In a brief mention in the Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania), 14 April 1913, it was stated that, “as a result of wounds in his head received in the battlefield in the Civil War, Hiram Focht, of Reading, has lost his eyesight.” Hiram Focht is also found in the records as John Hiram Focht, Hiram […]
Filed under: Research, Stories by Norman Gasbarro | Comments Off on Hiram Focht of Tremont – Blind as a Result of War Injuries
The obituary of Billy Harley appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot on 6 August 1904: DEATH TOOK OLD DRIVER FOR GOVERNOR CURTIN Special Despatch to the Patriot Middletown, Pennsylvania — 4 August 1904 William T. Harley, a picturesque character of this place and a veteran of the Civil War and at one time driver for the […]
Filed under: Research, Resources, Stories by Norman Gasbarro | Comments Off on William T. Harley – Driver for Gov. Curtin, War Veteran & Barber
In a shoebox filled with old receipts, letters and other ephemera a rather beat-up Civil War commission for the rank of First Lieutenant was found – for none other than Daniel Chester, believed to be the namesake of the G.A.R. Post at Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The document was discovered in four large pieces and […]
Filed under: Museums, Resources by Norman Gasbarro | Comments Off on Civil War Officer Commission – Daniel Chester – Discovery and Restoration of a Document
On the day of the armistice ending World War I, 11 November 1918, there appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer the announcement of the death of Gen. Henry Shippen Huidekoper: Death of General Huidekoper General Huidekoper was perhaps the senior surviving officer of those who fought on either side at Gettysburg 55 years ago. […]
Filed under: Research, Resources, Stories by Norman Gasbarro | 1 Comment »
While Confederate troops splashed across the Potomac River and headed towards Pennsylvania, the state capital at Harrisburg went into a full crisis mode. The state government immediately sent out notice for troops to be raised to defend the state from the perceived threat of invasion. Governor Andrew Curtin sent out a proclamation calling for aid […]
Filed under: Events, Overviews, Reflections, Research, Stories by Jake Wynn | Comments Off on “A Prelude to the Unutterable Horrors of War”