Snyder County In The Civil War - By J.A. Lumbard

SNYDER COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR

By Hon. J. A. Lumbard

At the present time when the great war which is devastating the greater portion of the old world, the like of which has never been witnessed in any age or country, and which we most sincerely hope will never lie repeated as long as time shall be, our Civil War,” has lost much of its former brilliant anti heroic his­tory which it held in the annals of warfare, up to the breaking out of the great war now going on in Eu­rope. But the Civil War as far as the North is concerned will always lie looked upon by the Civilized Na­tions of the world, as having been fought for principle.

 Had the citi­zens of the North refused to take up arms after the Rebel hordes had fired upon Fort Sumter, Liberty and Free Government would forever have passed from the face of the earth. Ours was a battle for the right, while the desire of the German War Lord, is to make his Empire the pride and boast of the German People at the expense and to the detriment of England Belgium and France.

The history of Snyder ‘county in the Civil War is really the history of the National Government. There were but few battles fought front July 1861 to May 1865 that the sons of Snyder County were not represented in and held a prominent place in the engagements. 

Especial­ly is this true of the engagements fought between the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. 

The one notable exception is the battle of Bull Run. Snyder County's three months Soldiers were attached to Gen. Robert Patterson’s Division which win- in the vicinity of Winchester, Va., watching (ion. Johnstons command. Snyder County fur­nished hut 5 men for the 3 months services, Jereniah Snyder, Michael Smith, C. H. Snivley Emanuel Sas­saman, Oscar Houtz and B. F. house­worth. The last named deserted while the command, the 4th Pa. Vols. was lying at Cockeysville, Md. Co. “B,” 6th Reserves was re­cruited in Snyder and Union coun­ties. Chas. il. Roush of New Berlin, Union County, was selected as Captain, while Levi Epler and William Harding of Perry township, Snyder County were elected 1st and 2d Lts. respectively and 54 men out of the 115 men were from our County.

This company participated in the battle of Trainsville, Va. December 20th, 1 1861 , this was the first victory won by the troops of the Army of the Potomac. The 6th Regiment distinguished  itself by charging the Rebel Battery, driving it front Its position and capturing a eassion.

Co. “B” represented Snyder County in the battles of Groveton, or second Manassas. The 6th reserves with the remainder of the Division at rived on the ground on the 19th of August 1862, and was moved from posit ion to position. On the follow­ing day the regiment made a gallant charge under the direct command of Cen. John F. Reynolds’ their Di­vision Commander. This was the company’s first general battle and t hey did honor to their county and State.

The company distinguished itself at South Mountain, Antietam and lat­er at Fredericksburg, Va. Owing t.o the fact that the 5th was sent to Washington to recruit after Fred­ericksb mg it did not participate tn Chancellorsville. It took a prominent part in the battle of Gettysburg In charge of Crawford’s Division at the (ft on the evening of the 2nd, and

which closed the day’s hard fight-

112

Co. “B” participated in the bat­tles of the Wilderness, Spottsyivania, and especially distinguished itself In the tattle of Bethesda Church, where only about 150 strong It captured 110 Rebels belonging to Hills Corps, and buried 70 Rebels in its immediate front.

It was mustered out of services participated in the Red-River expedition under Gen. Banks ar.d after their return to the army of the l’otoirac distinguished them­selves in the hattles of Sailofs Creek and Fisher’s Etill.

The 49th Pennsylvania had attach-ed to it one full con pnny “I” from Snyder Co., and a number of mem­lers in several of the other Con.­panies. “I’ was commanded by Capt. Win. H. Eyers, 1st Lieutenants, Geo.

E.         Hackenterg and David A. Stahl.

The company was organized Mar. 4, 1864, the day President Lincoln was inaugureted President for his second term, for 3 years. Although this company was only requiied to serve one year and two months of its three year enlistment, it did lt's full share of hard fighting. Arriving

at the Rapidan May 4th, it crossed at Germanla Ford,and marched down the Plank Road, the enemy was soon met and Co “I” received Its first baptism of blood In the battle of the Wilderness. The regiment was fired Into at short range, at first It hatted but soon charged the works and captured them, it lay in them all night.

 June 14th, 1864. A number of its

4          members veterantzed & were annex­ed to the 191st P. V. I. May 14th,

1864 and served with that command

until the close of the war.

