Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 23, 2011

In two previous posts, the Election of 1860 was discussed in relation to determining how the Lykens Valley area voted.  The importance of that election was made clear:

The election of 1860 was held throughout the United States on 6 November 1860.  The result was that Abraham Lincoln won a majority of the electoral votes and thus was elected President of the United States.  His election supposedly was the trigger that brought about the secession crisis.  South Carolina voted to secede from the Union on 20 December 1860.

In the first post, entitled Election of 1860 and the Lykens Valley the state voting totals were given and there was an analysis of the simplified way in which the results were presented in textbooks.  In the simple analysis, voting totals were not disaggregated beyond the total for each state and thus it was impossible to determine how specific areas within a state voted.  Generalizations such as “Lincoln won Pennsylvania by a majority” were simply inadequate for our study of the Lykens Valley area and this Civil War Research Project.  In the second post, the Election of 1860 – A Second Look, an attempt was made to determine how specific counties voted in the election.  That post reported on several secondary sources and how they attempted to present county data for the election.  While examining the county data as presented, it was discovered that confusing, if not incorrect information, was given by those secondary sources. Therefore, an attempt to find the original material upon which those county results were obtained continued.  In this third look at the Election of 1860, I will report on an analysis of the Pennsylvania results by county and then give the actual vote totals within the three counties – from a printed source available on the election that was published in 1955.  Keep in mind that at best, we are working with full county information for Dauphin County, Schuylkill County, and Northumberland County, and there still has not been a source of information located which breaks down those totals within a county in any way that give us a clue how the very southern part of Northumberland County, the western part of Schuylkill County, and the northern part of Dauphin County expressed their views in this critical election.

In his book Lincoln for President:  An Unlikely Candidate, An Audacious Strategy, and the Victory Nobody Saw Coming (2009), Bruce Chadwick, describes the election results as they came in by telegram on election night with mention of specific counties.  I have edited quotations by ellipses to focus on those important parts for our Civil War Research Project:

From Philadelphia, early: “returns already received indicate a majority for Lincoln in this city….”

From Allegheny, later:  “Allegheny Co., Pa.  Ten thousand majority for Republican candidate…”

In Pennsylvania, hard work paid off again.  Breckinridge did well in some counties, but the Republicans surprisingly won over in a dozen southern border counties along the Mason-Dixon Line.  In some, their gains over 1856 were startling, such as in Mifflin, where they went from 216 votes to 1,701, and York, where the tally leaped from 411 to 5,126, and in Centre, where the vote jumped from 390 to 3,021.  The iron counties, where Lincoln’s support for the protective tariff was deemed so important, went solidly for Lincoln, some by landslides (he won two-thirds of the vote in Susquehanna, 60 per cent in Lycoming, and 63 percent in Schuylkill).  He doubled the Republican vote from 1856.

The crucial southern border counties of Adams, Cambria, Clarion, Cumberland, Fayette, Westmoreland, Wyoming, Northampton, and Northumberland followed the surge.  Eight of the nine switched and went for Lincoln, cutting off any possibility of a Breckinridge tide there.  Lincoln swept through Pittsburgh with a three-to-one margin and beat Breckinridge in Philadelphia by 39,223 to 21,619, an increase from the Republican total of just 7,993 four years earlier.

The Republicans had three times their 1856 vote in Cambria County as in the iron belt, seven times the vote in Blair, three times the vote in Cumberland.  By the end of the night, Lincoln had piled up a startling 89,159 plurality in Pennsylvania, nearly doubling Fremont’s 1856 total and carrying 56.3 percent of the vote to 37.5 percent for Breckinridge.

Two of the counties in our study are mentioned in the Chadwick analysis:  Schuylkill and Northumberland.  Nothing is mentioned of Dauphin County.  The issue of the “iron counties” and Lincoln’s views on the protective tariff is introduced as a reason for the high vote totals for Lincoln.  That issue needs further examination, as does the view that the candidate’s positions on the extension of slavery into the territories played or did not play an important role in how Pennsylvanians voted – something not included the Chadwick analysis of the Pennsylvania returns.

