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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Union Cemetery, Pillow (Part 2)

| June 1, 2012

Although Pillow is located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the Pillow Union Cemetery is actually located on the north side of the Mahantongo Creek, which places it in Jordan Township, Northumberland County.  To locate the cemetery, head east on Market Street from the central square of Pillow, cross the small bridge for the Mahantongo Creek, and […]

William Withers Jr. – Lincoln Assassination Witness

| May 26, 2012

On 14 April 1865, William Withers Jr., a musician, was the orchestra leader at Ford’s Theatre.  It was the night of the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln.  Withers claimed to be backstage at the time the shot was fired and during the escape of John Wilkes Booth, was cut by the assassin as he headed […]

George Zimmerman, Carpenter – 50th Pennsylvania Infantry

| May 25, 2012

The post today is a continuation of a study of the men who served in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry. George Zimmerman, a carpenter from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, joined the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Private on 27 February, 1864, according to some military records.  Some military records also indicate that George Zimmerman died […]

Story of the First Defenders as Told in 1935

| May 24, 2012

In the post yesterday, the story of the last reunion of the First Defenders was told.  That reunion was held in 1935 in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  One member of that group, which originally consisted of 530 veterans, was able to attend the reunion.  Only three were still alive.  Their combined ages totalled 286 years.  […]

The 1935 Reunion of the First Defenders

| May 23, 2012

The following article appeared in a local newspaper in 1935.  It described what was to be the last reunion of the First Defenders from Pennsylvania who answered the call in the first days after the attack on Fort Sumter.  Lt. William Irving, of Lykens, Dauphin County, who was one of only three survivors of that […]