Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 30, 2011

The All Wars Memorial in Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, is located on the south side Main Street in Wiconisco, near Calvary United Methodist Church and the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The centerpiece of the memorial is a large marble marker on which is inscribed the dedication:

In Memory of the Men and Women of Wiconisco Township Who Served in Their Country’s Wars.

Forever Honored.

Forever Mourned.

To each side of the large marker are two smaller markers noting the names of the wars:

Dedicated to All Who Served.  Revolutionary War.  War of 1812.  Civil War.  World War I.

Dedicated to All Who Served.  World War II.  Korea.  Vietnam.  Desert Storm.

A bronze star and G.A.R. flag holder give special note to those who served in the Civil War.

Category: Memorials | Comments Off on Wiconisco All Wars Memorial
Tags: G.A.R., Monument, Wiconisco, Wiconisco Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 29, 2011

(Part 53 of an ongoing series on the Battle of Gettysburg).  Around the base of the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg are a series of plaques which, by regiment and company, note the names of every soldier who was present at the Battle of Gettysburg.  This post will present the plaque recognizing the men who served in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry.  By clicking on the plaque it should enlarge so the names can be more clearly read.  Following the plaque is a list of the men who have thus far been identified as eligible for inclusion in this Civil War Research Project who, it is believed, served for a time in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry .  Not all the names may appear on the Pennsylvania Memorial plaques.  If a name does not appear, it could be that the soldier did serve in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry, but was not part of the regiment during its days at Gettysburg – or it could mean that the soldier was erroneous included in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry list.  There could also be errors on the plaque.  Readers are invited to submit comments about any names appearing below, or on the plaque, especially if they believe the soldier was from the Lykens Valley area and should be included in this study.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Men from the Lykens Valley area who probably served in the 71st Pennsylvania Infantry :

Note:  At the present time, no veterans from the Lykens Valley area have been identified in this regiment.  Since research is still being conducted to determine the Civil War regiments in which many of the Lykens Valley area veterans served, it is possible that some names will be added in the future.  Research is on-going and corrections and additions are always welcome.  Readers are invited to submit comments about any veteran found on this plaque, whether or not they have a connection to the Lykens Valley area.  Click here for map.

Information for this post was taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  A separate digital file is kept on each soldier who is included in the list of veterans.  Information is sought on any men from the Lykens Valley area who were soldiers or sailors during the Civil War.

Category: Memorials | 1 Comment »
Tags: Monument

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 28, 2011

(Part 52 of an ongoing series on the Battle of Gettysburg).  Around the base of the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg are a series of plaques which, by regiment and company, note the names of every soldier who was present at the Battle of Gettysburg.  This post will present the plaque recognizing the men who served in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  By clicking on the plaque it should enlarge so the names can be more clearly read.  Following the plaque is a list of the men who have thus far been identified as eligible for inclusion in this Civil War Research Project who, it is believed, served for a time in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry .  Not all the names may appear on the Pennsylvania Memorial plaques.  If a name does not appear, it could be that the soldier did serve in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, but was not part of the regiment during its days at Gettysburg – or it could mean that the soldier was erroneous included in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry list.  There could also be errors on the plaque.  Readers are invited to submit comments about any names appearing below, or on the plaque, especially if they believe the soldier was from the Lykens Valley area and should be included in this study.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Men from the Lykens Valley area who probably served in the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry:

George W. Hayes

Information for this post was taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  A separate digital file is kept on each of the above-named men.  Information is sought on any men from the Lykens Valley area who were soldiers or sailors during the Civil War.

Category: Memorials | 1 Comment »
Tags: Monument

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 27, 2011

Farewell addresses to regiments as they were mustered out of service were almost always printed in the newspapers.  The one given by J. K. Robison of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry was read by the Adjutant Samuel E. Cormany on a Wednesday evening in late June 1865.  The address is provided here along with a list of those members of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry from the Lykens Valley area who have thus far been identified for this Civil War Research Project.  Not all the men listed were present to hear the address.  For example, Henry Lauinger died in Libby Prison in 1864, and Isaac Kebaugh, died of typhoid in a hospital in Georgetown on 1862.

