CHAPTER XXIV
COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P.V.
Enlistment – Route to the Field – Services – Death of Captain Gillespie – Roll
This company was recruited during the months of August and September, in the counties of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, and Venango. It will be remembered that the Seventy-eighth regiment had been recruited in the same territory principally. The vigorous campaign for enlistment carried on by Captain Hosey, Captain Brinker, and Captain Laughlin, of whom we have written, had gathered in those most eager to enlist, before Captain Gillespie began to recruit his company. In fact Company C and Company E of the Seventy-eighth, had really gathered up the eager ones before any of the companies of the One Hundred and Third were begun – but the recruiting officers of that regiment worked away earnestly and patiently, and when Company B was mustered into the United State’s service at Camp Orr on the 24th of September, its ranks were overfull. It shared the vicissitudes of the regiment, being engaged in numerous battles, and suffering much from exposure and disease, and finally gave up the lives of many of its bravest and best men in filthy prison pens.
Captain Gillespie was killed at Fair Oaks. He expressed the belief when entering the fight that he would not come out, but would be killed. The company suffered little in battle after Fair Oaks. At Plymouth, N.C., about fifty men of the company were on duty, and all were captured April 20, 1864. Most of these were confined at Andersonville, and during their imprisonment and immediately after their release, more than twenty of this number died. The company was mustered out of service June 25, 1865, when not more than fifteen were present.
ROLL OF COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT.*
George W. Gillespie, captain, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Seven Pines.
Joseph Rodgers, captain, September 10, 1861, three years; promoted from first lieutenant June 5, 1862; resigned January 24, 1863.
Daniel L. Coe, captain, September 12, 1861, three years; promoted from second to first lieutenant January 5, 1862; to captain January 25, 1863; resigned November 9, 1863.
Solomon Barnhart, first lieutenant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant January 25, 1863; to first lieutenant July 1, 1863; resigned November 3, 1863.
George W. Stoke, second lieutenant, November 13, 1861, three years; transferred from Company D October 31, 1863; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
G.W. Swartzlander, first sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted from corporal February 7, 1862; commissioned second lieutenant July 16, 1863; not mustered; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864.
James Adams, first sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to captain Company K February 22, 1862.
William T. Bair, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to sergeant January 2, 1864; prisoner from May 6, 1864, to February 20, 1865; discharged by general order June 8, 1865; veteran.
Thomas Hart, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to sergeant January 2, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
C.M. Rumbaugh, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to corporal January 2, 1864; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 20, 1865; discharged by general order June 8, 1865; veteran.
Daniel L. Rankin, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; promoted to corporal January 2, 1864; to sergeant May 1, 1865; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
Sher’n M. Criswell, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Florence, S.C., November 10, 1864; veteran.
Cyrus K. McKee, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Charleston, S.C., December 7, 1864; veteran.
Robert M. Crawford, sergeant, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown; veteran.
George Waterson, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; promoted to corporal May 1, 1865; mustered out with company June 25, 1865; veteran.
Isaac Shakely, corporal, August 15, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; promoted to corporal May 1, 1865; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
James M. Carson, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
John S. McElhany, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order April 24 to date March 1, 1865.
Samuel J. Gibson, corporal, November 1, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20 to December 16, 1864; discharged by general order March 14, 1865, to date December 22, 1864.
Isaac Swartzlander, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died; buried in National Cemetery, Wilmington, grave 984.
James H. Crawford, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 7, 1864; grave 8117.
William Harrison, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Thomas Hayes, corporal, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to Fourth Regiment U.S. Artillery, date unknown.
Andrew Rodgers, musician, August 13, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
Harrison W. Coe, musician, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
Adams, Abram, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order March 28, to date March 1, 1865.
Abel, Augustus, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged September 23, 1864 – expiration of term.
Barr, Robert, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20 to December 11, 1864; discharged by general order March 2, 1865, to date December 17, 1864.
Benninger, Henry L., private, September, 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; veteran.
Bish, John B., private, September 24, 1861, three years; missing in action at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Burford, Reuben, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured; died at Andersonville, 1Ga., June 4, 1864.; grave 1601; veteran.
Beamer, Matthias C., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon’s certificate December 4, 1861.
Boyle, Owen, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon’s certificate December 4, 1861.
Brenneman, L.A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon’s certificate December 4, 1861.
Barnhart, Isaac, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged – expiration of term.
Brenneman, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20 to December 11, 1864; discharged by general order March 28, 1865, to date December 17, 1864.
Burford, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; deserted, date unknown.
Campbell, Alfred, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Crawford, John A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died September 8, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga.; grave 8117.
Coe, Benjamin F., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Craig, Alexander, private, October 12, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Cumberland, James, private, December 10, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Campbell, Joshua A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; deserted, date unknown.
Day, James, private, March 30, 1864, three years; mustered out with company June 25, 1865; veteran.
Dovenspeck, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
Devenny, Thomas J., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured; died December 17, 1864; veteran.
Dunlap, Alexander, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Philadelphia, Pa., October 24, 1862.
Deany, Barney, private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Erwin, John P., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to March 13, 1865; discharged by general order June 29, 1865; veteran.
