Civil War Blog

Posted By Brian Tomlin on October 22, 2012

Harriet Jacobs was born a slave in North Carolina in 1813. Her mother died when she was six, her father when she was 13. Her mistress/owner taught her to read and write. When the kindly mistress died, Harriet is willed to the woman’s three year old niece, and went to live with a Dr. Norcom who tried to force Jacobs into a sexual relationship. At 29 Jacobs escapes to the North, first to Philadelphia and later to New York and Boston. Jacobs wrote her experiences in a manuscript titled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl which was eventually self-published in 1861 after the publisher who initially purchased the book went out of business.

The work is a tremendous document of the conditions of a female slave, as Jacobs recounts in the section titled “The Trials of Girlhood”:

“But where could I turn to for protection? No matter whether the slave girl be as black as ebony or as fair as her mistress. In either case, there is no shadow of law to protect her from insult, violence, or even from death; all these are inflicted by fiends who bear the shape of men. The mistress, who ought to protect the helpless victim, has no other feelings towards her but those of jealousy and rage. The degradation, the wrongs, the vices, that grow out of slavery are more than I can describe. (pp.27-28).”

The process of how a slave escaped and the fear that followed him or her is another deeply moving part of this work:

“…but until there were miles of water between us and our enemies, we were filled with apprehensions that the constables would come on board. Neither could I feel quite at ease with the captain and his men. I was an entire stranger to that class of people, and I had heard that sailors were rough, and sometimes cruel. We were so completely in their power, that if they were bad men, our situation would be dreadful. Now that the captain was paid for our passage, might he be not tempted to make more money by giving us up to those who claimed us as property? I was naturally of a confiding disposition, but slavery had made me suspicious of every body (p.157).”

A newspaper advertisement placed by Harriet Jacobs owner offering a $100 reward for returning her to him as her property.

Months later Jacobs still feared her master might come to New York and return her to southern slavery.

“It was impossible to tell how near the enemy was. He might have passed and repassed the house while we were sleeping. He might at any moment he waiting to pounce upon me if i ventured out of doors (p.196).”

The work ends with Jacobs and her children as fully free from the threat of slavery, but still without  a home of their own. More than any other account of slavery, real or fictitious  Harriet Jacobs manages to put a real human face on slavery and the slaves themselves.

The county in North Carolina where Jacobs lived as a slave has created a website to honor her experiences as a slave and runaway on the Underground Railroad.

Category: Culture, Resources | Comments Off on Most famous true slave narrative
Tags: African American, Women

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 21, 2012

An small article appearing in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 October 1914, “Patient Nimrod at 77 Finally Lands a Bear,” created a bit of curiosity as to the story behind a Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, physician, who after many years of trying, finally trapped a bear in Columbia County.  The age was in the correct range for this doctor to have served in the Civil War.  Further research revealed that not only did he serve in the war as a Surgeon, but that he had received his initial medical training under Dr. H. R. Caslow (1823-1881) of Halifax, Dauphin County.

Dr. Caslow is buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Halifax, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

After the war, Dr. DeWitt established his practice in Northumberland County, and served for a time in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, sponsoring a bill that insured that physicians were certified:

The Pittsburg Post says of the bill:

The bill offered in the House at Harrisburg by Hon. A. T. DeWitt, of Northumberland, to regulate medical practice throughout the Commonwealth, appears to be well conceived.  While it will, if passed, sadly interfere with the operation of quacks, it permits only those to practice medicine and surgery who can show the necessary qualifications.  The bill is given in another column, and we known of no good reason why it should not become a law.  [from Sunbury American, 27 March 1874].

In addition to Dr. DeWitt’s accomplishments in the Civil War, which are outlined in a biographical sketch found in the Annals of Northumberland County (below), Dr. DeWitt created DeWitt Park in Riverside, Northumberland County.  The story of the park is found in a web blog (link provided below).

Dr. Abraham T. DeWitt

Dr. A. T. DeWitt was born in 1837, in Augusta Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and is a ember of the DeWitt family here.  In the early part of the seventeenth century, when the immigrant ancestors came to this country from Holland, they settled on Manhattan Island, naming it New Amsterdam.

