Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 16, 2013

Alfred H. Chubb (1844-1903), a veteran of the Civil War, is buried at Long’s Cemetery, Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

During the war, Alfred served in the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D. as a Private.  He was mustered into service on 7 September 1864 and served until his discharge on 1 June 1865.  The official description of the activities of the regiment during his time of service can be found in The Union Army:

The 208th Pennsylvania Infantry – Col. Alfred B. McCalmont; Lieut.-Col. M. T. Heintzelmen; Maj. Alexander Bobb. This regiment was mostly recruited from the counties of Perry, Snyder, Blair, Lebanon, Dauphin and Bedford. The several companies rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where they were mustered into the U. S. service from 26 August 1864 to 12 September 1864, for one year. Both Col. McCalmont and Lieut.-Col. Heintzelmen were veteran officers. On 13 September 1864, it left for the front and was there assigned to the provisional brigadecommanded by Col. Potter on the Bermuda Hundred front. Picket and fatigue duty and drill occupied it until 27 November 1864, when it reported to the Army of the Potomac and was assigned to the 1st Brigade of Gen. Hartranft’s Division, 9th Corps. It went into winter quarters near the Avery House, Gen. Hartranft’s headquarters. It was in support during the movement upon Hatcher’s Run in Feb., 1865 where it was in line of battle and fortified its position, but was not attacked. It was warmly engaged at Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, where it behaved with great gallantry, losing 4 killed and 38 wounded. Among the mortally wounded was Capt. Prosper Dalien, a brilliant officer and a native of France who had served through the Italian wars of 1859. It formed part of the assaulting column on 2 April 2 1865, when the works of Petersburg were finally carried, losing 9 killed and 39 wounded. It then moved in pursuit along the line of the South Side Railroad as far as Nottaway Court House, which it reached on the day of Lee’s surrender. On 20 April 1865 it returned to City Point and thence to Alexandria, where it was mustered out on 1 June 1865.

Alfred H. Chubb was the son of Henry P. Chubb and Margaret [Peters] Chubb of Matamoras, Dauphin County.  The father was a laborer and by 1860, at age 16, Alfred had taken up the same occupation.  Younger siblings in the family household in 1860 were Sarah Chubb (born about 1849); William Chubb (born about 1852); and Mary Chubb (born about 1859).  Also in the household was Alfred’s paternal grandmother, Suzannah Chubb, age 67.

After the war, Alfred H. Chubb married Caroline Heater and by 1870, he had settled in Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, where he was active in retail dry goods business.  None of the subsequent census note that any children were born of the marriage.

An early pension application was made in 1883 which was eventually approved.  Papers from the pension application file, indicate that Alfred had some problems proving that his disabilities were war-related.  One of those papers (shown below) was testimony from a fellow soldier who stated that he remembered that Alfred was sick and excused from duty at the time the regiment was “laid in front of” Petersburg.

But Alfred disputed this, claiming that he never “reported sick” but instead, “tried to get along.”  He admitted though that he had “to stay back” because of “disease.”

Regardless of the difficulty in proving his case, Alfred H. Chubb  was able to get approval for his pension benefits.  His death occurred on 14 May 1903, and within a short time the widow applied for the pension, which she received and collected until her death in 1917.

One benefit of examining the pension application files of a veteran is that stories of the veteran’s participation can be found that usually won’t be found elsewhere.  If the official history is the only source consulted, then it could be assumed that the soldier fought in every battle.  But information in the pension application file, in the case of Alfred H. Chubb, tells otherwise.  Also in the application file are papers in Alfred’s own hand telling of the progression of his illnesses – including piles, catarrh, weakness of the legs, etc. – and the kinds of medicines he had to take – all of which resulted in him getting worse, not better, and unable to do a day’s work after 1872.  He concluded one page of his application with the words, “the first doctor is dead.”  Prior to that he had stated that the doctor had not kept any records – except for cash owed – and that he only had receipts for the occasions on which he paid the doctor.  The doctor he referred to was H. R. Caslow, who has been mentioned in several prior blog posts.

