Grove
35. Pvt. Solomon Moyer/ Pine Grove
36. Pvt. J.L. Mimmig/ Pine Grove
37. Pvt. Henry Miller/ Pine Grove
38. Pvt. William Mangold/
39. Pvt. George Nagle/ Pine Grove
40. Pvt. Henry Oether/ Pine Grove
41. Pvt. John Reed/
42. Pvt. Maurice Oestreich/ Pine Grove
43. Pvt. Isreal Reed/ Pine Grove
44. Pvt. W. S. Reindenl/
45. Pvt. E.W. Reed/ Pine Grove
46. Pvt. Joseph Sterner/ Pine Grove
47. Pvt. Fred Sieber/
48. Pvt. Francis Vaughan/Pine Grove
49. Pvt. Jacob Wanner/ Pine Grove
50. Pvt. Henry Zimmerman/ Pine Grove.



Company C

1. Capt. Isaac Severn /Pottsville
2. Sgt. Hugh Stevenson/ Pottsville
3. Sgt. James Oliver/Pottsville.
4. Sgt. David Williams/ Pottsville.
5. Sgt. George W. Foltz/ Pottsville.
6. Corp. John Alles/ Pottsville.
7. Corp. Sam Fisher/ Cressona.
8. Corp. Arthur Brannigan/ Pottsville.
9. Corp. George Delker/ Pottsville.
10. Pvt. Sylvanus Bishop/ Pottsville.
11. Pvt. William Beadle/
12. Pvt. Lewis Bocam/
13. Pvt. Louiis Bruns/ Pottsville.
14. Pvt. J.J. Crosland/ Pottsville.
15. Pvt. Martin Curry/ Pottsville.
16. Pvt. John Davis/
17. Pvt. George Farrel/ Sch. Haven.
18. Pvt. Charles Fisher/ Pottsville .
19. Pvt. Charles C. Fox/ Pottsville.
20. Pvt. George C. Fry/
21. Pvt. Thomas Garris/
22. Pvt. William Hay/
23. Pvt. John Hartman/ Norwegian township.
24. Pvt. Thomas Hilton/ Mahanoy Township
25. Pvt. Francis Knittle/
26. Pvt. James Lafferty/
27. Pvt. Adolf Lutz/
28. Pvt. William Miller/ Sch. Haven.
29. Pvt. John Paul/ Pottsville.
30. Pvt. Reuben Rishel/ Pottsville.
31. Pvt. Jacob Saylor/ Pottsville.
32. Pvt. Martin Spence/ Pottsville.
33. Pvt. John Simpson/
34. Pvt. Elias Trifoos/ Pottsville.
35. Pvt. Thomas Williams/ Pottsville.
36. Pvt. Perry Watts/ N. Manheim



Company D

1. Capt. John T. Boyle/ N. Manheim
2. 1st. Lt. John T Manhum/
3. 2nd Lt. Amos Forceman/ Pottsville.
4. Sgt. Ira Troy/ Palo Alto.
5. Sgt. Charles Beaumont/ Pottsville.
6. Sgt. Ezra Hendley/ Pottsville.
7. Sgt. William Henry/
8. Sgt. Sam Seitzinger/
9. Corp. Wiliam Hart/ St. Clair.
10. Corp. Thomas D. Price/

11. Corp. James Sands/ Pottsville.
12. Corp. James Gough/
13. Corp. John Cunnigham/
14. Pvt. Jonathan Becker/ Pottsville.
15. Pvt. William Campbell/ Pottsville.
16. Pvt. William Corby/
17. Pvt. Edward Freel/
18. Pvt. John Greenwood/
19. Pvt. Elijah Hart/ St. Clair
20. Pvt. Jacob Hart/ St. Clair.
21. Pvt. Edward Henry/ Pottsville.
22. Pvt. Luke Kelly/
23. Pvt. Jacob Kranch/
24. Pvt. Gomer LLewellyn/ Minersville.
25. Pvt. David Lewis/ Cass Township.
26. Pvt. William Mcglone/
27. Pvt. John Price/ Pottsville./ Drummer.
28. Pvt. George Ritzell/
29. Pvt. George Thomas/
30. Pvt. Jones Vanderslice/ Palo Alto.
31. Pvt. Michael Welsh/ Pottsville.
32. Pvt. Robert L. Wright/ Pottsville. /Drummer.