The records show that there were two brothers, one remaining in New York, while the other moved to New Jersey.  About 1807, Paul DeWitt, a member of the New Jersey branch of the family, and grandfather of Dr. DeWitt, came with a number of other New Jersey families to Pennsylvania, settling in Augusta Township, Northumberland County,  He married Margaret Persing, and to them were born three children:  Abraham DeWitt, who moved to Philadelphia; William DeWitt, and Elizabeth DeWitt (Mrs. Reppard).

William DeWitt, son of Paul DeWitt, married Elizabeth Tressler, and to them were born seven children; Jacob DeWitt, who married Mary Clark and had three children; Isaac DeWitt, who married Elizabeth Cressiger and had seven children, two sons and five daughters; Paul DeWitt, who married Abigail Shipman, and had five children, three sons and two daughters; William DeWitt, who married Mary Latsha and had eight children, two sons and six daughters; Matthew DeWitt, who married Elizabeth Shipman, and had two children, one son and one daughter; Moses DeWitt, who married Lavina Strausser, and had four children, one son and three daughters; and Abraham T. DeWitt, who married Sarah Renn, and had four children, three sons and one daughter.

Dr. Abraham T. DeWitt, the youngest son, was reared upon a farm until he reached the age of sixteen years.  He next spent two years at work at the mill of his brother William DeWitt, and then took the opportunity to improve his early education, attending the academy at Boalsburg in Center County, Pennsylvania.   After that he began his experience as teacher, being then engaged for one term in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, at the close of which he became a student at what was then known as the Freeburg Academy, in Snyder County.  The following winter he taught school in Schuylkill County and then again resumed his studies at the Missionary Institute, now Susquehanna University, at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.  He began the study of medicine under the preceptor-ship of Dr. Caslow of Halifax, Dauphin County, and in 1861, entered the University of Vermont, from which institution he was graduated 9 June 1862.

Dr. DeWitt at once settled at Snydertown, Northumberland County, where he continued private practice until he took the examination for army service in June 1863, and passing was soon appointed Assistant Surgeon, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Emergency (of 1863) Men [54th Pennsylvania Infantry], for one hundred days’ service.  The command was sent out of the State and Dr. DeWitt assisted in the capture of Gen. John Morgan, who was making his famous raid into Ohio.

After receiving his discharge with the regiment, at the end of his term, the Doctor entered the Union service, being appointed Surgeon of the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery Regiment  [2nd Pennsylvania Artillery], within the fortifications at Washington, D.C., at the northeast; in 1864 he was transferred from the northeast to the southwest, Washington defenses.  In June 1864, the regiment was ordered to join the army under Gen. Grant, took part in the Battle of Cold Harbor, and subsequently marched to White House Landing, where the troops took transports for City Point.  The regiment was the first to advance upon Petersburg, where they remained until August, at which time they were stationed at Bermuda Hundred, continuing at that point until Lee evacuated Richmond.  They were then ordered to Petersburg, remaining in charge of the city until 1 January 1866, when they were discharged by General Order.  While in the defenses of Washington, D.C., Dr. DeWitt was a member of the staff of Gen. Fariero, with headquarters at Arlington.  During the summer of 1865 he was Chief Medical Officer of the District of Roanoke, with headquarters at Berksville Junction, Virginia.  He was mustered out at Philadelphia in 1866.

On 1 April 1866, Dr. DeWitt resumed the practice of his profession at Snydertown, Pennsylvania, in 1878 moving to the Borough of Riverside, where he has since been located.  He has won a place among the most esteemed citizens of that place by his busy and well spent life.  His skill as a physician has brought him a long list of patrons, to whom he is a friend as well as doctor, and he is widely known in Riverside and the surrounding territory.

While at Snydertown, in 1873, Dr. DeWitt was elected a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and was re-elected to serve in the same capacity in 1874, and in 1875 was elected transcribing clerk of the House.  Since becoming a resident of Riverside he has not been identified with public affairs as an office holder, but the establishment and maintenance of what is known as DeWitt’s Park is due to his efforts and is a worthy monument to his interest in the general welfare.  It is a naturally wooded tract of some twenty acres which has been well equipped for amusement purposes, with a pavilion 50 by 110 feet in dimensions, a dining hall 65 by 36 feet, and large ball grounds with a 100-foot grandstand.  The park is well-supplied with flowing water, cool and of excellent quality, conducted through the grounds from a spring.  The spot is cool and beautiful on the hottest days and the recreation ground has proved not only an improvement to the vicinity but a blessing to the many who take advantage of its benefits.  The idea was typical of Dr. DeWitt.  He is a man of kind and genial disposition, and in spite of his advanced years is remarkably well preserved.