Anyone with additional information on Alfred H. Chubb is asked to supply it so that a more complete picture of this laborer and merchant can be told.  Add comments to this post or send information by e-mail.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Alfred H. Chubb – 208th Pennsylvania Infanry
Tags: Halifax, Halifax Township, Jeferson Township, Jefferson Township, Matamoras

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 15, 2013

Trevorton Sesquicentennial, 1850-2000:  Remembering the Past, Cherishing the Present, Enriching the Future, was published in 2000 in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Trevorton by the Trevorton Sesquicentennial Committee, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Trevorton is located within the boundaries of Zerbe Township in Northumberland County as can be seen on the above map (the rectangular grid).  Zerbe Township is north of Line Mountain and Line Mountain is roughly the northernmost boundary of the Civil War Research Project.  However, the boundary was not so formidable that people and commerce did not move freely into and out of the area.  Some of the Civil War soldiers who have been previously identified in the Veterans List, also have some connection to communities north of Line Mountain – such as Shamokin, Sunbury, and Trevorton.  Likewise, some who spent most of their lives north of Line Mountain may have some connection to the area covered by the Civil War Research Project.

One of the sections of the Trevorton book recognizes the men and women who served our country during times of military conflict.  The lists include not only Trevorton, but also West Cameron Township, Little Mahanoy Township and Irish Valley.

The listing begins with those who served in the Civil War (1861-1865)….  These Civil War soldiers served in many different units including Company B, 18th Militia of 1861, “The Trevorton Guards;” Company D, 172nd Pennsylvania [172nd Pennsylvania Infantry], a unit of drafted men nicknamed the “Mountain Tigers;” and Company A, 8th Pennsylvania [8th Pennsylvania Infantry] and Company K, 46th Pennsylvania [46th Pennsylvania Infantry], the “Shamokin Guards.”  George Blanksby had the distinction of serving during the entire duration of the war from April 1861 to July 1865.  Levi Conrad, the last surviving Trevorton veteran of the Civil War, passed away 15 March 1933.

The listing of Trevorton area veterans for the Civil War, which also names the regiment/company (where known) and identifies 16 men who did not survive the war, is found on pages 53-54 of the Trevorton Sesquicentennial Book.  There are also photographs of two veterans in their Civil War uniforms:  Henry Haupt Derrick and David Morgan, both members of Company D, 172nd Pennsylvania Infantry.  The list presented here on this blog post only contains the names of the veterans:

