The 48th/150th: Captured At Peebles's Farm, Died In Salisbury Prison

Salisbury Prison, as depicted in this 1886 lithograph
(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)



150 years ago today, the 48th Pennsylvania lost 55 men in the Battle of Peebles's Farm. Four of these men were either killed or mortally wounded; eight others were wounded. The remaining 43 fell into Confederate hands as prisoners-of-war. Two years earlier, at the Battle of Second Manassas, 57 members of the regiment were captured but these men were soon after paroled, exchanged, and permitted to rejoin the ranks of the 48th. By 1864, however, the system of prisoner exchanges had broken down and now, these captured soldiers would be marched under armed guard to the rear, then placed aboard train cars for the long journey to a prisoner-of-war camp.  Most would be taken to Salisbury Prison, in Rowan County, North Carolina, an abandoned textile mill that had been converted into a prison. Designed to hold but 2,500 men, in early October, some 10,000 prisoners were packed and crammed into its sixteen acres, including most of the 48th Pennsylvania soldiers who had been captured at Peebles's Farm.  And it would be there where sixteen of these men would perish, victims, said regimental historian Joseph Gould, of "the inhuman treatment experienced by all Union prisoners in rebel prisons."

 

 

Corporal Michael Condron, Co. C
Died in Salisbury Prison, 11/30/1864
(John D. Hoptak Collection)

Underfed, undernourished and subjected to the overcrowded and filthy conditions, it would not takeJacob Hammer would be among the first of the 48th to die. Hammer, a native of Germany and a coal miner by profession, had entered the ranks of Company B, 48th PA, in late April 1864. He died less than seven months later, on November 12.  Private Charles Dintinger of Company C also lost his life in November, 1864, while confined in Salisbury. He, too, had just entered the ranks of the 48th several months earlier, though he was much younger than Hammer; just eighteen years of age. Corporal Michael Condron had been serving with the 48th since the regiment was first organized in the late summer of 1861, when at age twenty-two he became a member of Co. C. He stood 5'10" in height, had a Light Complexion, Blue Eyes, and Light Brown Hair; his occupation was listed as Laborer; his place of residence, like most others, Schuylkill County. Corporal Condron's life expired in Salisbury on November 30, 1864. Patrick Crowe was a nineteen-year-old red-headed laborer when he volunteered to serve in Company I, 48th Pennsylvania in March 1864. His confinement in Salisbury lasted six weeks; it ended with his death on November 19. Company F, of the 48th, would lose most of the men who perished within the walls of Salisbury. William Fulton, a thirty-nine-year old coal miner from Pottsville, died on February 12, 1865; Joseph Finley, born in Ireland in 1845, took up arms in defense of his native land and gave his life while serving it in January 1865.  Also lost from the ranks of Company F was eighteen-year-old William H. Kohler--a 5'2" hazel-eyed laborer from Pottsville--Elijah DeFrehn --a thirty-one-year-old, hazel-eyed laborer from Pottsville--and Private Michael Welsh, aged nineteen, who perished on February 2, 1865. Many of those who served in the 48th were of foreign birth, including many who gave their lives fighting in defense of the United States; several have already been mentioned. But also included among this number was nineteen-year-old Philip Heffron, a private in Company H, who had been born in Ireland but who, in April 1864, entered the ranks of the 48th. He died of starvation in Salisbury Prison, on November 25, 1864.  Edward Maginnes of Company E passed away a week before Heffron, on November 17. Maginnes was eighteen years of age when he volunteered in the spring of 1864; just a few months later, this young, 5'5" blue-eyed laborer was dead.  At 5'0" inches in height, Private Samuel Shollenberger was among the shortest soldiers in the regiment; no matter, though, for in February 1864, this eighteen-year-old carpenter volunteered to serve in Company A; he never returned back home, dying on January 16, 1865. 
long for Salisbury to claim its first victims. Thirty-six-year-old

All of these men, listed above, as having died while confined in Salisbury Prison were all, more than likely buried there in any one of the eighteen trenches that had been dug just southeast of the prison walls, each 240-feet in length. The dead were collected and buried rather unceremoniously there, without coffins, stacked one next to the other.