Dr. DeWitt married Sarah Renn, who died 2 July 1906, at the age of sixty-six years.  Of the four children born to this union, one son died young, the others being:  W. O. DeWitt, who married Luella Gruver of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and has children Helen DeWitt, Florence DeWitt, John DeWitt, and William DeWitt;  Heber Loran DeWitt, who married Anna Morrell and has two children, George DeWitt and Sarah DeWitt; and Cora Irene DeWitt, who married William Mettler and has one daughter, Evelyn Mettler.

Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County Pennsylvania, pages 289-290, by published by J. L. Floyd and Company, Chicago, 1911, and is available as a free download (click here).  Copies of the original edition and reprint (Whipporwill Publications, Evansville, Indiana, 1988) are sometimes available from booksellers.

A blog post on The Daily Item tells of some of the history of the Dewitt Park (click here) and the picture (below) is referenced from that site.

In 1888, Dr. DeWitt applied for and then received an invalid pension for his service in the Civil War.  Although his biography states that he served as Full Surgeon and later as a Chief Medical Officer, the pension records apparently only contain evidence of his service as Assistant Surgeon.  In the 1890 census he reported his disability as “malarial poisoning and rheumatism.”

Dr. DeWitt died on 21 July 1915.  He is buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery Riverside, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

The news clipping from the Philadelphia Inquirer is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.  The news clipping from the Sunbury American is from Chronicling America, the newspaper resource of the Library of Congress.   Pension Index Cards are from Ancestry.com.  Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Cards are from the Pennsylvania Archives.

No photograph has yet been located of Dr. Abraham T. DeWitt.  Anyone wishing to contribute photographs or any other information about his life can contact the Civil War Research Project (click here).

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Halifax

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 20, 2012

Part 2 of 2.  The Grace United Evangelical Cemetery is located on south Keystone Street in Muir, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  From Interstate-81 (I-81), take the Tower City Exit (Route 209) and travel west on Rt. 209 to the community of Muir.

At the sign for the United Methodist Church (Grace United Methodist Church) and the Porter Township Municipal Building, turn left (south) onto Keystone Avenue and proceed about four blocks and the Methodist Church will be on the left.  The Muir All Wars Memorial will be on the left.  Proceed two short block and the cemetery will appear on the right.  It is located on the southwest side of the  intersection of Keystone Street and East Church Street.  At that intersection, there is a a sign for the Muir Fire Department which is on the north side of East Church Street.

Continued from yesterday….

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WILLIAM H. LONG (1847-1933)

William H. Long

William H. Long, also found in the records as William Henry Long and William Long, who married Mary A. Updegrove, served in Regular Army regiments during the Civil War.  After the war, he was a laborer and farmer in Porter Township, eventually becoming the township’s Supervisor of Roads and near the end of his life the truant officer for the township schools.  He and Mary Ann had a large family and there are some interesting stories about him and his background that have been contributed by descendants – as well as papers from his pension application file.  He is named on the Tower City Veterans Memorial.

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JONAS P. REIGLE (1835-1889)

Jonas P. Reigle is named on the Tower City Veterans Memorial and was previously profiled in the post entitled:  Children of Daniel Riegle, Dauphin County Commissioner (Part 2 of 2).  He is also mentioned as one of the many members of the Riegle/Reigle family who served in the Civil War (click here).  Jonas served in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A and Company K, Corporal.  A laborer, he was mustered in 9 September 1961 and mustered out 29 September 1864 at the expiration of his term.  During his service, he was in the hospital at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, for typho-malarial fever.  He married Rebecca Holtzman.

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SOLOMON S. UPDEGROVE (1844-1917)

Solomon S. Updegrove

Solomon S. Updegrove is named on the Tower City Veterans’ Memorial.  He is is one of two veterans with the same name.  This one is distinguished from the other by the fact that he survived the war (the other did not) and nearly always used the middle initial “S” – although the name plate on the Tower City Memorial doesn’t include the middle initial.  Solomon married Matilda Brown.  He was the son of Solomon Updegrove and Barbara [Rickert] Updegrove.  According to his records, he served in the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company E, as a Sergeant from 2 October 1862 through 12 October 1865.  During his service he was held for a time as a prisoner after being captured at Strausburg, Virginia.