William Basse —– John Berger —– Peter S. Bergstresser —– Isaac Berkheiser —– Daniel Billman —– George Blanskby —– Mathias Bohner —– Abraham Booth —–Thomas Booth —– Francis Bower —– John B. Boyer —– John Adam Brechor —– Frederick Broeker —– Martin Brymier —– Henry W. Burns —–Charles S. Chamberlain —– Israel Chamberlain —– Lewis chamberlain —– Valentin F. Clark —– Levi L. Conrad —– Samuel B. Conrad —– James Coyle —– Samuel Crawford —– Harmon T. Crone —– George Frank Crone —– Julius Henry Crone —– Adam Derk —– Daniel Derk —– Emanuel Derk —– Franklin Derk —– Isaac Derk —– Jared Derk —– Jonathan Derk —– John H. Derk —– Henry Haupt Derrick —– John Donnely —– Cornelius H. Dunkleberger —– Jerry Dunkleberger —– Isaac Dunkleberger —– Israel Dunkleberger —– Nathan Dunkleberger —– Emanuel Durke —– Edmund Edward —– Ananias S. Farnsworth —– Henry Feaster —– Adam Fisher —– Jacob Fisher —– Valentine W. Fisher —– Samuel G. Foy —– John P. Francis —– William H. Francis —– John Fredericks —– William Fritz —– Rodney Fuller —– William Garinger —– Robert Goodwild —– Christopher Gothrie —– Leonard Gottshall —– John Gronmayer —– Charles Hain —– John Hartman —– William Reily Haunabaugh —– Benjamin M. Haupt —– Simeon Haupt —– Valentine Heckner —– Andrew A. Heim —– Harrison Heim —– Henry Heim —– Levi P. Heim —– Nathan Henninger —– Nathan Hensyl —– Jacob T. Hepner —– Daniel Herb —– Thomas Humble —– Benjamin Hummel —– John C. Humphrey —– Michael Jacobs —– Samuel Jacobs —– Rev. Charles C. Kahler —– Benjamin Katterman —– Phillip Kauffman —– Samuel W. Kauffman —– Emanuel Kauffman —– Matthew Kearney —– Michael Kearney —– Isaac Keiser —– William Kent —– John F. Kerstetter —– Jacob Kline —– Joseph P. Knapp —– Daniel Henry Knarr —– Christian Kramer —– Frederick Kramer —– George Kramer —– Jacob Kramer —– John Kramer —– William J. Kuhns Sr. —– Robert Lattimore —– William A. Leffler —– Richard Lobb —– William Lobb —– John Long —– Ephraim McCollum —– John McEwen —– James P. McGinnes —– J. McManus —– John McWilliams —– Robert McWilliams —– James Mahan —– Jeremiah Maize —– Daniel Martin —– Cornelius Maurer —– David Maurey —–Peter Meiser —– Jesse G. Metz —– Peter Metz Jr. —– Washington B. Metz —– Simon Miller —– Solomon Miller —– David Morgan —– Dennis W. Morgan —– Mathias R. Morgan  —– Werlie Morgan —– George Mowton —–John Myers —– John L. Mutchler —– John B. Newbaker —– Dominick O’Gara —– Jeremiah O’Gara —– George Orme —– John Otto —– George Parfet —– John Partridge —– Isaac Peifer —– Jeremiah Pennypacker —– Peter Pennypacker —– John W. Phillips —– Joseph Plummer —– Joseph Porter —– James T. Poyer —– Joseph O. Poyer —– Henry K. Price —– John Prince —– George W. Raker —– Henry Z. Raker —– John H. Raker —– William D. Raker —– Emmanuel Reed —– Samuel Reed —– Jacob Reeder —– Charles Reichert —– Henry J. Renn —– James B. Renney —– Rube Ressler —– Henry Morris Rhoads —– Ferdinand Rhoads —– Peter Runkle —– John Schlichtig —– Henry Schlimme —– James M. Sheetz —– Peter Shipman —– George Shivelhood —– John Shivelhood —– Joseph Shivelhood —– John Shrader —– Solomon Shull —– David Sibb —– Daniel Smith —– Simon Snyder —– Aaron Sober —– Alexander Jordan Sober —– Salathiel Sober —– William A. Sober —– Stephen Straub —– Levi R. Swinehart —– Samuel Swinehart —– Daniel F. Taylor —– William C. Tharp —– Peter R. Treon —– William H. Umbenhower —– Jacob Umlo —– George W. VanGilder —– George Veit —– George W. Wagner —– George Walthon —– George W. Weaver —– Lewis D. Weaver —– Lyman S. Weaver —– Samuel Weaver —– John Weidenhafer —– Daniel D. Weikle —– Emmanuel Weitzel —– John H. Wiest —– Charles Wightman —- George W. Wooley —– John Wright —–Imbeck Wynn —– George Zimmerman —– David F. Zubler

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If any of the above-named veterans have a connection to the Lykens Valley area, they will be added to the Civil War Research Project Veterans’ List.  Some have already been added.  Help is needed to identify others so that none who belong are left out.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources | 1 Comment »
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 14, 2013

A one-line item that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot on 10 March 1893 may be helpful in establishing a genealogical connection between men of the surname Landis from the Lykens Valley area and Captain Alexander C. Landis, a Civil War veteran from Stroudsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who, after the war, settled in Steelton, Dauphin County.  The item simply stated that “Andrew Landis, of Lykens, is the guest of his uncle, Captain A. C. Landis.”

According to a sketch found in the Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Alexander C. Landis saw extensive military service during the Civil War:

A. C. Landis, Steelton, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 14 February 1837.  He is a son of Henry Landis.  He obtained his education in Cumberland County.  When a young man, he learned the trade of tailor, and followed this occupation until 1861.

At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion in 1861, he answered the first call for volunteers, and enlisted in the three months’ service under Colonel Stumbaugh [Frederick S. Stumbaugh].  At the end of the three months’ service he enlisted for three years, in Company K, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers [107th Pennsylvania Infantry], under Colonel Ziegler [Edwin E. Zeigler], of York, Pennsylvania.  On 28 August 1864, was commissioned as Captain of the Company.  He served on the staff of Gen. John P. Slough, military Governor of Alexandria, Virginia.