Company E

1. Capt. James Russell/ Pottsville
2. 1st. Lt. John Oberrender/ Pottsville
3. 2nd Lt. Thomas Reed/ Pottsville.
4. Sgt. Charles Russell/ Pottsville.
5. Sgt. William Zeigler/
6. Sgt. Morgan Luckenbill/
7. Sgt. Francis Kemp/ Pottsville.
8. Corp. Henry Roth/
9. Corp. John A. Aixler/
10. Pvt. John P. Brennan/
11. Pvt. Reuben Balliet/
12. Pvt. Josiah Balliet/
13. Pvt. Philip Cook/
14. Pvt. John Foley/ Cass Township.
15. Pvt. Lewis Fredrick/
16. Pvt. David Howard/
17. Pvt. Eli Keener/
18. Pvt. John Keely/
19. Pvt. William Mayberry/
20. Pvt. John Miller/
21. Pvt. Samuel Mumah/
22. Pvt. Benjamin Mitchel/
23. Pvt. Charles Paden/
24. Pvt. William Ramsey/
25. Pvt. George Sterling/ Pottsville.
26. Pvt. William D. Trout/
27. Pvt. Henry Weigner/

28. Pvt. Mark Whitebread/
29. Pvt. John E. Waters/ Musician.
30. Pvt. Daniel Whalen/
31. Pvt. Joseph Yost/ Schuylkill Township.


Company F

1. 1st. Lt. James Casey/
2. 2nd Lt. John Brennan/ Norweigan Township.
3. Sgt. Philip Reilly/ Pottsville.
4. Sgt. Robert Borland/
5. Sgt. John Walsh/ NOrweigan Township.
6. Sgt. William, McAlister/ Mahanoy Township.
7. Corp. Patrick Martin/ Minersville.
8. Corp. Mike Carrol/ Palo Alto.
9. Corp. Thomas Curry/
10. Corp. Bonaparte Fell/ Frailey Township.
11. Pvt. George Barnes/ Norwegian Township.
12. Pvt. Edward Britt/ Norwegian Township.
13. Pvt. Edward Ford/
14. Pvt. Hugh Glacken/ Palo Alto.
15. Pvt. Philip Goulden/ Mahanoy Township.
16. Pvt. Mike Cavanaugh/ Mahanoy Township.
17. Pvt. Mike Moran/ Minersville.
18. Pvt. Sylvester Maddock/ Mahanoy Township.
19. Pvt. William Manates/
20. Pvt. John O'Donnell/ Mahanoy Township.
21. Pvt. Patrick Powers/
22. Pvt. William Quirk/
23. Pvt. William Smith/ Pottsville.
24. Pvt. Aaron Williams/ Pottsville.


