MILITARY HISTORY
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION, WAR OF 1812 AND MEXICAN WAR - FOREST COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR - FIRST COMPANY ORGANIZED - EIGHTYTHIRD REGIMENT, P.V.I. - THIRTY-NINTH, P.V.I. - FORTIETH, P.V.I. - ONE HUXDRED AND FIFTIETH, P.V.I. - ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD, P.V.I. - ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH, P.V.I. - SOLDIERS GRAVES IN FOREST COUNTY - MISCELLANEOUS
FOREST COUNTY can boast of having among its pioneers men who fought through the Revolution to establish liberty for all time in this part or the world. It can also boast of pioneer citizens who went forth from their cabin homes here to defend that new system or government when it was threatened by the old enemy in 1812. Many of the veterans find mention in the chapter devoted to pioneers, and there also two soldiers or the Mexican war are named.
William Hunter, who died in January, 1879, came from Westmoreland county with his father, Poland Hunter, in 1798. He was then four years old, and his sister (later Mrs. Dustin) was younger. They were brought hither, suspended in pack-saddle shape, in blankets. The father built a cabin on Hunter's Island that year. In 1812 William's elder brothers started for the war, but the youth overtook them at Titusville, where Col. Titus made him a pair of moccasins to cover his bruised feet. He and David built the Hunter mill, the first between Franklin and Warren. In 1865 he moved to Erie county.
Early in 1861 a military company was formally organized here. Later, when Lincoln called for 300,000 men, steps were taken to complete organization, and D. S. Knox was chosen captain, with George Stowe and D. W. Clark, lieutenants. On August 19, 1861, the company received a flag from the women of Tionesta, and next morning embarked on White's flatboat sixty-six strong. On the morning of the 21st the command was received at Irvinetown, and proceeded to Erie. On learning that eighty-one men were required to complete the strength, Capt. Knox returned to Tionesta, enlisted twenty-one men, and pushed forward to Erie, where he arrived September 5. A few days later twelve men of the disbanded Youngsville company joined Company G, of the Eighty-third, and on September 16, the command left Erie, under the title "Tionesta Rangers."
EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Erie in 1$61, and before the close of the year won an enviable fame. Subsequently at Big Bethel, siege of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Antietam, service with Meagher's famous brigade, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Manassas Gap, Rappahannock depot, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Bethesda, Peeble's farm, Hatcher's Run, and at a hundred other places this command was in the thickest of the fight. Capt. Daniel S. Knox, enrolled at Tionesta, August 19, 1861, was commissioned captain September 6, that year and resigned December 30, 1862, when George Stowe* was commissioned captain; he served until killed at Laurel Hill. He entered the command August 19, and nine day's later was commissioned first lieutenant. Moses G. Corey, promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant August 30, and to first lieutenant, December 31, 1862, took Capt. Stowe's place May 9, 1864, and served until end of term September 26, 1864. Thomas J. Van Geisen, mustered in with company, was wounded at Malvern Hill, was promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant in December, 1862, and to first lieutenant May 9, 1864. He was wounded at Petersburg, June 20, 1864, but served until end of term. John Herrington, * one of the original company, promoted to second lieutenant July 16, 1862, was killed at Bull Run. Benjamin A. Smith, * promoted second lieutenant in May, 1864, and commissioned captain of Company E, in the new organization of October 31, 1864, was killed at Hatcher's Run, February 6, 1865. Daniel W. Clark, commissioned second lieutenant September 6, 1861, promoted first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster July 16, 1862 served until muster out in September, 1864.
The troops discharged September 7, 1864, at expiration of term were sergeants James P. Siggins, wounded at Hanover Court House; Levi Burford, wounded at Malvern Hill and again at Laurel Hill; John H. Van Geisen* was wounded at Gaines' Mills, and again at Laurel Hill, where he was taken prisoner and carried to Confederate prison to die. Corporals - Sam. D. Girt, died after the war; Jacob D. Saeger, wounded five times at Gettysburg and three times at Laurel Hill; William Lawrence, at Gaines' Mills and Gettysburg, and John T. Watson, at the Wilderness. Private troops - William Albaugh, Lewis S. Carpenter, Samuel Hoyt, * James D. Kerr, Jacob B. Leadum, H. K. Lyons, E. M. Reynolds, W. S. Siggins, Charles C. Van Geisen, Philip Walters* and William Webber, escaped wounds; James A. Dustin, was wounded at the Wilderness; G. W. Fry, at Gettysburg; Moses B. Hunter and G. S. Mason, at Gaines' Mills, where he was also taken prisoner; Sam. C. Hunter and J. D. McClatchy, at Laurel Hill; A. J. McCalmont, at Hanover Court House and Laurel Hill; John Myers and J. D. Nellis, at Gettysburg; Ephraim T. Purdy-and James.A. Thompson, at Fredericksburg; Joseph R. Wentworth, prisoner at Mine Run, died of fever in Andersonville.