He participated in the following battles:  Cedar Mountain, 9 August 1862; Rappahannock, 18 and 25 August 1862; Thorough Gap, 28 August 1862; Bull Run, 30 August 1862; South Mountain, 14 September 1862; Antietam, 16 and 17 September 1862; Sharpsburg, 30 October 1862; Bristow Station, 12 December 1862; Fredericksburg, Virginia, 13 to 15 December, 1862; Chancellorsville, 21 January 1861; Fitzhugh’s Crossing, 28 to 30 April 1863; Chancellorsville, 1 to 3 May 1863; Gettysburg, 1 to 3 July 1863.

At the close of the war, Captain Landis came to Harrisburg and resumed work at his trade.  He served as cutter for J. B. Croft for five years.  After this time, he came to Steelton and took charge of the dry goods and clothing department of the Company’s store, in which capacity he remained for fifteen years,, when he resigned.  He was instrumental in organizing the Steelton Light, Heat, and Power Company, and was elected secretary and treasurer of the company. He filled the office for two years and then resigned.  He has served in the borough council.  He was the candidate of his party for the State Legislature.  He is a Democrat and is active in the movements of his party.  He is a member of the Masonic Order, Lodge No. 351, Shippensburg.  He has been President of the Steelton Board of Trade since its organization in 1888.

In 1849 [sic, probably 1858 or 1859] he married Miss Rebecca Allison, daughter of J. B. Allison of Franklin County, by whom he had eight children.  Mrs. Landis died in 1891.  Their children are:  Alfred M. Landis, born 10 June 1859, married Miss Emma Steel, and lives at Landisburg; Calvin D. Landis, born 30 Jul 1860, married Miss Nellie Galligan, who died in 1895, leaving four children; Annie M. Landis, born 16 October 1861, wife of George Brinser of Steelton; Florence B. Landis, born 4 November 1864, wife of William Greist of Steelton; Harry J. Landis, born 11 February 1867, married Miss Lizzie Franklin of Steelton; E. Maud Landis, born 11 November 1871, wife of James D. Banford of Steelton; William R. Landis, born 25 February 1869 and died 1 February 1870; and Charles A. Landis, born 27 December 1874, married Mary Weisman of Harrisburg.

The biographical sketch on Capt. Landis was weak on specifics regarding all the regiments in which he served.  The Pension Index Card found for him through Fold3 names the specific regiments and companies:

By combining the information found on the Pension Index Card with information on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards from the Pennsylvania Archives and other available records, a more complete picture of his service can be given.

Alexander C. Landis first enrolled in in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, as a Sergeant, on 20 April 1861.  Records from that enrollment at Harrisburg indicate that he was born in Shippensburg and was 24 years old at the time.  Alexander C. Landis served for the three months of his term and upon conclusion of service, his regiment was taken to Harpers Ferry and then by rail to Harrisburg, where they were discharged on 26 July 1861.

The second enrollment occurred at Shippensburg, on 30 January 1862, in the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, where his service was first at the rank of Sergeant, and then on 31 December 1862, he received a promotion from Sergeant Major to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.  In January 1862, Alexander said he was 24 years old and employed as a tailor.  His service in this regiment ended on 26 November 1863 with his discharge. The records at the Pennsylvania Archives and in Bates provide slightly different information:  Bates simply indicates that he was discharged on 26 November 1863, while the Archives Index Card notes that he was “dismissed” on 21 November 1863 and to “see S.O. in file #501 and 518, A.G.O.W.D. #520 and 845.”

A third and final enrollment, which is not mentioned in the biographical sketch, occurred on 20 August 1864, when Alexander C. Landis joined the 201st Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K, as a Captain.  Bates reports he was mustered out on 21 June 1865.