Company G

1. Capt. Jacob Haas/ Pottsville.
2. Pvt. Jacob Nice/ Minersville.
3. Pvt. James Zulich/ Orwigsburg./ Musician.



Company H

1. Capt. Samuel Russell/ Pottsville.
2. 1st. Lt. William H. Davis/
3. 2nd Lt. Joseph Johnson/

4. Sgt. John M. Hughes/
5. Sgt. Jacob Brubaker/
6. Sgt. George Hughes/
7. Sgt. James Treichler/
8. Sgt. Charles Colt/
9. Corp. John Kelly/
10. Corp. Joseph Monday/
11. Corp. John Shane/
12. Corp. Cornelius McNulty/
13. Corp. Daniel Engle/ Frailey Township.
14. Corp. John Donnelly/ Frailey Township.
15. Corp. John Boyer/
16. Corp. William Ortner/
17. Pvt. James Brassington/
18. Pvt. John Brobst/
19. Pvt. James Carrol/
20. Pvt. William Crosland/ Pottsville.
21. Pvt. Morris Clancey/
22. Pvt. Dennis Delaney/
23. Pvt. George Dull/
24. Pvt. Jonathan Erdman/ Tamaqua.
25. Pvt. Napolean Bickleman/
26. Pvt. Patrick Fell/ Frailey Township.
27. Pvt. William Fox/
28. Pvt. John Fink/
29. Pvt. Daniel Faust/ Mahanoy City.
30. Pvt. John Fowler/
31. Pvt. Jacob Gross/
32. Pvt. Edward Hudson/
33. Pvt. Fredrick Hoy/ Frailey Township.
34. Pvt. Henry Lutz/
35. Pvt. David Lanpblock/
36. Pvt. William Manear/
37. Pvt. Ephraim Moser/
38. Pvt. Thomas Morgan/
39. Pvt. Mike Haus/
40. Pvt. Joseph Pasco/
41. Pvt. Francis Reed/ Pottsville.
42. Pvt. Thomas Walker/
43. Pvt. John Weldon
44. Pvt. Henry Weon/
45. Pvt. Frank Whetstone/
46. Pvt. Charles Yost/ Musician/
47. Pvt. Daniel Zollers/


Company I

1. Capt. Matt Byrnes/ Potsville.
2. 1st. Lt. George Cake/ Pottsville.
3. 2nd Lt. William Cusack/ Pottsville
4. Sgt. Jerimiah Sullivan/ St. Clair.
5. Sgt. John Dalton/ Ashland.

6. Sgt. John Gleason/
7. Corp. Thomas Naughton/ St. Clair.
8. Corp. John Keegan/ St. Clair.
9. Pvt. Thomas Canton/ N. Manheim Township.
10. Pvt. James Conlon/ Cass Township.
11. Pvt. Ethan Crandale/
12. Pvt. Steven Horan/ Pottsville.
13. Pvt. Peter Kelly/ St. Clair / Musician.
14. Pvt. Mike Keating/
15. Pvt. Henry Law/ Musician/
16. Pvt. James McArdle/ Blyhte Township.
17. Pvt. James McDevitt/
18. Pvt. Tim O'Conner/ St. Clair.
19. Pvt. Adam Reb/ Pottsville/ Wagoner.
20. Pvt. Thomas Riley/ New Castle Township.
21. Pvt. John Sullivan/ St. Clair.
22. Pvt. James Sexton/ Pottsville.
23. Pvt. James Tye/ Pottsville.


Company K

1. Capt. Richard Budd/
2. 2nd Lt. Andrew Andewrson/
3. Sgt. Thomas Burns/
4. Sgt. William Curn/
5. Corp. William Abelwright/
6. Corp. James Mcguigan/
7. Corp. William Brennan/ Cass Township.
8. Corp. Patrick Welsh/
9. Pvt. John Brennan/ Cass Township.
10. Pvt. Lawerence Bradley/ New Castle Township.
11. Pvt. Patrick Downey/ Cass Township.
12. Pvt. John G. Farrel/
13. Pvt. Patrick Ford/
14. Pvt. Thomas Gribben/
15. Pvt. Dominick Hart/ New Castle Township.
16. Pvt. Patrick Laddia/
17. Pvt. Thomas Moore/ St. Clair.
18. Pvt. James O'Donald/ Ashland.
19. Pvt. Joseph Rutledge/ Musician.