The Location of the Eighteen Trenches Were the Dead from Salisbury Were Buried
Today within the Salisbury National Cemetery
(http://salisburyprison.rowancounty.info/)

But there were four other soldiers of the 48th Pennsylvania--at least four other soldiers--who died from the effects of confinement shortly after their release. This included Privates Joshua Reed and Nicholas Gross of Company G. Reed had entered the regiment in February 1862 and since then had been wounded at 2nd Bull Run and at Petersburg in June 1864. Captured at Peebles's Farm and confined at Salisbury, this thirty-year-old laborer from Barry Township died at his home in the spring of 1865. Gross, a thirty-eight-year-old watchmaker from Prussia, succumbed to chronic diarrhea shortly after his release and was buried in the Annapolis National Cemetery. 1st Sergeant Henry Graeff was eighteen years old and a student when he volunteered to serve in Company D, 48th in the summer of 1861. Confined at Salisbury, Graeff died in his Pottsville home on March 29, 1865 and was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery there. And, finally, there was Private Lewis Sterner, who, in May 1864, became a soldier in the ranks of Company A, 48th Pennsylvania. The 5'7 1/2", Light-Complexioned, Grey-Eyed, Brown-Haired laborer was released from confinement at Salisbury and returned to his Tamaqua home. He died there on April 11, 1865. Upon his tombstone it is recorded that young, twenty-two-year-old Sterner died "of the treatment received while in rebel prison."

The Possible Grave of Private Joshua Reed
Company G, 48th in Lavelle, Schuylkill County
(from findagrave.com)

* * * * * * * * * *

      

The Grave of Private Lewis Sterner
Odd Fellows' Cemetery, Tamaqua
(from findagrave.com)

 

The 48th Pennsylvania & 2nd Bull Run: Part 6: Casualties

The 48th Pennsylvania suffered 155 casualties at the battle of 2nd Bull Run, including 42 men killed or mortally wounded.
The following is a comprehensive list of the 48th's casualties at 2nd Bull Run:

Killed in Action/Mortally Wounded {42}

1st Sergeant B. G. Otto (Co. A) MW Died October 15, 1862
Corporal John Brobst, (Co. A) MW Died 9/17/1862
Private John Leiser (Co. A) KIA
Private John Springer (Co. A) MW Died October 3, 1862
Private Lewis M. Reece (Co. B) KIA
Private Nicholas Shitehour (Co. B) MW Died January 1863
Sergeant Oliver C. Hatch: (Co. C) KIA
Private John Wiser (Co. C) KIA
Private Barney Gettley (Co. C) KIA
Private James Low (Co. C) MW Died October 30, 1862
Sergeant William Bambrick (Co. D) MW Died September 12, 1862
Corporal George Ramer (Co. D) MW Died September 6, 1862
Private George Hartz (Co. D) MW Died December 20, 1862
Private Charles Miller (Co. D) KIA
Private John Sullivan (Co. D) MW Died October 8, 1862
Sergeant Stafford Johnson (Co. E) MW
Corporal William Mackey (Co. E) KIA
Private John Baker (Co. E) KIA
Private James Farrell (Co. E) MW Died September 25, 1862
Private William Moose (Co. E) MW Died in Pottsville
Private Thomas Major (Co. E) MW Died October 31, 1862
Private Michael Brennan (Co. E) KIA
Private Hugh McFeely (Co. E) KIA
Private Simon (or Samuel) Moyer (Co. E) KIA
Corporal Henry Jenkins (Co. F) KIA
Corporal William Hopkins (Co. F) KIA
Private Thomas J. Thomas (Co. F) MW Died January 1864
Private John J. Morrison (CO. F) MW Died October 23, 1862
Private Peter Quinn (Co. F) KIA
Private Michael Killrain (Co. F) KIA
Private John Haggerty (Co. F) KIA
Private James Muldowney (Co. G) MW
Private William Smith (Co. G) MW Died September 14, 1862
Private John Farne (Co. G) MW Died November 8, 1862
Private William Nagle (Co. H) KIA
Private Paul White (Co. H) KIA
Sergeant Samuel Petit (Co. H) KIA
Sergeant Thomas Kelly (Co. H) KIA
Private Hesgian Link (Co. I) KIA
Private Charles F. Leiser (Co. I) KIA
Captain Henry A.M. Filbert (Co. K)
Sergeant Roland D. Filbert (Co. K) KIA
Corporal Patrick Handley (Co. K) MW Died October 25, 1862