After the war, A. C. Landis settled in Steelton, where, as reported in the biographical sketch, he worked as a cutter and later in dry goods sales.  His activities with the Democratic Party were frequently reported on by the Harrisburg Patriot, and although he was a candidate for office several times, it does not seem that he was successful.  Early-on, he was elected President of a newly-formed Democratic Club in Steelton, but only held that position for a short time.  Several times while running for office, he received a newspaper endorsement – that a vote for him was a vote against the machine.  Also, several listings of Dauphin County Democratic Party officials appeared in the Patriot, articles which named delegates from every borough and township in the county including those in the Lykens Valley area.

Alexander C. Landis died on 14 October 1917 and is buried in the Baldwin Cemetery, Steelton, Dauphin County.  The last years of his life he spent “retired” as a widower living with his daughter and son-in-law in Harrisburg.

In attempting to connect Alexander C. Landis with the Civil War veterans of the Lykens Valley area, three veterans from the list are good possibilities:

1. Joseph Landis was named in the Halifax Bicentennial Book, and records indicate he served in the 6th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1862), Company E, as a Corporal, and in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company C, as a Sergeant.

2. William M. Landis was found in a list of Civil War veterans buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg, but no other information has been found about him at this time.

3. Henry Witman, who served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry (7th Pennsylvania Reserves) and died 24 March 1912, was married to Sarah A. Landis.

There is also the possibility that there was a connection through the more than 40 men from the Lykens Valley area who served in the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry and/or the more than 20 men who served in the 201st Pennsylvania Infantry.

Information is still lacking on the possibility of brothers of Alexander C. Landis, and only one name has surfaced in research – Jonas Landis – but nothing more has been located other than the name.

Who was Andrew Landis of Lykens, the nephew of Alexander C. Landis who visited him in Steelton in 1893?  The mystery is still unsolved.  Perhaps a reader of this blog has an answer.

Please add comments to this post or submit information via e-mail.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Capt. Alexander C. Landis – Tailor, Merchant and Democratic Party Leader
Tags: Halifax, Lykens Borough, Millersburg

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 13, 2013

An interesting book on the Battle of Gettysburg, written for young people, is The Long Road to Gettysburg, by Jim Murphy, published by Scholastic in 1992.  The book is based on two diaries, one  John Dooley, a Confederate soldier, who after the war entered a Jesuit order, and the other by Thomas Francis Galway, a Sergeant in the 8th Ohio Infantry.  The book is filled with photographs and other illustrations – most original to the period.  The book follow these two individuals through the events leading up to the battle and then departs on an analysis of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address before telling what happened to the two diarists in the years after the war.

Most Civil War and Lincoln books that are for young people, ages 12-18, are written without the direct use of original source material such as diaries, so this book is a exception.  Author Murphy’s approach to the subject is welcomed by educators and historians who believe that young people should be exposed to historical analysis as early as possible rather than being spoon-fed history as is done in so many school texts, and this book is very helpful in that regard.

The one major fault in this book are the maps of the Gettysburg campaign and the three days of the battle.  These maps, according the credits page, were drawn by Jeanyee Wong.  The first map, which appears on page 16 is reproduced here (in part, below) to illustrate the problem.  In the text, Murphy states, as Lee’s reason for invading Pennsylvania:

Lee had no intention of going after Washington.  He planned to threaten Philadelphia and Baltimore instead, and cut Washington off from the rest of the country…. Lee wanted to choose the battlefield, one perfect suited to his army’s style of fighting….

What is missed here is that Harrisburg, a major railroad center and known as the “Crossroads of the Union,” was near where Lee chose to enter Pennsylvania, and by attacking in the area of the Northern Central Railroad, south of Harrisburg, he could cut off a major supply route to the South and to Baltimore.  Neither the railroad nor Harrisburg appears on the map. By simply moving the map window up one inch and to the right one inch, the cities of Harrisburg and Philadelphia could have been shown.  What is shown at the bottom of the map is nearly irrelevant to the subject of the book (the border between Virginia and North Carolina) as what is shown to the left edge of the map (mountains).  Suggested corrections are added in red.

Likewise, the second map, which appears on page 31, has the same problems:  Harrisburg and Philadelphia are missing, no railroads, and the irrelevant border between Virginia and North Carolina.

In the maps of the close-up views of the battle – days one through three – the railroad is shown through Gettysburg, but is labeled “unfinished.”