Eminger, Michael C., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; veteran.
Frantz, Lorenzo W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Foster, John, private, August 25, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., August 28, 1864; grave 7097.
Gibson, Gideon W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out.
Granville, Samuel, private, November 13, 1863, three years; missing in action at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864.
Gibson, John A., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Gilchrist, Stewart, private, August 25, 1862, three years; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, date unknown.
Hayes, Hezekiah, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 186; discharged by general order April 5, to date March 1, 1865.
Hilliard, Peter, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out.
Hilliard, Jackson, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Haper, Robert, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., September 30, 1864, grave 10109; veteran.
Hankey, Ephraim, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died March 9, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D.C.
Hankey, John B., September 24, 1861, three years; captured; died at Salisbury, N.C., July 9, 1862.
Hayes, Robert, private, August 25, 1862, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Hile, Simon, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Hayes, John M., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to Fourth Regiment U.S. Artillery, date unknown.
Hile, John L., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; veteran.
Jordan, David W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., July, 1864; grave 2914; veteran.
Jackson, Alexander C., private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Jones, John M., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died, date unknown.
Judson, Andrew, private, November 1, 1861, three years; transferred to Fourth Regiment U.S. Artillery, date unknown.
Kennedy, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Kelley, Richard, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Keefer, William D., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to Company F December 31, 1863; veteran.
Lang, Aaron, private, August 25, 1862, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1862, to February 26, 1865; discharged by general order July 5, 1865.
Montgomery, H., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
McCay, Matthew J., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died June 24, 1864; veteran.
McCay, Joseph, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died January 3, or June 30, 1862, buried in National Cemetery, Yorktown, Va., section D, grave 257.
McClure, Harvey B., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; died March 15, 1865; buried in Camp Parole Hospital Cemetery, Annapolis, Md.; veteran.
McClure, Thos. L., private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Annapolis, Md., December 5, 1864; buried in U.S. General Hospital Cemetery; veteran.
McCleary, Robert, private, December 1, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
McCool, Wesley, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Newton, Joseph, private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Petzinger, Conrad, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, to December 10, 1864; discharged by general order June 12, 1865 veteran.
Penburthy, Wm., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
Payne, Orrin, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Pierce, William G., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Pool, Samuel, private, December 1, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Rumbaugh, Jos., private, August 25, 1862, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
Rankin, James, private, February 25, 1864, three years; mustered out with company July 25, 1865.
Reeser, Nehemiah, private, March 16, 1864, three years; mustered out with company July 25, 1865.
Rankin, Benjamin, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Reese, William, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Philadelphia, Pa., August 25, 1862.
Reese, Jacob, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died at Andersonville, Ga., August 17, 1864. Grave 5389.
Regus, Alexander, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Regus, Henry, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Robb, Hamilton, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Ritchey, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died at Andersonville, Ga., August 6, 1864. Grave 4844; veteran.
Ross, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died at Andersonville, Ga., August 12, 1864. Grave 5389; veteran.
Rosansteel, Sylv. G., private, September 24, 1861, three years; transferred to Company K February 1, 1863.
Sweet, John, private, March 16, 1864, three years; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
Sowers, John, private, April 14, 1864, three years; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
Sowers, Joseph, private, April 14, 1864, three years; mustered out with company June 25, 1865.
Sloan, Uriah, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order March 28, to date March 1, 1865.
Snyder, Abram, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, to December 10, 1864; discharged by general order March 15, 1865, to date December 16, 1864.
Smith, Albert W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to April 22, 1865; discharged by general order June 12, 1865.
Smith, Abram W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order April 28, to date March 1, 1865; veteran.
Shakely, Geo. W., private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order June 19 to date March 1, 1865; veteran.
Sweet, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; absent on furlough at muster out; veteran.
Shakely, Henry C., private, September 24, 1861, three years; killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Snow, Nicholas, private, September 24, 1861, three years; died at Annapolis, Md., March 11, 1865; buried in U.S. General Hospital Cemetery; veteran.
Sanderson, Sam’l S., private, September 24, 1861, three years; died, date unknown.
Shakely, Daniel K., private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Sherlock, Matthew, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured, died December 29, 1864; buried in Camp Parole Hospital Cemetery, Annapolis, Md.
Schields, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged – expiration of term
Sloan, Presley, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Sowers, Wiliam, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Scharem, John, private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864; veteran.
Truby, Charles M., private, September 24, 1864, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to February 24, 1865; discharged by general order June 9, 1865; veteran.
White, Michael, private, September 24, 1861, three years; prisoner from April 20, 1864, to March 18, 1865; discharged by general order May 8, to date March 18, 1865.
Woodruff, William D., private, September 24, 1861, three years; captured at Plymouth, N.C., April 20, 1864, died at Andersonville, Ga., July 16, 1864, grave 3384.
Walley, David, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged, date unknown.
Wolf, James, private, September 24, 1861, three years; discharged on surgeon’s certificate December 4, 1861.
Williams, Peters, private, August 25, 1862, three years; discharged, date unknown.
* Copied from Bates.
SOURCE: Page(s) 243-250, History of Clarion County, A.J. Davis, A.J.; Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. 1887