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Other veterans who are buried in Tower City area cemeteries will be featured in future posts.

Additional information is sought on these veterans and other veterans in the Civil War Research Project.  Comments can be added to this post or an e-mail can be sent to the project.  Of particular interest are pictures and stories.

Category: Memorials, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Civil War Veteran Burials in Grace United Evangelical Cemetery, Muir (Part 2 of 2)
Tags: Cemetery, Muir, Porter Township, Tower City

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 19, 2012

The Grace United Evangelical Cemetery is located on south Keystone Street in Muir, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  From Interstate-81 (I-81), take the Tower City Exit (Route 209) and travel west on Rt. 209 to the community of Muir.

At the sign for the United Methodist Church (Grace United Methodist Church) and the Porter Township Municipal Building, turn left (south) onto Keystone Avenue and proceed about four blocks and the Methodist Church will be on the left.  The Muir All Wars Memorial will be on the left.  Proceed two short block and the cemetery will appear on the right.  It is located on the southwest side of the  intersection of Keystone Street and East Church Street.  At that intersection, there is a a sign for the Muir Fire Department which is on the north side of East Church Street.

The above photo looks north from the cemetery.  The Grace United Methodist Church can been seen at the far right in the photo (brick tower).

This cemetery has five known Civil War veteran burials.  Two will be presented today and three will be presented tomorrow.

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CONRAD H. CASLOW (1837-1885)

Conrad H. Caslow is named on the Tower City Veterans’ Memorial as Conrad Caslow II.  It was erroneously mentioned in a prior post that he is buried in Fairview Cemetery.  He is buried in the Grace Cemetery as the stone pictured above indicates.  Conrad served in the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery from 24 September 1864 through 23 December 1864 when he was discharged by Special Order.  Prior to the war he lived in Juniata County but after the Civil War he is found in Tower City where he died in 1885 in Porter Township, Schuylkill County.  He was married to a woman named Ellen who successfully claimed a widow’s pension.

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JOSIAH HAND (1834-1903)

Josiah Hand, was a Private in the 173rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F.  He married a woman named Jane and was living in Porter Township in 1890.  The approximate birth year of 1833 that was mentioned in prior posts needs to be corrected to reflect the birth year on his grave marker – born in 1834 – and his death year of 1913 can now be added as indicated on the stone.

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Additional information is sought on these veterans and other veterans in the Civil War Research Project.  Comments can be added to this post or an e-mail can be sent to the project.  Of particular interest are pictures and stories.

Concludes tomorrow.

Category: Memorials, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Civil War Veteran Burials in Grace United Evangelical Cemetery, Muir (Part 1 of 2)
Tags: Cemetery, Muir, Porter Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 18, 2012

Part 7 of 7.  In a prior post, one branch of the Riegel family’s origins in America was presented – that of Mattheis Riegell (born about 1615) of Bad Muenster, Palatinate, Germany, who married Maria Werner.  They had a son, Jost Riegell (1615-1687) who married Maria Honen (or Hoenen).  Their son, Cornelius Riegel (1674-175) was the immigrant who arrived in Philadelphia in 1733, with his wife Anna Gertrude Ehrmann, and their family.  Two of the sons of Cornelius and Anna Gertrude had preceded the family by arriving in Philadelphia in 1732.

From Philadelphia, the members of this family migrated first to Berks County and later westward, with many of the descendants ending up in the Lykens Valley while others went to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa.

During the Civil War, more than 100 different men with the Riegel surname (or some variation of the name) served in Pennsylvania regiments.  Some of these men will be presented in this and future posts.  For many, the connection has already been made to the line of Matheis Riegel.  For others, very little is known.  It is hoped that readers will help complete the stories and genealogies of each of the men named Riegel.

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Continued from yesterday.  Today, the final group of men is presented, all of whom have links to the Riege/Riegel family line of Matheis Reigel.  Some have been previously presented here in a post entltled Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.

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Benjamin Riegle

Benjamin Riegle (1838-1862).  15th Iowa Infantry, Company B, Private.  Mustered into service on 6 November 1861.  Died of pneumonia at Winterset, Iowa, 12 May 1862.  Buried at Jefferson Goar Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa.  He was a 4th cousin to Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township and can be found in Dr. Samuel Riegel‘s history/genealogy on page 2-37.  Grave photo from Ancestry.com.