There are a few quotes from the diary of Dooley which are of interest to a Pennsylvanian.  One described the countryside as “lush and unscarred by cannon fire.”

The wheat fields are every where nearly ripe for harvesting, and all around plenty appears to bless the fertile land. (page, 23).

A final comment can be made about the subject of many of the pictures – dead bodies on the battlefield, of people and animals.  At least 17 pictures are included which show such horrors of war – some photographs – and one in which the facial features of the victim are identifiable.  Some critics might consider this gratuitous.  It should be left up to parents and teachers to decide if the book is appropriate with such a preponderance of pictures of the dead; the age and maturity of the reader should be considered.  While there is no age-appropriate-level specified on the book, the publisher provides materials almost exclusively for the K-12 educational market.

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This is the 79th post on this blog on the subject of the Battle of Gettysburg.

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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 12, 2013

Two more veterans have been added to the Civil War Research Project as a result of being identified in a local area publication as being from Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  The veterans are Thomas Hoch and his son Franklin Hoch.

On a grave stone in the St. John’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, also known as “Kimmel’s” Church Cemetery, near Ashland, Schuylkill County, Thomas Hoch is recognized with his birth date of 18 February 1824 and the words, “Killed Civil War, VA, 12 June 1864.”  His wife, Esther [Heim] Hoch, is buried there.  She died on 30 October 1915 at the age of 92 years, 6 months, 27 days, and thus was born on 3 April 1827 (calculated).  Family information available on Ancestry.com states that Thomas is actually buried in Culpepper National Cemetery, Culpepper, Virginia.  His actual grave marker, if one exists, has not yet been seen.

The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (shown above) from the Pennsylvania Archives, notes that Thomas Hoch enrolled in the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company H, as a Sergeant, on 24 September 1862, at Schuylkill County, and was mustered into service three days later in Harrisburg.  The card also notes that on 24 May 1863 he received a promotion to 1st Sergeant, but 5 days later was reduced back to his original rank by a General Order.  What is odd about this card is that the records of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, according to Bates, have him as discharged on 20 June 1865, more than a year after he supposedly died.  Printed in the Bates volume is the following:  “Wounded at Trevilian Station, Virginia, 12 June 1864 – discharged by General Order, 20 June 1865.”  The only other useful information on the Index Card is Thomas’ age; he was 39 when he enrolled, which would be roughly consistent with the birth date given on the stone at Kimmel’s Cemetery.

The regimental history, from The Union Army, gives the following information about the activities of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry up to and including Trevilian Station:

17th Pennsylvania Cavalry – Col. Josiah H. Kellogg,  Col. J. Q. Anderson; Lieut.-Col. John B. McAllister, Lieut.-Col. J. Q. Anderson, Lieut.-Col. Coe Durland; Maj. David B. Hartranft, Maj. Coe Durland, Maj. Reuben R. Reinhold, Maj. J. Q. Anderson, Maj. Weidner H. Spera, Maj. Luther B. Kurtz, Maj. William Thompson. The 17th Cavalry, or the 162nd Regiment, was one of the three cavalry regiments furnished by the state under the president’s call of 2 July 1862. It was recruited from the state at large, rendezvoused at Camp Simmons, Harrisburg, and was mustered into the U. S. service during September, October and November 1862, for three years. Col. Kellogg had been a captain in the 1st U. S. Cavalry; a few of the officers and men were Mexican War veterans; but most of the members were devoid of military experience. On 25 November 1862, it left the state for Washington and a few days later was ordered to the front. It first encountered the enemy at Occoquan, Virginia, where it skirmished with Hampton’s Cavalry, and later had a brush with Stuart’s Cavalry at Dumfries. The 17th was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, Col. Devin, 1st Division, Gen. Pleasonton, Cavalry Corps, serving in this brigade and division throughout its term. This brigade furnished the only cavalry present at the Battle of Chancellorsville where Cos. C and I were detailed for escort duty with Gen. Meade and the rest of the regiment assisted in staying the mad onset of Stonewall Jackson’s men when the 11th Corps was routed. It was highly complimented for its coolness by Gen. Pleasonton in a General Order. Next it was engaged at Beverly Ford with the enemy’s cavalry, and again met him at Upperville. Gen. Buford, in command of the division, initiated the battle of Gettysburg on July 1, and was able to hold Hill in check until the forces of Reynolds and Howard reached the field. During the rest of the battle the 17th was employed in preventing flanking movements and in guarding communications with the army’s base. In the pursuit after the battle it was engaged at Boonsboro and skirmished daily thereafter until the enemy escaped across the river. The regiment was almost incessantly active during the indecisive fall campaigns, being often engaged and bearing its full share of the toils and losses until it finally went into winter quarters at Culpepper. Through the winter it picketed a long line towards James City, and toward the close of February 1864, a detail of 200 men under Capt. Spera, joined in Kilpatrick’s Raid to Richmond. On the opening of the spring campaign in 1864 it was engaged throughout May 6, on the left of the line at “the Furnace,” and on the next two days was heavily engaged on the Spottsylvania Road, losing 14 killed and wounded. It then joined in Sheridan’s Cavalry Raid toward Richmond, being active at Beaver Dam Station, Ground Squirrel Church, Yellow Tavern and Meadow Bridge. Rejoining the army on 25 May 1864 it was given but one day’s rest, when it was engaged at New Castle Ferry on the Pamunkey River, driving the enemy, and the next day skirmished at Hanoverton. It was engaged at Old Church on 30 May 1864, losing a number of men. At Cold Harbor the command fought dismounted, losing 22 killed and wounded, and shortly after, when Sheridan led the cavalry towards Lynchburg, it was hotly engaged near Trevilian Station, losing 5 killed, 19 wounded and 2 missing.