Among the troops discharged on account of wounds prior to expiration of service were the following named: W. W. Diamond, wounded at Malvern Hill; James L. Huddleson at Bull Run; Ben. F. Briggs, at Hanover Court House; John L. Crutchlow and William Lyons, at Bull Run and Malvern Hill; Thomas H. Crutchlow, at Fredericksburg; John C. Downing,·at Gaines' Mills; Robert W. Davis, at Malvern Hill; William Houge, G. W. McCalmont and Chris Syndle, also at Malvern Hill.
The troops discharged for disability prior to end of term were Hiram Arters, 1863; Sergt. Alex. Holeman, Hamilton Mason,1863; W. B. Albaugh,* Sam Dram, 1862; H. L. Green,* 1863; Wm. Ikenburg, 1861; Adam Ikenburg, 1863; James M. Lombring, 1863; Chauncey McCrea, W. W. McDonald, 1863; Robert Osgood,* 1862; James S. Reynolds, Daniel Rustler, Geo. Stewart, J. H. Wentworth, Nick Weant, and Charles Sigler, 1863, and Josiah Stanford, 1861.
The veterans who re-enlisted, December 26, 1863, were Sergt. Peter Grace, wounded and taken prisoner at Gaines' Mills, wounded at Fredericksburg, promoted second lieutenant of Company E, new organization, first lieutenant. December 28, 1864, made prisoner at Laurel Hill, retaken by Sheridan's cavalry and promoted captain, February 17, 1865; Andrew J. :Mitchell, wounded at North Anna; M. F. Vogus, wounded at Fredericksburg and twice at Laurel Hill; Israel Gibbs, wounded and taken prisoner at Laurel Hill; John Jolly, wounded at Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg. Laurel Hill and Peeble's farm; C. Krotzer, wounded and taken prisoner at the Wilderness; W. W. Lowrie, killed at Laurel Hill; H. W. McCalmont, wounded at Gaines' Mills, killed at the Wilderness; G. D. Paddock, wounded at Laurel Hill, died in Harewood Hospital; Joseph C. Pettigrew, wounded at Peeble's farm; John S. Range,* at Gettysburg; Wilson F. Wentworth, wounded at Fredericksburg, killed at Laurel Hill, Daniel Stroup and Ben P. Baskin.
The record of troops transferred to Company E, new organization, were Jonathan Albaugh, wounded at Chancellorsville; J. H. Berlin, at Laurel Hill, and made prisoner; John M. Brombaugh, wounded at Laurel Hill, also Walter Dickson, Lewis Eaton, Stephen D. Hunt, Darius Kelly, Carlos Reynolds :and Jay Smith; Joseph Dickson was wounded there and killed at Peeble's farm, where John Culbertson was also killed; Geo. Barroff, John Dougherty, Chas. A. Hill, Henderson Rogers, Homer Towner and William Young were wounded at the Wilderness; Rinaldo Eaton, wounded at Hatcher's Run; Joseph R. Goheen, James Hunter and Thomas J. Whitmore at Bull Run, and Silas McCalmont, at Gaines' Mills.
The transferred troops mustered out without wounds were C. H. Albaugh, J. Amy, Thomas Collins, S. Chriswell, Samuel Gillespie, John Gordon, Geo. Huddleson, J. M. Knox, Perry Lard, J. H. Mater, D. McKay, F. Millett, G. McNutt, J. Nuss. Lieut. James C. Percival, James Purdy, L. H. Russ, James Robison, John G. Root, James Swailes, Jacob Fisher. Isaac W. Siggins, H. Sweet, H. C. Smith, Thomas Strong, J. Toner, and Fletcher Watson.
The members of Company G, not enumerated above, who were killed on the field or died of wounds or disease. are named as follows: James M. Bromley and Arch. Bromley, killed at Bull Run; Eli Berlin, killed at Gettysburg; Robert C. Baskin, Francis Eaton and Jacob Host, killed at Laurel Hill, and Otis C. Montross, died of wounds received there; James Davis and John Ross, killed at the Wilderness; W. S. Dawson and J. H. Kerr, died of disease at Hall's Hill; John M. Bromley, at Elmira, N. Y.; Leisure A. Hooks, John F. Kinsler, killed at Malvern Hill; Samuel Henderson, died of wounds received there; Thomas R. B. Plowman, was killed by the kick of a mule; Jacob T. Schriver, died in 1862 of wounds received at Hanover Court House; Andrew J. Seager and Amos M. Whisner were killed at Gaines' Mills; Levi Turner, under sentence of death for desertion, died in May, 1864; Robert W. McCane, died at Pt. Lookout, September 20, 1862, and John N. Heath, July 29,1862; G. C. Johnson died of disease July 19, 1862. The records show twelve deserters from this company.
De Witt B. Waldo, who enlisted in Company B, also John L. Barnes, Nathan Burdick, Dan. K. Best, wounded at Fredericksburg, Gottfrey Snyder, G. P. Seiple and Michaell Murphy, who was killed at Gettysburg, Eugene Randolph, of Company D, wounded at Bull Run, H. J. Green, wounded and made prisoner at Laurel Hill, and John Rhodes were members of this company.
* Deceased
THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT. P. V. I.