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Charles Riggle

Charles Riggle (1835-1924).  194th Ohio Infantry, Company F, Private.  A 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township and found on page 2-28 of the Dr. Samuel Riegel history/genealogy.  See prior post, click here.  Photo of grave marker is from Ancestry.com.

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Elias S. Riegel

Elias S. Riegel (1836-1918).  66th Illinois Sharpshooters, Corporal.  Married Catharine Cramer.  Buried Maple Grove Cemetery, Findlay, Hancock Co., Ohio.  Said to be a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  Photo of Elias is from Ancestry.com.

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Emanuel Riegel (1830-1912).  58th Ohio Infantry, Company D, Private and then Corporal.  Mustered into service on 2 November 1861.  Mustered out on Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability at Louisville, Kentucky, 28 September 1862.  According to the 1863 Draft Registration, he was discharged on “weak eyes.”  He was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township and is found in Dr. Samuel Riegle‘s history/genealogy on page 2-83.  See: Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.

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Gabriel C. Riegel

Gabriel C. Riegel (1841-1916).  He served in either the 154th Indiana Infantry or 155th Indiana Infantry, Company H, as a Private.  Mustered in on 13 April 1865 and mustered out at Winchester, Virginia, on 4 August 1865.  Married Amanda Melissa Brooks.  He was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  Found on page 2-91 of the Dr. Samuel Riegel history/genealogy.  Grave stone picture is from Ancestry.com.

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George W. Riegle

George W. Riegle (1833-1904).  172nd Ohio Infantry, Company I.  Mustered in on 14 May 1864 and mustered out at Gallipolis, Ohio, 3 September 1864.  Married Parthena A. Sheward.  He was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  See prior post:  Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.  The portrait is from a family tree on Ancestry.com.

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Jesse Riggle

Jesse Riggle (1839-1924).  Also found as Riegel.  51st Ohio Infantry, Company C.  Buried at Bakersville Cemetery, Coshocton County, Ohio.  See prior post:  Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.  A 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  See also Dr. Samuel Riegle history and genealogy, page 2-30.  The grave photo is from Ancestry.com.

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John W. Riegel (1836-1906).  Regiment and company unknown, but probably Ohio.  Married Jennie R. Boyd.  He was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township and is found on page 2-90 of Dr. Samuel Riegel‘s history/genealogy.

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Philip Andrew Riegle

Philip Andrew Riegle (1839-1909).  66th Illinois Infantry, Company H, Sergeant.  Married Marietta A. Wardwell.  Buried Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Hancock County, Ohio.  He was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  The photo of Philip is cropped from one found on Ancestry.com.

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Thomas Riggle (1841-1863).  Also known as Riegel and Toma Riggel.  122nd Ohio Infantry, Company G, Private.  4th cousin of Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  Buried at Antietam National Cemetery, Frederick County, Maryland.  See prior post:  Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.

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Washington Riegel

Washington Riegel (1844-1863).  7th Ohio Valley Sharpshooters, Independent Company.  He died at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  4th cousin to Harrison Riegle of Lykens Township.  See prior post:  Riegle Family Cousins in Ohio.  Buried at Castor Cemetery, Arlington, Hancock County, Ohio.  Photo credit:  Ancestry.com.

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While this concludes the listing of the men named Riegle with Pennsylvania connections, additional research could unearth additional names.  For example the following two husbands of women whose maiden names were Riegle could be included as could others with the same connections:

Jonathan Arbogast

Jonathan Arbogast (1841-1912).  3rd Pennsylvania Artillery, Battery D, Private.  Mustered into service on 11 November 1862 at Harrisburg and mustered out on 9 November 1865.  His residence was Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and he was married to Juliann Riegel who was a 4th cousin of Harrison Riegle.  Jonathan is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania.  Grave marker photo from Ancestry.com.

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Benjamin Kauterman (1821-1892).  184th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, Private.  Mustered in on 12 May 1864 and mustered out on 14 July 1865.  He was married to Lavina Riegel who was a brother of Civil War veteran Obediah J. Riegel.  Benjamin lived in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1850.  He is buried in Shamokin Cemetery, Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Found in Dr. Samuel Riegel’s history/genealogy on page 2-113.

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This concludes the 7 part series on Riegel Family Veterans of Pennsylvania Civil War Regiments.  For a list of all posts in this series, click here.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Lower Mahanoy Township, Lykens Townshio