Supposedly, the wounded Thomas Hoch was taken to Gordonsville, Virginia, where he died on 13 January 1864, as is stated in the Interment Record (below), at first buried there at Gordonsville, and then re-interred in the National Cemetery at Culpepper (see record below).  Why the interment record indicates the death was in January is not known.  Other records have the death date in June, which if consistent with the time that his regiment was at Trevilian Station, would be the correct date of death.  Note:  Each time such an error is found in one of these secondary source records, it emphasizes the necessity of consulting the primary source documents (or as close to the primary source documents) as possible.

It is not known why this information was not coordinated properly with the records of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  The date of death on the Interment Record is one day and five months off from the date on the stone at Kimmel’s Church Cemetery.

The widow, Esther [Heim] Hoch, did not apply for survivor’s benefits until June 1866, two years after her husband’s death, as shown by the Pension Index Card (above, from Ancestry.com).  She received a pension which she collected until her death in 1915 – more than 50 years after she was widowed by the war!

In further researching the life of Thomas Hoch it was discovered that he was born in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, the son of Abraham Hoch (1791-18743) and Maria Barbara [Kaercher] Hoch (1790-1863), though additional information is needed to confirm Lykens Township as his birthplace.  At the time Thomas enlisted, he was a farmer living in Schuylkill County and he and his wife Esther had about 14 children – only a few of whom had not survived to 1862.  Those children were:  Franklin Hoch (born about 1844); Joseph Hoch (born about 1845); Emeline Hoch (born about 1847 and died young); Sarah Jane Hoch (born about 1848); William Edward Hoch (born about 1849); Elizabeth Hoch (born about 1850); Catherine Hoch (born about 1851); Pierce Hoch (born about 1852, and died about 1855); Benjamin Hoch (born about 1854); Thomas Hoch (born about 1855); Mary Ann Esther Hoch (born about 1858); Amanda Hoch (born about 1859 and died young); Diana Hoch (born about 1860); and Matilda Hoch (born about 1863, later to die about 1870).

The oldest son of Thomas Hoch and Esther Hoch, Franklin Hoch, also served in the war.

The 19-year old Franklin Hoch, enrolled on 23 September 1861 at Pottsville and was mustered into service in Harrisburg on the same day in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, initially as a Private.  At the time of his enrollment, he was employed as a teamster, lived in Schuylkill County, and stood nearly 5 foot, 7 inches tall, with a sandy complexion, dark eyes and sandy hair. The Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card (above, from Pennsylvania Archives) notes that he survived the war, including a re-enlistment on 1 January 1864 at Blaine’s Crossroads, Tennessee, through to his discharge on 17 July 1865.  During his time of service, he was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant, dates unknown.