Wounded {56}

Lieutenant John D. Bertolette (Acting Assistant Adjutant General)

Private George Albright (Co. A)

Private William Betz (Co. A)

Private Elias Britton (Co. A)
Private George Miller (Co. A)
Private Andrew Neely (Co. A)
Private Joel Marshall (Co. A)
Sergeant Thomas Johnson (Co. B)
Sergeant Jno. Bassler (Co. B)
Corporal Jacob Freshly (Co. B)
Private John Lucid (Co. B) ?
Thomas Whalen (Co. C) ?
Private Jonas Geiger (Co. C)
Private Solomon Strausser (Co. C)
Private Edward Brennan (Co. C)
Lieutenant Henry P. Owens (Co. D)
Private John W. Derr (Co. D)
Private Frank Dorward (Co. D)
Private Henry Gottschall (Co. D)
Private Philip Kantner (Co. D) ?
Private Peter C. Kreiger (Co. D)
Private David T. Kreiger (Co. D) ?
Sergeant J. H. Fisher (Co. E)
Fifer John Cameron (Co. E)
Private Michael Bohannon (Co. E)
Private James Berger, Sr. (Co. E) ?
Private James Berger, Jr. (Co. E) ?
Private Henry Lord (Co. E)
Private Abraham Kleckner (Co. E) ?
Private Robert Thompson (Co. E)
Corporal John Devine (Co. F)
Corporal George N. Douden (Co. F) ?
Private Stephen Taggart (Co. F)
Private John Powell (Co. F)
Private Thomas Lloyd (Co. F)
Private William Jenkins (Co. F) ?
Corporal Charles Evans (Co. G)
Private M. Berger (Co. G)
Private John Grace (Co. G)
Private Lewis Quinn (Co. G)
Private Joshua Reed (Co. G)
Private John Shaw (Co. G)
Private John Wonders (Co. G)
Private John Willingham (Co. G)
Private William Dreibelbeis (Co. H)
Private J.T. Wildermuth (Co. H)
Private George T. Eisenhuth (Co. H)
Private George W. Christian (Co. H)
Corporal Benjamin F. Kershner (Co. I)
Private Rudolph Rumble (Co. I)
Private Eli Fenstermaker (Co. K)
Private James Day (Co. K)
Private Milton Ludwig (Co. K)
Private James Cavanaugh (Co. K)
Private James Dullard (Co. K) ?
Private Joseph Burgess (Co. K)

