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Samuel Bartlett – “Colored” Veteran Lost Life in Mountain Fire
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 6, 2018
A death certificate was filed in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on 14 May 1915, for Samuel Bartlett. The cause of death was “unknown to jury either suicide or exhaustion – body was found with clothes burned off due to mountain fire.” The certificate, shown above from Ancestry.com, notes that Samuel Bartlett was a widowed, “colored” male [African American] about 83 years old, who was a farmer by occupation. His father’s name was also Samuel Bartlett. The exact date of death was unknown.
Newspapers reported the discovery of the body as follows:
From the Pittston Gazette, 15 May 1915:
FARMER DIES ON MOUNTAIN
Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 15 May [1915] — Samuel Bartlett, a wealthy farmer whose body was found near Thomaston, on the mountain, is believed to have lost his way and perished while trying to get help. A forest fire prevented his rescue. His clothes were singed.
From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 15 May 1915:
LOST IN FOREST FIRE, DEAD
Missing Man’s Money and Gold Watch in Pockets
Pottsville, 15 May [1915] — Samuel Bartlett, a wealthy farmer, whose body was found Thursday night on the mountain near Thomaston, is believed to have lost his way and perished while trying to get help. A forest fire, which was raging, obscured his vision and prevented his rescue. His clothes were found singed with flames and smoke.
It was at forest thought he was murdered, but a large sum of money and a gold watch were found untouched on his person.
Two facts were not given in the notices of the death of Samuel Bartlett: (1) He was a Civil War veteran; (2) He was an African American.
The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card, shown above from Ancestry.com, indicates that during the Civil War, Samuel Bartlett served in the 43th United States Colored Troops from 5 August 1861 to 9 June 1865, and is buried at the United Brethren Cemetery, Deep Creek Valley, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The dates are wrong, because this regiment was not organized until between March and June 1864.
According to information from the National Park Service, the regiment was involved in the following:
Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River, Virginia, May-June, 1864. Guard trains of the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness and to Petersburg. Before Petersburg June 15-19. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Grove Church September 29-30 and October 1. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. On the Bermuda Hundred front and before Richmond till March, 1865. Moved to Hatcher’s Run March 27-28. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher’s Run March 29-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Petersburg and City Point till May 30. Moved to Texas May 30-June 10. Duty on the Rio Grande opposite Mattamoras, Mexico, till October. Mustered out October 20, 1865, and discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., November 30, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 48 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 188 Enlisted men by disease. Total 239.
According to information at the National Park Service, Samuel Bartlett did serve with the 43rd United States Colored Troops.but no dates of service were given.
In 1890, Samuel Bartlett, while living in Weishample, Schuylkill County, reported Civil War service in the 43rd United States Colored Troops for 1 month and 20 days. No company was named.
Military records on Fold3 show the following about his service:
(1) Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Volunteers forwarded for the 43rd Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry. Roll dated 3 April 1865, Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
An 18 year old laborer enlisted at Pottsville for one year. Hazel eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, height 5 foot 6 1/2 inches. Mustered in 3 April 1865 at Pottsville. Remarks: Name not taken upon muster roll of any company of regiment.
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(2) Individual Muster-out Roll of the organization named above. Roll dated Camp Cadawalder, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 23 May 1865.
Mustered out of service by virtue of General Order 77 War Department, 28 April 1865.
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(3) Volunteer Enlistment.
This document repeats some of the same information found on the summary card (#1 above) and includes the signature of Samuel Bartlett.
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Note that documents #1 and #2 specify that Samuel Bartlett was in Company B, his name does not appear on the rolls of that company. The documents also verify that Samuel Bartlett served the period of time indicated on the 1890 census and not the period of time indicated on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card.
While the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Burial Card indicates that he is buried at the United Brethren Cemetery in Deep Creek Valley, his grave marker has not been photographed and he has no Findagrave Memorial as of this writing.
Since the military records confirm that the length of his service was less than 3 months, he was not eligible for a pension, so no pension application was located for him.
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Additional information is sought about this soldier and his service as well as his family. Readers can supply this information via e-mail or by adding a comment to this post.
Thank you, Sir, for your Service.