Two of the paragraphs of Bruce Chadwick give footnote references. These references are to the same book by W. D. Burnham, Presidential Ballots, 1836-1892, published by Johns Hopkins Press in 1955.  A copy was found deep in the closed stacks of the Central Library of Philadelphia.

The first table presented below shows the winning party for each of the three counties in our Civil War Research Project area of study.  It was already established that in the Election of 1860, the Republican Party (Lincoln) won in the three Pennsylvania counties indicated.  This information is found on page 71 of Burnham’s book.  What had not been established or discussed was that the wartime election of 1864, which pitted Abraham Lincoln against his former Gen. George McClellan, that McClellan defeated Lincoln in two of the three counties of our study.

The next table gives the actual vote totals for the parties in both the Election of 1860 and the Election of 1864.

A few words about the tables, the information for which is taken from page 710 of Burnham.  Burnham’s totals were constructed from a source called the Tribune Almanac, published in 1861.  That volume has not yet been located.   Second, the votes for Stephen Douglas in the Election of 1860 were reported in “Other Party 1”, not in the Democratic Party.  Finally, county results in Pennsylvania and Ohio for the election of 1864, included voting that took place in Pennsylvania military regiments (in some states, the results were reported separate from the county totals).

Several immediate conclusions can be drawn from this data.  The number of people voting in Schuylkill County in each of the elections was more than those voting in Dauphin County and Northumberland County combined.  McClellan in 1864 received more votes (total) in the three counties than did Lincoln – and considering that many more people voted in 1864 than in 1860, Lincoln did not significantly increase his total vote in 1864 over his total vote in 1860.  Something happened between 1860 and 1864 that caused a shift in the voting patterns from Lincoln in 1860 to McClellan in 1864 – particularly in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties.  How voters who were in the military cast their ballots in 1864 would be a very important point in analyzing the shift in voting patterns between 1860 and 1864.  Was it war weariness?  Was it a shift in war aims from “Union” to “emancipation?”  Why didn’t the shift occur in Dauphin County?

Caution must be exercised in analyzing these results too finely because we need to have a way to disaggregate the data so we can more fully understand how the portion of the three counties voted, rather than the way the whole county voted.  Thus, the study of the Election of 1860 continues.  In future posts on this election, we will try to analyze some specific voting patterns by ethnicity or other social/economic factors.  Our search for specific results from townships, villages and boroughs continues.  We may have to settle on anecdotal evidence if statistical evidence is not available.  Hopefully, we will be able to discover both statistical reports and anecdotal evidence to enrich our understanding of this important election.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources | Comments Off on Election of 1860 – A Further Look at the Totals by Counties
Tags: Abraham Lincoln

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 22, 2011

For the 200th Anniversary of Klingerstown, Pennsylvania, a Bicentennial Book Committee was formed and the result was a professionally produced commemoration of its history, Klingerstown Bicentennial Album, 1807-2007.  A large section of that book pertained to the Civil War and the soldiers who served from Klingerstown area.  Several interesting stories were told by Norman R. “Dick” Rothermel and they were reproduced in the Bicentennial Album. Dick is a Civil War historian and has a large library of Civil War books and has read and studied extensively about the war, but more importantly he has collected stories about the men who fought and he willing shares them – also, he is related to many of them!

This post will focus on one story he told about Pvt. Daniel Harrison Carl (1844-1911) of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Dick Rothermel’s grandfather.

Like Gideon Wolf, Daniel Carl also served in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as did many boys from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  Daniel’s name is also found as “Danial” in the records.