Captured/Missing In Action {56}

Corporal John Taylor (Co. A)
Private Israel Britton (Co. A)
Private Henry Davis (Co. A)
Private William H. Koch (Co. A)
Private George Livingston (Co. A)
Private Daniel Leiser (Co. A)
Private Morgan Simon (Co. A) ?
Private F.W. Simon (Co. A)
Sergeant Philip Hughes (Co. B)
Private William Bradley (Co. B)
Private Henry Copeland (Co. B) ?
Private John Evans (Co. B)
Private Joseph Rahny (Co. B)
Private Samuel Stanley (Co. B) ?
Corporal John Roarty (Co. C)
Private Murt Brennan (Co. C)
Private John Jones (Co. C) ?
Private William Larkin (Co. C)
Corporal Leonard Shrishorn (Co. D) ?
Corporal Israel T. Vankannon (Co. D) ?
Corporal William Timmons (Co. D)
Private Mattis Bailey (Co. D)
Private Eli Derr (Co. D) ?
Private Isaiah Kline (Co. D)
Private Joseph Kuhns (Co. D)
Private Bodo Otto (Co. D)
Corporal D. McAllister (Co. E)
Private Alfred Barlow (Co. E)
Private Jefferson Canfield (Co. E) ?
Private James Greener (Co. E)
Private Joseph Lord (Co. E)
Private John McSorely (Co. E)
Private John Morrissey (Co. F)
Private Samuel Dunkerly (Co. F)
Private John Devine (Co. F)
Private Richard Littlehales (Co. F)
Private Thomas Lyshon (Co. F)
Lieutenant Henry Clay Jackson (Co. G)
Corporal Joel Betz (Co. G)
Sergeant Samuel Ruch (Co. H)
Corporal Thomas H. Sillyman (Co. H)
Private John Benedict (Co. H)
Private William Huber (Co. H)
Private Daniel Lauer (Co. H)
Private John W. Ray (Co. H)
Private Israel Schmehl (Co. H)
Sergeant Theodore Pletz (Co. I)
Private Christopher Seward (Co. I)
Corporal Thomas Brennan (Co. K) ?
Private David Boyer (Co. K)
Private W.D. Dress (Co. K)
Private Daniel Shaneley (Co. K) ?
Private W. Fenstermaker (Co. K) ?
Private Hiram Spears (Co. K) ?
Private William T. Reed (Co. K) ?
Private William Lavenberger (Co. K) ?

"Wasn't That A Splendid Charge?:" 154 Years Ago, The 48th's "Most Brilliant Engagement" Came At A Heavy Price: Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864.

Edwin Forbes Sketch of the 9th Corps's Attack at Petersburg, June 17, 1864

Sometime around 3:00 a.m. on the morning of June 17, in almost total darkness, Lt. Col. Henry Pleasants, commanding the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, made his way quietly along the prone soldiers of his regiment, informing each of the regiment's company commanders that they would soon be launching an attack. Over the past six weeks, the 48th had suffered appalling casualties as it fought its way across northern Virginia, seeing heavy action at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the North Anna, and most recently at Cold Harbor. The regiment had crossed the Rapidan on May 4 and the James just a few days earlier. Now, the city of Petersburg lay just ahead, defended by a series of rebel batteries and a labyrinthine maze of earthworks and entrenchments. The 48th would soon be attacking a section of those imposing fortifications.  Stirred awake from a restless night's slumbers, the soldiers readied themselves for the charge. As quietly as possible, though no doubt with their hearts racing during that early morning stillness, they removed all caps from their guns, secured their tin cups to prevent rattling, and fixed bayonets. They soon moved forward, quietly, out of their entrenchments and crossed a small creek just to the front. "After getting the whole regiment over," remembered Sergeant Robert Reid of Company G, "we silently formed line; then, in utter darkness, moved to the right about one hundred yards, when, in a whisper, the command forward was given," and, as regimental historian Oliver Bosbyshell later wrote, "the savage rush began."


The soldiers of the 48th swept across the open ground between the opposing lines; it was still dark and the only noise was that of hundreds of feet tramping down upon the dew-covered grass and dirt. Soon after the charge began, however, off to the right of the 48th's advancing line of battle, musket fire rang out, which drew an immediate response from the Confederate line. The darkness was suddenly illuminated with the flash of the Confederate rifles. Still, the soldiers of the 48th rushed on. "Directly into this fiery ribbon, belching its leaden hail through the ranks of the charging line, swept the Forty-Eighth," wrote Bosbyshell. Reid remembered that "We went at them squarely, right into their firing line. Not one of our regiment returned a shot until we reached their works, when there was a short, sharp contest, and the line was ours. I still remember how my heart beat when starting on the charge, but it was forgotten in the glorious rush of the fight."


Within just a matter of minutes, the 48th rushed up and over a section of the Confederate entrenchments, catching many of the still sleepy gray-clad soldiers unawares. Hundreds of them were very quickly captured. Amid the confusion, Irish-born Sergeant Patrick Monaghan of Company F noticed a few Confederate soldiers attempting to flee. He ran amongst them and demanded their surrender. Their hands went up and it was soon noted that one of these Confederate soldiers was attempting to retreat with the flag of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery, which had been captured the day before. Now the flag was back in Union hands; Monaghan of the 48th having re-captured it and later returned to the New York regiment. For this action, Monaghan would received a Medal of Honor.