Private Henry Keiser a member of Company G from Lykens, Dauphin County kept a diary throughout the war and kept a descriptive look at what the 96th did during the Gettysburg Campaign.
July 2, 1863
"Instead of turning to the left last night, we should have turned to the right, and by the time we were fairly started on the right road, it was daylight. At 8:30 this morning we crossed the line into Pennsylvania, and at 10 A.M. we passed through Littlestown. The civilians along the line of march could not do enough for us. Most every household standing ready with water buckets dealing out water to the boys as we marched along, and the Stars and Stripes hanging out in all directions. It made us feel as if we were home once more, and the citizens of Southern Pennsylvania, through their kindness to the soldiers have put now life into us. Can hear heavy canonading ahead all day. At five O'clock this evening we arrived at what is called Little Round Top, a short distance from Gettysburg. Very heavy firing to our left at 5 o'clock. At six this evening we filed left, marched some distance, when we formed a line of battle on a knoll and in some underbrush. Our troops gave way and the Rebs drove our men. The Penna. Reserves, forming on our front, counter charged the Rebs our line following up sharp. The enemy was driven back and we regained the ground lost a short time before. We halted in a hollow behind a stone fence, having marched, since last evening, thirty two miles. At the time we formed a battle line, I threw my knapsack, being to tired to carry it into a charge, but after advancing a short distance the regiment was halted and the men unslung knapsacks and had guards placed over them. As we were going in General Sickles was carried past on a stretcher."
July 3, 1863
" Last evening while the enemy was being driven back the troops on Little Round Top cheered justly, but the Rebs cut it short by giving them a dose of artillery which made the boys take to their holes in the rocks in "Double Quick," This morning Col. Lessig informed our Captain that their were some spare knapsacks left on the knoll where they had been left, guarded by the pioneers, which those of the boys having lost knapsacks could get. The captain informed us about it and I thinking I might get one went up and the first one on the pile was my own knapsack. The field is covered with dead and wounded. There must be fearful fighting on the right judging from the very heavy firing, sometimes coming down the line pretty near to us. We were shelled occasionally during the day, but none of our company were hurt. At five o'clock this evening, the Reserves in our front charged the enemy and drove them over a mile taking prisoners."
July 4, 1863
" All is quiet along the line this morning."

Captain Samuel Russel from Pottsville wrote home to his mother about the battle he was just in, although some of the information he was reporting was inaccurate it actually tells what the soldiers heard and thought. This letter was published in the Miners Journal July 12 1863.

From The 96th Regiment PV.
Battlefield near Gettysburg Pa.
July 4, 1863

My Dear Mother
The last letter I mailed you, was, I think, from Barnsville, Md. Since then we have had very long and rapid marched. Our Corps arrived here on the afternoon of the 2d after a hard march of 32 miles, and just in time to save our army from a total defeat, as it appeared at the time. Our Corps went into it splendidly, driving the rebels in every direction and recapturing the artillery that the 5th Corps had lost. Our regiment had but one man wounded. We were right in were the balls flew thick and fast, and how we got off so well I do not see. Yesterday we were opened on several times by the rebel artillery and sharpshooters. We had built a barricade which protected us from their fire. Our success yesterday was most complete. We repulsed the rebels at every attack. I suppose we captured 8000 prisoners and also General Longstreet. The portion of the field we occupy is strewn with mostly with our dead. Very few of the rebels are to be seen, but I am told a short distance beyond here they lay thick. Last evening our line was advanced and we captured between two and three regiments. The men are in splendid spirits. The smell of the dead is awful. we have not have time to bury them. We will wind up the rebel army before they reach the Potomac. We have all got sixty-five crackers to celebrate the day with. I must close.
Samuel R. Russel.
Captain Co. H 96th PVI



98th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
6th Corps 3rd Div. 3rd Brig.
406 engaged 11wd.

Monument location on field north of the Wheatfield and Sykes Ave
" Arrived here July 2nd about 5 p.m. immediately charged into the Wheatfield and woods to the left. About dark rejoined the brigade north of the road where the other monument stands." "Wheatfield road. The regiment was the advance of the sixth Corps in its march from Manchester, Md. to the battlefield and occupied this position from the evening of July 2nd until the close of the battle.