From the official history of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, found in The Union Army:

The 48th Regiment, composed of Schuylkill County men, was mustered into the U. S. service for a three years, term, in September 1861, at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg.  It embarked at Baltimore on 25 September 1861 for Fortress Monroe and arrived there the next day. Remaining here until 11 November 1861, it was ordered to Hatteras Island, N. C., and made its winter quarters in that vicinity. It shared in the victory at Roanoke Island in February 1862, after which four companies were detailed to garrison the fort at Hatteras Island and the remainder of the regiment sailed for New Berne. This detachment rendered valuable service during the Battle of New Berne in transporting ammunition for the troops engaged. With the 1st Brigade of Gen. Reno’s Division, the entire regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe, where it arrived on 8 July 1862. In August it joined Gen. Pope’s Army at Culpeper; participated in the battles of the Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, fighting valiantly in every engagement and winning many compliments for gallantry. On 11 February 1863, the 48th was ordered to Newport News, remaining there until late in March 1863, when it proceeded to Lexington, Kentucky, where it was posted on guard duty from 1 April 1863 to 10 September 1863 It was then ordered to East Tennessee and assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Corps, with which it engaged at Blue Springs, Campbell’s Station and Knoxville. In December 1863 many of the regiment reenlisted and the 48th continued in the field as a veteran organization after the usual veteran furlough. In the same brigade as heretofore it shared in the arduous Wilderness Campaign, repeatedly in action and suffering heavy losses. It proceeded to Petersburg and joined in a successful assault on an outpost on 17 June 1864, in which Sgt. Patrick Monahan of Company F and Pvt. Robert Reid of Co. G received Medals of Honor for gallantry. The month of July was spent in excavating the mine that was exploded 30 July 1864 with such terrible effect. The men were without adequate tools for such labor and it was only accomplished by the utmost endurance and persistence. For this work they were complimented in orders by Gen. Meade. On 2 August 1864 the regiment was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Corps, with which it engaged the enemy at Poplar Spring Church. In December the regiment was stationed at Fort Sedgwick, where it remained until 2 April 1865, when it joined the assault on Fort Mahone, after which it occupied Petersburg and was detailed to guard prisoners, etc., until the middle of July, when it returned to Alexandria and was mustered out on 17 July 1865.

From other information about Franklin Hoch, it was learned that he was wounded at Antietam and recovered in a hospital in Baltimore.  According to his veterans’ record card, he was able to return to the regiment and although the actual date of return has not yet been seen, it can be assumed that was with the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry when he re-enlisted on 1 January 1864.  If his father died in June 1864, it can be assumed that Franklin was in the area of Peterburg at that time.  At this time, no information has been seen as to how he received the news of his father’s death.

After the war, Franklin Hoch returned to Schuylkill County and in about 1867 married Marguerite Black.  Information is sketchy at this time on his post-war activities, but it is known that he and Marguerite had at least three children:  Laura M. Hoch (born about 1869); Thomas Benjamin Hoch (born about 1873); and Blanche Hoch (born about 1879).

The Pension Index Card (shown above from Ancestry.com) shows that Franklin was an early pension applicant (1869) and that he received a pension relatively early (the low certificate number).  His war injuries, received at Antietam, must have played a part in getting the early benefits.  Information is probably available in the pension application file, available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., which has not yet been consulted.  In 1890, Franklin Hoch was living in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and although his service in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry was reported, the census-taker failed to record other vital information such as his post office address and any Civil War-related disabilities.

After his death in 1912, Franklin Hoch was buried at Frieden’s Cemetery, Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  His stone notes his service in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry as well as his membership in the Kinkead Post of the G.A.R.  Franklin’s widow, Margaret Hoch, died in 1925, and was able to collect pension benefits following her husband’s death.

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The initial information on Thomas Hoch and Franklin Hoch as Civil War Veterans was obtained through Our Veterans, Our Heroes, by Annabelle Coleman. Additional information is sought on Thomas Hoch and Franklin Hoch, including pictures and stories (if available) and may be added to this post in “comments” or sent via e-mail to the Civil War Research Project.

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Tags: Barry Township, G.A.R., Lykens Township, Valley View