Samuel  E. Cormany

The following is a copy of an address by Brevet Colonel J. K. Robison, of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, upon the occasion of the old members of the regiment being mustered out of service.  The address was read to the regiment on dress parade on Wednesday evening, by Adjutant Samuel E. Cormany: –

HEAD-QUARTERS SIXTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, LYNCHBURG, Va., 14 June 1865.  Officers and Men of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry: – The time has come for us to part; our work is done; and armed enemy no longer remains to defy us; all our long fatiguing marches and hard fighting, and watching for the enemy by night and day are past; the glorious Stars and Stripes now proudly wave in all the States of the old Union.  For two years I have had the honor of being your commander, and I would not be doing myself or you justice, without giving expression to my feelings.  Many thanks are due to both officers and men for their prompt obedience to all my orders, and my pride in you is ever increased, by the remembrance of your bravery and gallantry, as displayed on many bloody battle-field, when by your sides many a brave comrade fell.

The thought that the great Rebellion is ended is glorious; we do not realize it in its full purport; you who are about to leave us, may, as you are about to return to your homes, families, and friends, who have been eagerly watching and patiently waiting this many a day to welcome you again into the dear home circle.  Although I imagine you will be the more happy for getting to your homes, and becoming freed from military restraints, yet I am sorry to part with you; the endearments that existed between us is strong, and I have every reason to believe is mutual.  You have stood by me and our once beautiful, but now tatered colorss, through many campaigns.

When many things looked dark and gloomy, you were cheerful.  When orders were strict and exacting, you did not complain, and when fighting against odds, overwhelmed by superior numbers, and compelled to retreat, you evinced that praiseworthy characteristic of a good soldier, repulsed but not whipped, defeated but not conquered; and when, after many victorious engagements, the final struggle came, which proved such a complete victory to our arms and cause, you rejoiced not so much over the conquered foe, as over the crushing of that cause which threatened the existence of our beloved republic.  An now that we part, I feel sad and gloomy at the thought that I may never again see many of my “brave boys.” You are about to return to your homes and firesides to lead the lives of citizens.  Let me request, yes, even urge, that you be as good citizens as you have been good, brave and exemplary soldiers.

If any of you have acquired bad habits in camp life, resolve to break off at once, and show to the world that a good soldier can be a good citizen.  You may well be proud of the honors you have won while fighting for the perpetuation of the glorious Union, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”  I am sorry we cannot all go home together, but it is ordered otherwise, and it is the duty of every true soldier to obey cheerfully.

I now bid you good-bye.  May the kind Providence that has protected us thus far still shield us, and keep us, and prepare us for usefulness in this and a final happy home in a better world.

Yours truly (signed),

J. K. Robison, Brevet Colonel Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry

Samuel E. Cormany, Adjutant

Those men from the Lykens Valley area who have thus far been identified as part of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry are:

John Allman —- Riley Bressler —- Simon Brown —- William Challenger —- Edward Delaney —- Gabriel B. Derr —- Isaac Snowden Finton —- Charles Griner —- Daniel Hand —- James M. Hart —- Philip Hawk —- Josiah Heckard —- John F. Helt —- Michael M. Hoffman —- Isaac Kebaugh —- Hiram Kimmel —- George Kissinger —- Josiah Kocher —- Charles Kreiner —-George Krissinger —- Henry Lauinger —- William Lebo —- Josiah Lentz —- Gustavius Augusst Martin —- Daniel David Messner —- John Mucher —- George W. Myers —- William Owens —- Barnhardt Plotzer Sr. —- David John Reasoner —- Isaac H. Ressler —- John Sager —- David H. Shaffer —- John H. Spangler —- Casper Tschopp —- Elias B. Tschopp —- Benjamin B. Umberger —- William W. Wallace —- Benevelll Welker —- Daniel Wert —- Nathaniel Woland —- Frederick Yentch —- John Youndt —- Levi Zerbe

The news article from the Philadelphia Inquirer is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.  Information for this post was also taken from the files of the Civil War Research Project.  A separate digital file is kept on each of the above-named men.  Information is sought on any men from the Lykens Valley area who were soldiers or sailors during the Civil War.

Excerpts from the Diary of Samuel Cormany can be found by clicking here.