Daniel Carl had the privilege of seeing Gen. Lee surrender at Appomattox Court House where Gen. Lee and Gen. Grant signed “unconditional surrender,” 9 Apr 1865.  Daniel got to see this great event only after participating in the Battle of Petersburg.  After forcing the rebel army out of Petersburg, the Union soldiers were instructed to stay and occupy the town.  Along with a few of his headstrong buddies, Daniel decided to follow the Confederate army.  After they got out of Petersburg, they lightened their load of everything that slow them down on the journey.  Some days they marched 30 miles on foot.  They threw away most of their army issues keeping only their guns, gunpowder and bullets.  Traveling west from Petersburg a distance of about 100 miles, they were able to see the great Gen. Lee surrender at the McLean Farm House near Appomattox Court House.

How likely is it that several soldiers from the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry were able to leave their units in Petersburg and travel west about 100 miles and witness the surrender?

To begin with, a battle map of Virginia in 1865 is shown below.  The Battle of Petersburg took place on 2 April 1865.

To travel that distance at that time meant that the men would have mad to move through an area where the final battles and skirmishes of the Civil War were taking place:  Note the location of Petersburg, and then follow the route west.  2 April 1865, Sutherland Station;  3 April 1865, Namozine Creek; 5 April 1865, Amelia Springs; 6 April 1865, Sayler’s creek; 6 April 1865, Rice’s Station; 6 – 7 April 1865, High Bridge; 8 April 1865, Appomattox Station; and finally, 9 April 1865, Appomattox Court House.  Click here for source of map.

It is possible that this could have been done, if the battles were not intense.

Next, it will be necessary to see if the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry was stationed in Petersburg after its capture on 2 April 1865.  From the Union Army, Volume I:

At Petersburg it [the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry] was in support of the troops that made the assault after the mine explosion; joined in the engagement at the Weldon railroad, and in the final assault on the city, 2 April 1865. About the middle of April it  proceeded to Washington and remained there until 30 June 1865, when it was ordered to Gettysburg to represent the infantry of the Union army at the corner stone ceremonies of the National Monument, 4 July 1865, and returned to camp at Georgetown, where it was mustered out on 31 July 1865.

According to the history, the regiment did make the final assault on the city and apparently remained there until the middle of April.  Therefore, if the regiment was on guard duty, and men were assigned in shifts, it is possible that some of the men were given rest or even leave until mid-March.

Finally, we can look at the general military information about Daniel Carl to see if he was reported missing during the first part of April.  Daniel’s Pennsylvania Veterans Index Card is reproduced below:

The second item above is from Steve Maczuga’s Pennsylvania Civil War Project.  The muster dates are the same and there is no mention on either item of Daniel Carl missing, deserting, or leaving his regiment.

The most interesting thing though on the Pennsylvania Veterans Index Card is the date and place of enrollment – Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania – 30 January 1865 – the exact same date and place as Gideon Wolf.  In the post yesterday, it was mentioned that Gideon enrolled in Reading in order to avoid the Schuylkill County recruiters.  Was Daniel also avoiding the Schuylkill County recruiter at Pottsville?

In any event, the story of Daniel Carl has an element of truth to it in that the geography and time frame supports it and his regiment had no activity after Petersburg until mid-April.  Many stories like this are passed down in families.  Is the story true?  What do you think?

Below is a picture of Union troops around the McLean Farm House in April 1865.

Some information for this post, including the story about Daniel Carl‘s enlistment, was taken from the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album, 1807-2007.  Military record with regimental flag is a screen capture from Steve Maczuga’s Pennsylvania Civil War Project, which has previously reviewed here.  Pennsylvania Veterans Index Card is from the Pennsylvania Archives. The picture of the McLean Farm House is from Wikipedia and is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on Pvt. Daniel Carl – Norman R. Rothermel Recalls
Tags: Carl family, Klingerstown, Regiments, Wolf family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 21, 2011

For the 200th Anniversary of Klingerstown, Pennsylvania, a Bicentennial Book Committee was formed and the result was a professionally produced commemoration of its history, Klingerstown Bicentennial Album, 1807-2007.  A large section of that book pertained to the Civil War and the soldiers who served from Klingerstown area.  Several interesting stories were told by Norman R. “Dick” Rothermel and they were reproduced in the Bicentennial Album. Dick is a Civil War historian and has a large library of Civil War books and has read and studied extensively about the war, but more importantly he has collected stories about the men who fought and he willing shares them – also, he is related to many of them!

