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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Gov. William Fisher Packer of Pennsylvania

| November 22, 2011

William Fisher Packer was the 14th governor of Pennsylvania.  He was a Democrat and served a full three-year term from 19 January 1858 through 15 January 1861, leaving office in the midst of the national crisis.  He was succeeded by Andrew Curtin, a Republican, who served two terms which encompassed the Civil War. Packer’s historical […]

Thanksgiving 1861 – Preparation

| November 18, 2011

THANKSGIVING — The Governors of twenty States have designated the day for the celebration of the annual Thanksgiving.  In Maine and Massachusetts the 21st inst., and in the following named States, Thursday the 28th inst. has been named as the day:  New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, […]

Death of George McClelland

| October 17, 2011

DEATH OF GEORGE McCLELLAND LYKENS — George McClelland of Wiconisco, after an illness of about five months, due to the infirmities of old age, died at his home in Wiconisco about 9:30 o’clock Wednesday morning.  The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock standard time, Rev. Frederick Geddy of the Wiconisco M. E. […]

Deserters – 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I

| October 14, 2011

The focus in the blog post today is on those men who were drafted into Company I of the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry and subsequently deserted.  To determine which men deserted, the roll of the company was examined.  Company rolls are found at the Pennsylvania Archives.  The roll of this company can be found on-line as […]

Disability – 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I – Part 1

| October 7, 2011

As previously reported on this blog, the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company I, was a drafted militia unit whose Captain was Benjamin J. Evitts of the Lykens Valley.  An examination of the roll of this company reveals an interesting, unexplained phenomenon.  Of the 98 draftees who reported to Camp Curtin near Harrisburg in the early days […]