Robert Reid of the 48th would also receive a Medal of Honor for his actions during this pre-dawn attack on June 17, 1864. Sweeping forward and rushing up and over the Confederate lines, Reid wrestled away the flag of the 44th Tennessee from its regimental color bearer, capturing those colors.

Wrote Bobsyshell: "How the heart beat, and the pulse throbbed during that onslaught! If fear or dread marked the supreme moment of the attack, it was banished completely in the glorious rush of the fight! What a harvest of prisoners--they were captured by the score, disarmed, and sent to the rear."



Robert Reid

Sergeant Patrick Monaghan



Yet as the skies continued to lighten another Confederate redan about 100 yards further south became visible. Confederate cannons posted there soon erupted into the flank and front of the 48th. Acting fast, Pleasants organized his men for yet another attack and "like a savage torrent" the 48th charged forward. "[T]he regiment fairly tore over those hundred yards and swept through the fort irresistibly. The enemy ran in great disorder by squads and singly to their left and rear." Two Confederate Napoleon cannons fell into the hands of the 48th which were safely hauled, by hand, to the rear.

Two cannons, two flags and two Medals of Honor, hundreds of prisoners and a good section of the Confederate line; it was a glorious victory for the 48th and for the Ninth Army Corps. All along Burnside's front, the morning attack had achieved much success. Even George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, would recognize the success of the Ninth Corps in a note to Burnside, sent on that June 17: "It affords me great satisfaction to congratulate you and your gallant corps on the assault this morning, knowing the wearied condition of your men from the night march over twenty-two miles, and the continual movement this last night; their persistence and success is highly creditable." Coming from Meade to Burnside these words were high praise, indeed.

For the actions of the 48th, Oliver Bosbyshell would later write that the attack on June 17, 1864, at Petersburg, "was probably, in all its results, the most brilliant engagement for the Forty-Eighth of any in which it participated. Praise is due to every officer, from Colonel Pleasants down, and to every many who was in this grand assault, for the splendid record the work here accomplished. .  . ."

Throughout the rest of the day on June 17 the Confederates made several attempts to regain their captured works, but each were turned back. A sometimes lively skirmish fire was kept up throughout the day. The next day, Burnside determined to strike once more, this time with his 1st and 3rd Division leading the way while the 2nd Division--which included the 48th--would advance behind in support. The fighting renewed once more in intensity on June 18 as the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac attempted to drive the Confederates from yet another line of earthworks and trenches very close to the city of Petersburg. Along the Ninth Corps front and though designated as a reserve, the soldiers of the 48th were once more brought to the front. They charged down a ravine and across a railroad cut and they made it closer to the Confederate line than any other Union force. Night settled in and off to their front rose Elliott's Salient, held by a brigade of South Carolina soldiers and the gunners of Richard Pegram's Virginia Battery.

One week later, on June 25, the soldiers of the 48th would begin to dig a mine underneath this portion of the Confederate line. . . .

The soldiers of the 48th were justly proud of their actions on the Seventeenth and Eighteenth of June; indeed, Bosbyshell later described the attacks on June 17 as the regiment's most brilliant action of the war. But the regiment paid a very heavy price.

During its attacks on June 17-18, the 48th Pennsylvania lost 19 men killed or mortally wounded, 42 men wounded, and 4 men missing/captured, for a total casualty count of 65.

Among those struck down with a mortal injury on that morning of June 17, 1864 was Lieutenant Curtis C. Pollock of Company G. Sweeping forward with the regiment, Pollock was shot in the shoulder and fell to the ground. Sergeant William Auman, also of Company G, rushed to Pollock's aid and helped the young twenty-two-year lieutenant to his feet. Though in considerable pain, said Auman, Pollock remained in good spirits. His first words to Auman: "Wasn't that a splendid charge?" Though he and others considered the wound non-fatal, Pollock succumbed to his injury one week later.



The others who fell that day--and during the next day's assaults--were. .  .