Category: Research, Stories | 7 Comments »
Tags: Regiments

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on July 26, 2011

The Williamstown–Williams Township Historical Society is located at 115 W. Market Street, Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Within the building are many collections related to local churches, schools, military, sports, and family history.  The historical society also includes Wiconisco and Tower City, the two neighboring communities which have a similar past.  One of the centerpieces of the society is its Coal Mine Museum which focuses on the history and operations of the world’s largest anthracite producing coal colliery. Coal mining was a significant economic activity in the area at the time of the Civil War and for several generations after.

The Civil War Sesquicentennial has offered new challenges as society officers and members work to discover as much as possible about the men who served in military units who had some connection to Williamstown or Williams Township – and to find out more about their military records, to locate their graves in local cemeteries and elsewhere, to seek out genealogical information about them and their families, and to develop displays and programs related to the Civil War.  To accomplish this the officers have already set up a museum display of Civil War-related items and invited a re-enactor to give a talk.  In addition, they are working cooperatively with the Gratz Historical Society to share information as it is discovered.

Pictures of some of the Civil War items on display are shown below:

Interpretation of the Civil War items on display is given to all visitors to the society museum.

One of the central aims of the Williamstown-Williams Township Historical Society is to identify all the veterans who have had some Williamstown or Williams Township connection.  A portrait of Capt. Richard Budd (1832-1904) hangs in one of the historical society’s museum galleries.  Richard Budd was the Captain of Company K of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry and served from  23 September 1861 through 31 August 1863 when he was discharged on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.  Richard Budd  was born in Ireland and came to America around 1840 with his parents.  He worked as a teamster and a coal miner.  The Budd family was active in the establishment of the first Catholic Church in the area of Upper Dauphin County.  Originally, Richard Budd was buried in Old Catholic Cemetery.  In 1985, a full military ceremony was given as he was re-interred in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery in Williamstown.  The documents relating to his re-interment can be obtained either through the Williamstown-Williams Township Historical Society or the Civil War Research Project.

Several months ago, a post on this blog featured Capt. Richard  Budd:  Capt. Richard Budd – 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.

A recently discovered, interesting story relating to the descendants of both Richard Budd and another Civil War veteran Harrison Riegle can be told here now.  Harrison Riegle (1840-1899) was a Civil War soldier who served in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G.  Harrison Riegle was a staunch Lutheran and a coal miner who lived on the northern side of the mountain in Lykens Township.  Harrison’s son Charles Riegle was killed in a mine accident in 1913 and four small children survived him including Lucy Riegle who was only six at the time.  In the 1920s, Lucy, who was raised Lutheran on the northern side of the mountain, met William Budd (the grandson of Capt. Richard Budd) who was raised Catholic on the southern side of the mountain.  In 1929, they married and Lucy became a Catholic.  It must have been quite difficult for the families at the time because the Ku Klux Klan was active in Upper Dauphin County and was specifically opposed to Catholics and immigrants who were seen on the northern side as “coming in taking jobs in the mines.”  Lucy lived out her life with her husband William Budd in Williamstown.  William first worked as a laborer in the mines, but the mines closed in the early 1930.  He then had a career as a civilian employee at Olmstead Air Force Base.  Both Lucy and William remained active in Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Williamstown.  Ironically, the grandchildren of two Civil War veterans who fought to preserve the Union had to take part in another north-south struggle over a marriage-union more than 50 years after the Civil War. The documents of the re-interment of Capt. Richard Budd clearly show Lucy’s involvement in the process to move his remains as well as the ceremony itself and are available at either the Williamstown-Williams Township Historical Society or the Gratz Historical Society.  One of the documents was posted on this blog in February.

Capt. Richard Budd (1832-1904)

The leader of the society and the Williamstown–Williams Township Civil War Project is Janice Culton.  Janice can be reached at the society e-mail address – click here to send a message.  The society also has a developing web site.  Hours that the museum is open vary, so e-mail ahead of your visit to insure that the museum will be open.

This post is the first of a series to show what other historical societies in the Lykens Valley area are doing to recognize the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

Category: Museums, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Williamstown-Williams Township Historical Society Civil War Exhibit & Project
Tags: Budd family, Cemeteries, Lykens Township, Regiments, Riegle family, Tower City, Wiconisco, Williams Township, Williamstown