Company E, Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry (or Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve), was mustered into State service, May 1, 1861, and into the United States army, July 5, 1861, with James B. Knox, captain; to which office Val. Phipps was promoted August 15, 1862, succeeding Knox, J. B. Agnew being :first lieutenant. Among the non-commissioned officers and privates were J. J. Greenewalt, William Morgan, A. Spence and Daniel Black, who were mustered out; Joshua B. .Agnew and Samuel Agnew were transferred to the One Hundred and Ninetieth Regiment, in May, 1864; Matthew Black died of wounds received at Gaines' Mills; Sebastian Cook and James K. Clark were discharged on account of wounds, in 1862. There were five members of the Agnew family who served in Pennsylvania regiments.
FORTIETH REGIMENT, P. V. I.
Company K, Fortieth Pennsylvania Infantry, was mustered in June 7, 18th, under Capt. Brady, who was killed at South Mountain, in 1862; Lemuel D. Dobbs. Daniel L. Swarts, Elijah Bish and Solomon Fitzgerald served in this command, and also C. Galbraith, who died in Andersonville.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT, P. V. I.
Company H, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment, was commanded by J. W. H. Reisinger.
In Company I, of this command, were Francis A. Magee; John Agnew, Sr., discharged on surgeon's certificate, and John F. Gaul, who became lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Pennsylvania Reserves.
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. I.
Company A, of the One Hundred and Third P. V. I., claimed G. W. Paup, the date of whose discharge is unknown. Company H, Andrew J. Maze, who was reported to have died in Andersonville, is a resident of this county; W. E. Gray and L. R. Warner, who were captured at Plymouth; Ephraim Furree, date of discharge unknown; Hiram Irwin, made prisoner, discharged in 1864; Benj. Irwin, died at Beaufort, N. C.; Hezekiah Irwin, who died of wounds at Fair Oaks; Perry Irwin, missing in September, 1863; Joseph R. Landis and John H. Maze, transferred to the Veteran Reserves. There were seven brothers of the Irwin family in Pennsylvania regiments.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT, P. V. I.
Company B, of the One Hundred and Fifth P. V. I., was commanded by John C. Dowling, who was killed at Fair Oaks. Among the troops were Judson J. Parsons, William Fox, Hiram Wing, C. P. King, John Love, J. Schreckengost and George W. Saxton. Joseph Titus died in Andersonville, and Joseph Williams was killed at Fair Oaks.
SOLDIERS' GRAVES IN FOREST COUNTY.
The following is a roll of the dead soldiers buried in this county as nearly as can be gotten at present:
At Tionesta - Capt. George Stowe, Company G, 83d Penn. Vols.; James. Thompson, Company G, 83d Penn. Vols.; Philip Walters, Company G, 83d Penn. Vols.; Peter O. Conver, sergeant, 4th Penn. Cav.; D. McClintock, 74th N. Y. Vols.; Lieut. O. W. Stadeen, 116th N. Y. Vols.; Maj. Mulkins, 69th Penn. Vols.; Jacob Zents, Company F, 163d Penn. Vols.
In other parts of the county are James G. Huddleson, in Mount Zion·Cemetery; J. S. Range, Company G, 83d, at Church Hill; Charles Zeigler, at Whig Hill; Robert Osgood, Company B, 82d Penn., at Whig Hill; Andrew McDonald, at North Pinegrove; Elliott Walker, at Neillsburg; Fred. Glassner, in Bartholomew cemetery; Peter Sipple, in. Bartholomew cemetery; at Tionesta lie Lieut. John Range, a soldier of the Revolution, Amstetter's regiment, Washington's army, and other veterans of 1776-81 and 1812-15. Nicholas Thompson is buried at Tionesta, and Abner Kinney is also interred in this county.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Capt. James Zohnizer, who served in Company I, Fifty-first Penn. Reg., from Neillsburg, died in 1889 .... Thomas Black was wounded during the war, and after returning was killed by the limb of a tree. He served in the Sixty-third Infantry.
Thomas Porter was in Company H, Thirty-seventh P. V. I.; three of his brothers - Henry, David and George also served, the latter two dying; Barney Martin was in Company F, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves; R. B. Crawford was in the Fourth Cavalry.
Early in June, 1863, J. B. Agnew was on detached service, and from the 7th to the 15th was in charge of ordnance train under special order of Gen. Meade. Although discharged without rank, he filled a commissioned officer's place for over a year, and by special orders took a leading place on detached service.
There was a board of pension examiners appointed in Tionesta, Penn., on the 23d of August, 1889, and Dr. J. W. Morrow, of Tionesta, Penn., is a member of that board. The board is organized as follows: President, Dr. S. S. Towler, of Marienville, Penn.; secretary, Dr. J. W. Morrow; treasurer, Dr. J. B. Siggins, of Tionesta, Penn.
Source: Page(s) 874-878, History of Counties of McKean, Elk and Forest, Pennsylvania.
Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co., 1890.
Transcribed November 2005 by Nathan Zipfel for the Forest County Genealogy Project
Published 2005 by the Forest County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project"
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