Killed/Mortally Wounded: (19)
Private Francis M. Stidham, Company A (MW6/18/1864; Died 7/10/1864)
Private Gilbert Graham, Company C (MW 6/18/1864; Died 4/1/1865)
Private John Major, Company E (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private William Rasons/Reysons, Company E (MY 6/17/1864; Died 6/24/1864)
Private James Reagan, Company E (MW 6/17/1864; Died 6/30/1864)
Private James Mercer, Company E (MW 6/17/1864; Died 5/21/1865)
Private Horace Straub, Company F (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Isaac Lewis, Company F (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Simon Devlin, Company F (KIA 6/18/1864)
Lieutenant Curtis C. Pollock, Company G (MW 6/17/1864; Died 6/23/1864)
Private Howard Jones, Company G (MW 6/17/1864; Died 7/13/1864)
Private George Morey, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Jefferson W. Beyerle, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private James Mulholland, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Anthony Gallagher, Company H  (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Thomas Davis, Company H (KIA 6/18/1864)
Lieutenant Joseph Edwards, Company I (MW 6/17/1864; Died 7/2/1864)
Private Nathan Rich, Company K (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Arthur Gray (KIA 6/18/1864)

Lieutenant Joseph Edwards, Co. I
Mortally Wounded, June 17
(Hoptak Collection)

Lt. Curtis C. Pollock, Company G

Mortally Wounded, June 17, 1864

(Hoptak Collection) 

Private Francis M. Stidham
Mortally Wounded, June 18, 1864
(Hoptak Collection)

Wounded: (42)
Private Elias Britton, Company A
Private John Holman, Company A
Private John McLean, Company A
Private John Cochran, Company A
Private William Huckey, Company A
Private John Shaffer, Company A
Private Joel Lins, Company A
Private Henry Schreyer, Company A
Private James W. Sterner, Company A
Private William Dreibelbeis, Company A
Private Joseph Dreibelbeis, Company A
Sergeant Robert Campbell, Company B
Corporal James Rider, Company B
Sergeant Henry Weiser, Company C
Lieutenant James K. Helms, Company D
Corporal Jacob Dietrich, Company D
Private Lewis Dietrich, Company D
Private Jacob D. Casper, Company D
Private Joseph Berlinger/Buddinger, Company D
Private Joseph Lindenmuth, Company D
Private Thomas Clemens, Company E
Private R.B. Thompson, Company E
Private Murt Brennan, Company F
Private Patrick Boran, Company F
Corporal Robert Wallace, Company F
Private Edward L. Shissler, Company F
Private Joshua Reed, Company G
Lieutenant David B. Brown, Company H
Private Charles Eberle, Company H
Private Lewis Aurand, Company H
Private Jonathan Dillet, Company H
Private Frank Ringer, Company I
Private William Kramer, Company I
Corporal Benjamin Williams, Company I
Private Christian Seward, Company I
Private Samuel DeFrehn, Company I
Private Jacob Reichwein, Company I
Private Charles Koch, Company I
Sergeant Thomas Irwin, Company K
Private John Gillinger, Company K
Private Oliver Schwartz, Company K
Private David Houser, Company K


Captured/Missing: (4)
Sergeant Andrew Wren, Company B
Private Jacob Wigner, Company B
Private Michael Lavell, Company F
Private William Auchenbach, Company F

Private Elias Britton, Co. A
Wounded
(Hoptak Collection)

Private John Cochran, Co. A
Wounded
(Hoptak Collection)

Lieutenant James K. Helms, Co. D
Severely Wounded
(Courtesy Patriotic Order Sons of America)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 1864:

 

Forty-Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.

Correspondence of the Inquirer.

Near Petersburg, Va., June 19, 1864.

I send herewith a corrected list of killed and wounded in the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, in a brilliant charge made by the First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, on the morning of the 17^th inst.

During the charge the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers recaptured the colors of the ---enth New York Regiment, of Second Corps, which had been captured by the enemy the day previously while on a charge. Also, the Rebel colors of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment. The Brigade took 1150 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The brigade commander, Colonel Curtin, nephew of the Governor, was wounded yesterday. The extent of his wounds I do not know; I hope not mortally; Captain Migel, of his Staff.