This post will focus on one story he told about Pvt. Gideon Wolf of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry.

Gideon Wolf was the youngest of three brothers who served in the Civil War.  His family lived on land just to the west of where Dick Rothermel‘s farm is located today.  Shortly after the war broke out, one of Gideon’s brothers enlisted and shortly afterward was killed.  Another brother fought in the Battle of Gettysburg.  So, when the mail arrived with a draft notice for Gideon, he and his family didn’t know what to do.  He and his family didn’t have the money to pay for a substitute and as he was the youngest son, he was needed to help support the family.  Gideon worked as a stable hand in carriage house at the Hepler Hotel.  His first thought was to wait out and see if the war would end, but it didn’t.

When Gideon Wolf didn’t report as required an army lieutenant came looking for him.  The word was that Gideon was hiding out in the Mahantongo Valley.  Gideon was to be arrested and brought in for service as was required by the law. The lieutenant appeared at the Hepler Hotel:

The lieutenant came into the Hepler Hotel wearing his army boots and spurs, and went to the bar.  “Where does Gideon Wolf live?”  Mr. Hepler replied that he did know of a Wolf family outside of Klingerstown.  To get there, he was told to go down the valley, around the bend, over the creek, toward the mountain.  The soldiers rode off on the long way around to the Wolf residence.  Mr. Hepler then went out to the carriage house and told Gideon, “For God sake, we have to get you out of here now, and get you signed up!”  Hepler then had Gideon hitch up the best horse to his carriage, and Hepler took Gideon to the Good Spring train station.  Gideon was put on a train for Reading, since he did not want to go to Pottsville, in order to avoid the army recruiter.

The lieutenant and his men did eventually find the Wolf residence and knocked loudly on the door.  Old Mrs. Wolf was too slow to open the door so the soldiers kicked it open.  In the years of the Civil War, men had been hanged for deserting their country.  They asked where Gideon was and of course his mother said, “He is not here!”  The angry lieutenant had his men use their rifle bayonets to punch closet doors and several large blanket chests.  Not finding Gideon, they returned to Pottsville.

Gideon did complete his enlistment at Reading, and went on to battle in Virginia and at the “Battle of the Wilderness” he was wounded.

Official records show that Gideon Wolf was mustered into service on 30 January 1865 at Reading, Pennsylvania. At the time, he was 25 years old, 5 foot, 6 inches tall, and had light complexion, brown hair and gray eyes.  His occupation was given as laborer.  The above card indicates that he was “absent wounded since 16 June 1865,” but other records indicate he was discharged by General Order on 11 July 1865.

The family connections of Gideon Wolf were not stated in the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album – other than the fact that Dick Rothermel‘s grandmother’s maiden name was Wolf, so Gideon may have been a brother of Dick’s grandmother.  Likewise the names of the two brothers of Gideon were not named, both of whom were Civil War veterans.  Other persons with the surname Wolf have been identified for this Civil War Research Project, but so far no one named Wolf who was killed in the war.

The Pension Index Card indicates that Gideon Wolf applied for an invalid pension in 1879 – when he was about 39 years old.

Gideon Wolf is buried in the Salem United Church of Christ (Hepler’s) Cemetery in Rough and Ready, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  More information is sought on Gideon Wolf and his brothers who were Civil War soldiers.  Readers are invite to contribute.