1. Howe. K Seddinger Hospital Steward/ Vet 1864
2. Pvt. William H. Zimmerman Co. B/ Minersville.
3. Pvt. Louis Frank Co. B / Wounded at Gettysburg
4. Pvt. Fredrick Strohm Co. E
5. Pvt. Fredrick Headerly Co. K
6. Pvt. George marquett Co. E/ St. Clair.
7. Pvt. George Marquardt Co. F/ Port Carbon.


99Th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
3RD Corps 1st Div. 2nd Brig.
339 engaged 18k-81wd-11m

Monument located Sickles Ave &Hancock Ave.
"Fought on this line in the afternoon of July 2nd."

1. Sgt. William Rushell Co. C/ St. Clair/ Wounded At Gettysburg July 2/ Deserted 3-23-64
2, Pvt. Robert Thomas Co. C/ Vet M.O. 1864
3. Pvt. John Beadle Co. C/ St. Clair
Died of wounds in July.
4. Pvt. Andrew Murphy Co. F/ Wounded at Spotsylvania
5-12-64 / Minersville.
5. Pvt. Patrick Foley Co. K/ Cass Township/Wounded at Wilderness 5-5-69
6. Pvt. William R. Williams Co. C.
7. Pvt. Ephraim Thompson Co. C/ Gordon
8. Pvt. John Hummel Co. D/ Minersville.
9. Pvt. Henry Williams Co. F.


105 PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
3RD Corps 1st Div. 1st. Brig.
307 engaged 8k-115wd-9m

Monument located on Emmitsburg Rd.
" July 2nd position from 2 to 4 p.m. Moved across the Emmitsburg road. Being outflanked the Regiment changed front facing south and formed line along the lane at right angles to the road from which it retired fighting."

1. Lt. Isaac Dunsten Co. C/ Middleport
Thigh fractured 2 July; died 26 August at letterman hospital. and buried next day.
2. Pvt. Edward Kline Co. D/ New Castle Township.



"of the 27, 574 muskets picked up on the battlefield and turned into the Washington Arsenal at least half of them were loaded."


.


106th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
2nd Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
335 engaged 9k-54wd-1m

Monument located on Hancock Ave and Emmitsburg Rd.
"Position of the regiment on July 2, 1863. In the evening the Regiment assisted in repulsing a charge of the enemy on this line and made a counter charge to the Emmitsburg road in which 3 guns of Battery B 1st Rhode Island were recovered and at the Cordori House captured 250 prisoners."

1. Capt. William M. Jones / Minersville.


107th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
1st Corps 2nd Div. 1st Brig.
255 engaged 11k=56wd-98m

Monument located on Doubleday Ave.
"July 1, the regiment fought here from 1 p.m. until the Corps retired and then took position on the left of the cemetery Hill. In the evening of the 2nd moved to the left to support the second Corps, and after the repulse of the enemy returned to former position. On the 3rd moved several times to reinforce different parts of the line."

1. Sgt. Sam Lehman Co. G/ Pine Grove Township/ POW 8-64 to 1865.
2. Corp William Sterner Co. G Wayne Township/ Vet.1865
3. Pvt. Reuben G. Miller Co. G Hubley Township/ Vet 1865
4. Pvt. Eliash Dietrich Co. G/ Pine Grove Township/ Died Dec. 1863.
5. Pvt. George Huber Co. G/ Pine Grove Township/ Vet 1865
6. Pvt. Henry Heckler Co. G/ Pine Grove Township
7. Pvt. Henry Hoy Co. Co. G/ Pine Grove Township/ Captured 56-19-64 dies in Pine Grove.
8. Pvt. John Lehr Co Ravine.

Wounded At Gettysburg./ Vet 1864
9. Pvt. David Reed Co. G/ Pine Grove Township/ Captured at Weldon RR dies in Salisbury Prison.
10. Pvt. Nick Snyder Co. G
11. Pvt. Philip Clauser Co. G/ Branch Township
12. Pvt. John Fox Co. Co. G/ Hegins Township/ Vet 1865
13. Pvt. Nathan Dinger Co.D/ Hegins Township
14. Pvt. Christian Sheck Co. G/ Pine Grove
15. Pvt. Harrison Manwilller Co. G/ Pine Grove Township.
16. Pvt. Frances Heilner Co. G.