Company A—Elias Britten mortally in breast; John. . . slightly; John McLean, thigh; John Cochran leg, slightly; William Huckey, breast grazed; . . .John H. Shaffer, leg; Joel Lind, thigh.

Company B—Sergeant R Campbell, right breast, slight; Corporal James Rider, contusion by shell; Corporal A . . .missing; Jacob Wigner, missing.

Company C—Serg. H. Weiser, thigh, slightly

Company D—Lieut. JK Helms, right leg, severe; Corp Jacob Dietrich hand and hip, severe; L. Deitrich, both. . .severe; JD Casper, right leg, slight; Jos Bertolett breast, severe

Company E—John Major, killed; Wm. Raysons, back. . .Thos Clemens, arm and shoulder, severe; Jas. . .breast, severe; Jas. Mercer thigh severe; Chas. . .both legs, severe; Thos Hall foot, severe; RB . . .pon foot, severe

Company F—HF Straub, killed; Isaac Lewis, killed; Wurt Brennan, foot; Pat Boran, hand; Corporal Robert Wallace, right shoulder; EL Shistler, leg, slight; Mike Lavell, supposed wounded and missing; Wm Auchenbach, supposed wounded and missing

Company G—Lieut CC Pollock, right shoulder, severe; Howard Jones, groin, severe; Joshua Reed, right breast and face, severe

Company H—Lieut DB Brown, contusion by sent ball in right arm; Charles Eberlie, head; George W. Moray, killed; Jackson W. Byerley, Killed; James Mulholland, killed; Lewis Aurand, arm; Jonathan Fillet, foot; Anthony Gallagher, abdomen

Company I—Lieut Joseph Edwards, both hips and body, severely; Frank E. Ringer, wounded; Wm. Kramer, left foot, severe

Company K—Nathan Rich, killed; Sergeant Thomas Irwin, left leg, severe; John Gillinger, leg, slight; OIiver Schwartz hip, slight; David Houser, arm, slight

 

Killed and Wounded on the 18^th inst.

Company A—Henry Schreyer, in hand; Francis M. Stidham, severely in right shoulder; James W. Sterner, arm and grazed in breast; Wm. Dreibelbeis, slightly in leg; Jos. Dreibelebeis, left heel.

Company C—Gilbert Graham, side, slightly

Company D—Jos Lindemuth, leg, severe

Company F—Simon Devlin, killed

Company A—Thomas Davis, killed

Company I—Corporal Ben Williams, ankle, slightly; C. Seward forehead, slight; C.F. De Frehn, shoulder, severely; Joe Reichwein, left foot , slightly; C.R. Koch, knee, severely

Company K—Arthur Gray, killed.

Captain Lantz, of Fiftieth Pa Vols. was killed.

Colonel Christ, of Fiftieth Pa Vols was wounded. He commanded a brigade in the Third Division.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Purchase your copy of "Dear Ma:" The Civil War Letters of Curtis Clay Pollock, First Defender and First Lieutenant, 48th Pennsylvania Infantry by clicking here

The 48th/150th: Bloodletting at 2nd Bull Run: The Casualties

As we commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run, it is important to remember those who there gave their lives. For the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry, this would be their first major battle of the war; in terms of numbers lost, it would also prove to be their worst battle of the entire four-year conflict. While earlier posts provided a brief history of their actions there, this post presents a list of all those killed, wounded, captured, or missing.