Some information for this post, including the story about Gideon Wolf’s enlistment, was taken from the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album, 1807-2007.  Military record with regimental flag is a screen capture from Steve Maczuga’s Pennsylvania Civil War Project, which has previously reviewed here.  Pennsylvania Veterans Index Card is from the Pennsylvania Archives. Pension Index Card is from Ancestry.com.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Hepler family, Klingerstown, Rothermel family, Rough and Ready, Wolf family

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 20, 2011

For the 200th Anniversary of Klingerstown, Pennsylvania, a Bicentennial Book Committee was formed and the result was a professionally produced commemoration of its history, Klingerstown Bicentennial Album, 1807-2007.  A large section of that book pertained to the Civil War and the soldiers who served from Klingerstown area.

The Klingerstown area includes parts of three counties – Schuylkill, Dauphin and Northumberland.  Klingerstown is located at a gap in the Mahantongo Mountain and has previously discussed in relation to the Civil War Research Project.

One section of the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album listed alphabetically all the Civil War soldiers who are buried in Klingerstown area cemeteries.

Another section listed the cemeteries and then indicated which Civil War soldiers were buried in that cemetery along with their company and regiment, their rank, and the date of the conclusion of their service (either muster out, discharge, or killed in action).  Where known, it is specified if the soldier was wounded or killed, where wounded or killed, and if known, the extent of the injuries.  From the analysis of other available cemetery lists from the area and other known information, it can be determined that not all the Civil War soldiers that are buried in a particular cemetery have been identified.  For example, the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album list for “Simeon – Gratz ” (Gratz Union Cemetery), the subject of a previous post,  does not list the names of several known Civil War veterans who are buried there.  The second problem with this list is that often the most accepted spelling of the soldier’s name is not used.  Finally, in some cases, the names of the cemeteries are what the locals refer to them as, rather than the official names by which they are now known or were historically known.  Thus St. Matthew’s in Lykens Township, which was previously discussed in a post about Find A Grave, is simply referred to as “Coleman’s Cemetery” with no other information given.  But the list in the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album is a good attempt to identify as many of the men as possible who served in the Civil War.  No list is “complete,” including the current “list” of more than 2000 men who have now been identified for this Civil War Research Project.  New names are being added every week.  Of course, the objective is to find out as much information as possible of each of them in addition to making a list of their names.

Reproduced below are alphabetical lists of those identified as being buried in each cemetery in the Klingerstown area – with the name of the cemetery, as given, in the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album.   For further information, the researcher will have to consult other sources – (1) the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album itself, which names the companies and regiments in which the men served in addition to other information; (2) printed, complete cemetery lists for each of the cemeteries, many of which are available at the Gratz Historical Society; (3) Find a Grave records on the cemeteries that are named; and (4) an actual trip to the cemetery itself to photograph the graves.

ST. MICHAEL’S CEMETERY [Klingerstown]

Elias Klinger — William Rothermel

ZION (KLINGER’S) CHURCH CEMETERY [Erdman]

Levi Crawford — Sinary Erdman — Joseph Herb — George Klinger — Jonas Klinger —Philip Klinger — Philip Koch — Joseph Lebo — Joseph Lohr — George Lubold — Emanuel Rabuck — Josiah Saltzer — Frederick S. Schwalm — Reuben Shade — William Shartel — Edward Wiest — Samuel B. Wiest — Henry Wentzel — Daniel Williard — John Williard

COLEMAN’S CEMETERY [Lykens Township]

Jacob Lettich — John Schwenk — Elijah Walborn — Simon Wolf

ST. LUKE’S CEMETERY [Malta]

William Alleman — James R. Hamilton — Andrew Hyte – Elias Keeboch —John Koppenheffer — Daniel D. Messner — Henry Moyer — Jacob Schroyer — Alexander Snyder — Isaac M. Spong — Michael D. Wertz

UNION CEMETERY [Pillow]

Percival Sausser — Joseph Heckart — Michael Messner — Samuel Klinger — William Williard

LECK KILL CEMETERY [Leck Kill]