109th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
12th Corps 2nd Div. 2nd Brig.
149 engaged 3k-6wd-1m

Monument is located on Slocum Ave.

" July 1st. the regiment arrived within two miles of Gettysburg about 5 p.m. and took position on the left of the Baltimore Pike. July 2nd it moved here and built these works. In the evening it was withdrawn with the Brigade, and returning in the night, found the works in the possession of the enemy, when it formed at right angles to this line behind a ledge of rocks to the left and rear of this position designated by a marker. After severe fighting on the morning of the 3rd this line was re-captured and held until the close of the battle."

1. Pvt. James Purcell Co. F/ Cass Township./ Captured at Peach Tree Creek Ga. 7-20-64.
2. Pvt. Jonathan Humphrey Co. F.


115th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
3rd Corps 2nd Div. 3rd Brig.
182 engaged 3k-18wd-3m

Monument located on De Trobrian Ave.d
" July 2. This Regiment detached from the brigade engaged the enemy here at 4:30 p.m. July 3, In position with Division on left centre of the line."

1. Pvt. James Boyd Co. A/ Tamaqua
2. Pvt. John Collins Co. A/ Tamaqua
3. Pvt. William Partington Co. A/ Tamaqua
4. Pvt. Manus Conagham Co B/ Tamaqua / Captured at The Wilderness 5-6-64.
5. Pvt. William Weldon Co B/ Tamaqua
6. Pvt. Charles Weldon Co.B/ Tamaqua
Note
The remainder of the men were transferred to Co. F 110 P.V.I.
on 6-22-64.



151st PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY
1st Corps 3rd Div. 1st. Brig.
467 engaged 51k-211wd-75m

Monument Located on Reynolds Ave.
"July 1. Fought here and in the Grove west of the Theological Seminary, July 2. In reserve on Cemetery Hill. July 3. In position on left centre and assisted in repulsing the charge of the enemy in the afternoon.

Field And Staff.
1. Surgeon Jonas H. Kauffman/ Pottsville.
Company I
1. Capt. William Grey/ Cressona/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
2. Lt. H.H. Merkle/ Cressona / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettsburg
3. Lt. Charles Potts/ Pottsville/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
4. Sgt. John Cohoon/ Frackville/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
5. Sgt. Charles Bartlett/ Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
6. Sgt. Joe Kantner/ Cressona / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
7. Corp. Elias Bartolett/ Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
8. Corp. John Buchanan / Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
9. Corp. Frank W. Berkheiser/ Wayne Township/
10. Pvt. Jonathan Auchenbach/ Wayne Township / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
11. Pvt. Daniel Bresler/ Wayne Township/
12. Pvt. Patrick Brennan/ Manheim Township
Listed as wounded and missing/ KIA July 1.
13. Pvt. Albert Bacon/ Manheim / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
14. Pvt. Ben Dillman/ Cressona
15 Pvt. Daniel Dillman/ Cressona
16. Pvt. William Delp/ Manheim Township / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
17. Pvt. John C. Duncan/ Manheim Township
18. Pvt. Elias Delcamp/ Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
19. Pvt. John Deitrich / Captured Gettysburg 7-1-63.
20. Pvt. Franklin Ebly/ North Manheim Township
21. Pvt. Adam Eichley
22. Pvt. Dan Fessler/ North Manheim / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
23. Pvt. Mike Fessler/ North Manheim / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
24. Pvt. Jacob Fisher/ North Manheim /
25. Pvt. Henry Felton/ North Manheim
Wounded and missing KIA July 1, 1863
26. Pvt. Commodore Hendricks/ Sch. Haven/ Captured Gettysburg 7-1-63.
27. Pvt. Samuel Howser/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
28. Pvt. Jacob Hohmakre
29. Pvt. Don Hilbert/ Branch Township
30. Pvt. Charles Heinrich / Sch. Haven
31. Pvt. Isaac Jones
32. Pvt. Lewis Lebengood/ Cressona'
33. Pvt. George W. Coover/ North Manheim
34. Pvt. Harvey McCaty
35. Pvt. John McClure / Missing Gettysburg 7-1-63.
36. Pvt. William Moyer/ Wayne Township / wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
37. Pvt. William McLaughlin/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
38. Pvt. William Manning/ North Manheim
Wounded and Missing in action KIA.
39. Pvt. Anson C. Miller/ North Manheim
Shot in the left thigh and both knees 1 July. Died 1 August.
40. Pvt. Steven Palsgrove/ Sch. Haven
41. Pvt. John Runkle/ Cressona
42. Pvt. Jerimiah Reed/ Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
43. Pvt. Jacob Rauch

