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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Amanda B. Hepler – Widow of Isaac Hepler

| August 9, 2013

Many wives of Civil War veterans outlived their husbands by 20 or more years, and during their time as widows they collected government benefits as a result of their husband’s Civil War service.  Such was the case of Amanda Barbara [Harper] Hepler, whose husband Isaac Hepler died on 23 July 1918. When Mrs. Hepler died […]

John W. Hoffman – Teacher, Farmer, and Stockman of Gratz and Lykens Township

| January 12, 2013

John W. Hoffman had two enlistments during the Civil War.  In the first, he served as a Musician in Company D of the 127th Pennsylvania Infantry, and in the second, he was a Private in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G, serving on Roanoke Island, eventually being discharged at New Bern, North Carolina, 25 June […]

The Rambergers of Rough and Ready

| November 14, 2012

A recent book written by Steve E. Troutman and Jeanne J. Adams and published in July 2012 sheds new light on the struggles of a Civil War era family.  The Rambergers of Rough and Ready traces the history of one family who lived in Rough and Ready, Upper Mahantongo Township, Schuylkill County, from the pre-Civil […]

Most famous true slave narrative

| 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 […]

Tragedies in the Life of William H. Hawk

| July 3, 2012

William H. Hawk (1844-1912) lived through the tragic death of his mother and of his son in addition to honorably serving in the Civil War  in the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry and in the Veteran Reserve Corps.  The record shows that he he was wounded at Gettysburg on 1 July 1863 and at the Wilderness on […]