G. W. Hornberger — Joel Kuppenheffer — Daniel Oxenrider — Jacob Oxenrider — John Oxenrider —Elias B. Tschopp

ST. LUKE’S U.C.C. CEMETERY [Malta]

Abraham L. Boyer — George Long — Peter Fetler — Reuben Meck

TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CEMETERY [location not given]

William Anderson — William H. Bingaman — William Witmer

ZION CEMETERY [Hickory Corners]

Solomon Bachman — William Bingman — William S. Bingman — Henry Heckard — Uriah Heckart — John S. Hollenbach — Henry H. Lentz — John radel — Levi C. Ressler — david Shaffer — Aaron Spotts — John Trego — Bennival Tschopp — Casper Tschopp — John Walborn — David Zerber

SACRAMENTO CEMETERY [Sacramento]

Benjamin Bixler — Edward Carl — George W. Harner — John Hoffman — Josiah Hoke — William R. Klinger — John R. Miller — Vintal Miller — John Schmeltzer — Jacob Shade — Edward Updegrove —John R. Updegrove — Samuel Wenrich

GRATZ UNION (SIMEON’S) CEMETERY [Gratz Borough]

Simon Bixler — Rudolph H. Dornheim — Abraham Dreibelis —Franklin Fidler — John Folk — John W. Fowler — Joseph D. Gise — John W. Hoffman — Jacob Kissinger — Jorias Kissinger — Josias Kissinger — Isaac Sitlinger — John C. Soltzer —Edward Thomas — George Tschubb — Josiah Umholtz

SALEM (HEPLER’S) U.C.C. CEMETERY [Rough and Ready]

Simon Brown — Daniel Carl — Elias B. Hartman — John H. Maurer — John Shadle — John Smith — Abraham F. Starr — Peter Starr — William Welker — Gideon Wolf

DAVID’S CHURCH CEMETERY [Hebe]

Adam Bohner — Joseph Bohner — William F. Bowman —Nathan Goodman — William Kambel — Samuel Schlegel — Elias T. Trautman — Daniel Troutman — William Troutman — Michael Welker — Jacob Wolfgang

ST. PETER’S CEMETERY [Red Cross]

Isaac O. Billman — John Culp — David Ferster — Elias Herber —George W. Hoerner — Perry Snyder

ST. PAUL’S U.C.C. CEMETERY [location not given]

William Engle — Elias Fagley — Benjamin Hallman — Andrew Herb —Joel R. Sparr — Henry Witmer — George Wolf — David Zerbe

HIMMEL’S CHURCH CEMETERY [location not given]

Daniel Cooper — Samuel G. Hetrick — Emanuel Kohres — Elias Latsha — Joseph rabuck — Jonathan Reed — Daniel K. Reigle

VALLEY VIEW CEMETERY [Valley View]

Israel Klinger — Jacob Laudenslager — John L. Malick — Amos Rumbarger — Jacob L. Wolfgang

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH CEMETERY [Valley View]

John Bixler — Joseph Clouser — Isaac Morgan Jr. — Israel Ney — Samuel Schwalm —Uriah Wenrich — John Wolfgang

Readers are invited to submit additional information about any Civil War veterans buried in any of the named cemeteries, any cemeteries within the Klingerstown area that are not listed, as well as the names of veterans not listed in the cemeteries.  Additional information about most of the Civil War veterans in the list is available in the Klingerstown Bicentennial Album.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources | 3 Comments »
Tags: Cemeteries, Erdman, Gratz Borough, Hebe, Hickory Corners, Klingerstown, Leck Kill, Lykens Township. Malta, Pillow, Rough and Ready, Sacramento, Valley View

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 18, 2011

(Part  12 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 57th 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 57th 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 57th 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 57th 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 57th Pennsylvania Infantry:

Henry A. Byerly — Joseph M. Enders — Jacob Geist — Lyman Peifer — Henry Sallade — Daniel Snyder

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 | 4 Comments »
Tags: Monument