44. Pvt. Jerimiah Stait/ North Manheim / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
45. Pvt. Oliver Schwartz/ Captured 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
46. Pvt. Peter Schnerring/ Wayne Township
47. Pvt. William Wessner/ Cass Township
48. Pvt. Daniel Yeik/ Wayne Township/ Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
49. Pvt. John Zimmerman/ North Manheim
50. Pvt. Ben Zimmerman/ North Manheim
51. Pvt. George Zeckman / Wounded 7-1-63 Gettysburg.
52. Lieut. John Witman Co. G/ Ashland
53. Pvt. J.N. Kaufman C. G
54. Pvt. J.Y. Strouse Co. H/ Washington Township
55. Pvt. George Reber Co. H/ Washington Township.
56. Pvt. Isaac Derr Co. H Barry Township.
57. Pvt. George Knoll Co. H/ Pottsville.

Lieut. Charles P. Potts from Pottsville one of the officers of the 151st at Gettysburg kept a short diary of his regiment and also wrote a short story of there involvement in the battle and there capture and imprisonment at Libby Prison. Following is the description of the fight at Gettysburg
" Marched from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg without a halt and directly into the fight . Careful fighting on both sides. Forces on either side. Our regiment supports a Battery the greater part of a day. Went to the front about 3 o'clock. Rebs outnumbered us two to one. Form line in entrenchments before Seminary. Parts of four regiments in entrenchments held rebs in check for about half an hour. Forced to retire into town. Rebs swing around the town and capture about 5000 officers and men.
July 2, 1863
Placed in field about one mile northwest of town. Rebs held in check, but think they will be able to drive our men on the morrow. Guarded by the 17th Va. Infantry, commanded by Col. French. Well treated, and find an old Colonel a gentleman, but no provisions.
July 3, 1863
Batteries in full play. Awful cannonading and musketry Rebs feel bad and look blue. Are not very confident of success.
(afternoon) Battle wages with great fury, (night) Great confusion among the rebs. Cattle and trains moving, that sound very much like a skedaddle. Ask guard what is wrong, he tells me they are going foraging. Don't see much in that light. Ask him if he don't wish himself back in old Va.
He says the days will not be long, and he will be through. Is not in favor of fighting the north. Does not want Yankees to subdue them and confiscate their homes, and dishonor their wives. No rations for three days. Offered parole advised not to accept.
July 4, 1863
Glorious old fourth but cannot enjoy it much in my present position no rations, no clothes, but what is on my back, and old half of a blanket. Rebs retreating as fast as possible, through drenching rain. Long train of wagons, containing wounded rebels, household furniture, in fact anything everything that they could carry off, chairs, bed quilts, covers, lids, mowing machines, scythes and their horses decorated with sleigh bells."
Lieut. Potts would be a prisoner in 5 different prisons and would not be exchanged until September 9, 1864.



"Over 5,400,000 rounds were estimated to have been expended (fired or dropped) during the battle by the Army of The Potomac. This equals about 193 tons of lead and 23 tons of black Powder."