Win. Jarrett, Elias Page, Chas. C. Moyer and Benjamin D. Fry, enlist­ed in the 5th Reserves and repre­sented Snyder County in the bat-ties urder McClellan on the Penin­sula. The 6th Reserves was doing guard duty during the Peninsula cam­paign at White House Landing.

The 47th P. V. I., commanded by Col. J. P. S. Gobin had seven repre­sentatives from Snyder county. Dr. John Y. Shtndel was Asst. Surgeon of the Regin eat, ard four Beavers and two Ulrichs, were members of Co. “C” They On the 9th Gen. John Sedgwick, the lion-hearted Commander of the 6th Corps was killed while select­ing a posItion for his corps, to which the 49th was attached,

On the 10th the battle of Spott­sylvania Courthouse was fought. Sny­der County may well be proud of the record made by Co. “I” In this sanguinary engagem eat. The com­pany lost Its Captain, who then was Capt. Kephart, and 15 enlisted men and a large number of wounded, but owing to the closeness of the lines the majority of the Injured men were killed.

The next engagement was in that “Slaughter Pen” Cold Harbor where the men of Co. “I” acquitted them­selves with great gallantry.

Co “I’ participated in the battles of Sailors Creek and Winchester un­der Gen. Sheridan. Three men of the company, all Selins Grove men, Sergt. Henry Welpert, Corporal Chas. \V. Rhoades and Wm Bottdorf, were killed wIth one shell. They are buried in the National Cemetery at Winchester, Va. Snyder County was represented In several Companies of the 51st P. V I. It will be re­membered that it was the 51st Pennsylvania & the 151st New York Regiments who charged the Bridge (known as Burnslde’s Bridge) at An­tietam. Another Important service that this command performed was In the Port Royal Expedition. It also

served under Burnsides In the Siege of Knoxville, Tenn., in 1863.

A numher of Snyder County men were members of Co. D. 52d P. V.

I. They participated in the Battles on the Peninsula.

In December 1862 a force of three Brigades was ordered to report to Major General Foster in North Carolina. A terrible storm overtook the expedition off of Cape Hatter¬as, In which the Monitor was sunk. The 52d arrived at Port Royal, S. C., In February. They participated in the siege and Capture of Fort Wagner.

December 10th, 1864 the Snyder county men re-enlisted and were giv¬en a 30 day furlough. At the expira¬tion the men were again sent to the Department of the South.

On the night of July 3, 1864 the 52d P. V. 1., and the 127th N. Y., attempted the capture of Fort Wag¬ner, they were to be re-inforced by troops from John’s and James’ Island under Gen. Foster. The 52d charg¬ed Fort Johnson, scaling the parapet, not being properly supported, the en¬tire assaulting column was killed or captured. 100 men were taken to An(lersonville among them were Franklin Jarrett and David Trutt who spent eight months in Anderson¬vi lie.

The 52d took possession of Fort Hunter upon the evacuation of its garrison on 18th of February, 1865 The same command made its way to Charlestown, under Major Hen-messy und received the surrender of Cha rle st on.

Nine Snyder Countians were mem¬bers of Co. "F” 56th P. V. I., this Regiment has the distinct ion of opening the Infantry fire in the bat tie of Gettysburg and also being present at the surrender of Lee at Appomiat tox.

A company, “D” and part of Com¬pany “C” served in the 74th P. V. 1., from this county, from March 9th

1865 to July 5th. 1865. Served in the Shenandoah Valley but never were in an engagement.

Co. “D” ‘76th P. V. I. partly re¬cruitecl in Snyder County, was mus¬tered into service, Sept. 30th 1861, serving until the close of the war. ThIs company served its time in the South, its first engagement was the assault on Fort Poloski, Tybee Is¬land near SavanrFah which surrend¬ered April 11th, 1862.

July 11th, 1863, the command made a daring assault upon Fort Wagner which although not successful, was (ought with great gallantry, the regi¬inent. suffered a loss of 187 killed and wounded.

On the 18th of July another as¬sault, was made by the 76th and 54th Massachussetts, the first Colored Regirrent raised In a Free state, Gen. Strong, conitnanding the troops was killed as was Col.Shaw, the Col¬onel of the 54th Massachussetta.

The 76th served in the Army of the James from May 1864 to Decem¬her 1864, when it was returned to Beaufort, S. C. Here it partici¬pated in the assault and capture of Fort Fisher.

Co. “D” 78th RegIment had 10 Snyder C’ountians in its membership. The Company was mustered into ser¬vice Mar. 1865 and discharged Sept. 1865, after a service of 6 months.

The 92 regiment, 9th Penna. Ca¬valry, Co”D”of this Command num¬1 (‘red 9 Snyder count.ians among Its t en bership. The Regiment was or¬iginally commanded by CoT. E. C. W illiams who after the War resided In Snyder County and is buried in Chapn an twp. This Oompany saw hard service and was present at the surrender of Gen. Johnson at Dur¬ham Station, N. C.

The 1.12th PennsylvanIa, ( Second heavy Artillery) had a membership of 13 men from Sn yder Co. Much ot their time was served in Forts. In the spring of 1865 in went to the front. in the Army of Potomac.

Co. “F” 131st p. v. L, was re¬cruited a full company in our roun— ty, and was organized August 18th 1S62 and left for the front soon after organization. It was officered by Snyder County men, George \V. Ry¬an, Captain; at Ryan’s death, he 1)eing killed at Fredericksburg, Lew¬is Miller was made Captain, Frank¬lin Keller 1st Lieuiemiant, Jeremiah Snyder 26 Lieut. On the resigna¬tion of Lt. Snyder, M. L. \Vagen-seller was promoted 2d Lieutenant,

The regiment, was attached to Al¬lahach’s Brigade, Humphrey’s Divis¬ion, 5th Corps, commanded by Gen. Geo. G. Meade, It participated in the battle of Fredericksburg. being in hat memorable charge at Marye's Height, where it is claimed for it. that it reached the advance line of the Union charge. It lost in this disasterous charge, Its Captain, anti 7 enlisted men, wounded 11 The com¬pa ny also participated in the bat--¬lie of Chancellorsvlhle. Its term of service having expired it was mus¬tel-cd out of service May 226, 1863.

Dr. B. F. \Vagenseller was the first physician from Snyder County to offer his services, He was n us¬tered into the 139th Regt. Asst Surgeon Sept. Ill h 1 862 and served during the War as Asst t Surgeon of this Regt ent and the 1 ?? h P. V. I and Surgeon of tile 2O1st P. V. I.

Co. “G” I 47th P. V. I., was mus¬tered into service for 3 years at the most trying time of the Rebellion I.ee had d live?) McC!e!Ian from the Peninsula, Pope had been defeated at Groveton, Va., and Lee had start-

ed on his invasion of Md. Co. “G”be¬ing sworn into service Sept I 5t h 1862 two days before the battle of Antietam was fought.

It was attached to the 1st Brig. 2d Division, 12th Co F. and remained m this command up to the time the 20th Corps was formed and command Ed by Gen. Joe Hooker, in 1 864 al¬ways being attached to the 1st Brig.

and 2d Div.

The first battle in which Co. °G’’ participated was the ill fated battle of C hancellorsville, and we would add here that of tile 22 engagements i:i which time company participated in it was the only bat tIe in which our army was defeated, a record that is -not excelled and possibly not equa I led by any comma nd in t lie Uni on Army.

In the battle of Gettysburg, the Co. took part in the repulse of Gen. Johnsons Division at Gulp’s Hill, In which Gen. Jnhnson's Divi¬sion lost n-ore men in killed and wounded than (lid Gen. Pickett’s Di-vision in its charge at the Bloody Angle. From here the Company was transferred to the Arm y of tne CUm berland Participating I the batt !c of Lookout. Mt., Missionary Ridge, pea Vine Creek and Ringo's fur tattles in four days. in the last named battle is Captain CHas S. Davis was killed and Licut. B. ‘F. Pas ks seriously wounded.

In 1 864 it par icpated in all tye ba ttles the 20th Corps participated in from Chattanoga to the siege and Cap tire of Atla nt a, wit h he 20th Corps it was among the first troops to enter Savannah and Atlanta.

The Command participated in the march from Atlanta tt. the Sea and will, Gen. Gears’s Division was a¬long the first to enter Savannah af¬ter is capture.