 

48^th Pennsylvania Casualties

2nd Bull Run: August 29, 1862

Total Casualties=155

Killed in Action/Mortally Wounded {42}

1^st Sergeant B. G. Otto: Co. A. Mortally Wounded; Died October 15, 1862

Private John Leiser:Co. A. Killed
Private John Springer: Co. A. Mortally Wounded; Died October 3, 1862
Private Lewis M. Reece: Co. B. Killed
Private Nicholas Shitehour: Co. B. Mortally Wounded; Died January 1863
Sergeant Oliver C. Hatch: Co. C. Killed
Private John Wiser: Co. C. Killed
Private Barney Gettley: Co. C. Killed
Private James Low: Co. C. Mortally Wounded; Died October 30, 1862
Sergeant William Bambrick: Co. D. Mortally Wounded; Died September 12, 1862
Corporal George Ramer: Co. D. Mortally Wounded; Died September 6, 1862
Private George Hartz: Co. D. Mortally Wounded; Died December 20, 1862
Private Charles Miller: Co. D. Killed
Private John Sullivan: Co. D. Mortally Wounded; Died October 8, 1862
Sergeant Stafford Johnson: Co. E. Mortally Wounded
Corporal William Mackey: Co. E. Killed
Private John Baker: Co. E. Killed
Private James Farrell: Co. E; Mortally Wounded; Died September 25, 1862
Private William Moose: Co. E. Mortally Wounded; Died in Pottsville
Private Thomas Major: Co. E. Mortally Wounded; Died October 31, 1862
Private Michael Brennan: Co. E. Killed
Private Hugh McFeely: Co. E. Killed
Private Simon (or Samuel) Moyer: Co. E. Killed
Corporal Henry Jenkins: Co. F. Killed
Corporal William Hopkins: Co. F. Killed
Private Thomas J. Thomas: Co. F. Mortally Wounded; Died January 1864
Private John J. Morrison: CO. F. Mortally Wounded; Died October 23, 1862
Private Peter Quinn: Co. F. Killed
Private Michael Killrain: Co. F. Killed
Private John Haggerty: Co. F. Killed
Private James Muldowney: Co. G. Mortally Wounded
Private William Smith: Co. G. Mortally Wounded; Died September 14, 1862
Private John Farne: Co. G. Mortally Wounded; Died November 8, 1862
Private William Nagle: Co. H. Killed
Private Paul White: Co. H. Killed
Sergeant Samuel Petit: Co. H. Killed
Sergeant Thomas Kelly: Co. H. Killed
Private Hesgian Link: Co. I. Killed
Private Charles F. Leiser: Co. I. Killed
Captain Henry A.M. Filbert: Co. K. Killed 
Sergeant Roland D. Filbert: Co. K. Killed
Corporal Patrick Handley: Co. K. Mortally Wounded; Died October 25, 1862 

 

Wounded {56}

 

Lieutenant John D. Bertolette (Acting Assistant Adjutant General)
Private George Albright: Co. A
Private William Betz: Co. A
Private Elias Britton: Co. A
Private George Miller: Co. A
Private Andrew Neely:Co. A
Private Joel Marshall: Co. A
Sergeant Thomas Johnson: Co. B
Sergeant Jno. Bassler: Co. B
Corporal Jacob Freshly: Co. B
Private John Lucid: Co. B
Thomas Whalen: Co. C
Private Jonas Geiger: Co. C
Private Solomon Strausser: Co. C
Private Edward Brennan: Co. C
Lieutenant Henry P. Owens: Co. D
Private John W. Derr: Co. D
Private Frank Dorward: Co. D
Private Henry Gottschall: Co. D
Private Philip Kantner: Co. D
Private Peter C. Kreiger: Co. D
Private David T. Kreiger: Co. D
Sergeant J. H. Fisher: Co. E
Fifer John Cameron: Co. E
Private Michael Bohannon: Co. E
Private James Berger, Sr.: Co. E
Private James Berger, Jr.: Co. E
Private Henry Lord: Co. E
Private Abraham Kleckner: Co. E
Private Robert Thompson: Co. E
Corporal John Devine: Co. F
Corporal George N. Douden: Co. F
Private Stephen Taggart: Co. F
Private John Powell: Co. F
Private Thomas Lloyd: Co. F
Private William Jenkins: Co. F
Corporal Charles Evans: Co. G
Private M. Berger: Co. G
Private John Grace: Co. G
Private Lewis Quinn: Co. G
Private Joshua Reed: Co. G
Private John Shaw: Co. G
Private John Wonders: Co. G
Private John Willingham: Co. G
Private William Dreibelbeis: Co. H
Private J.T. Wildermuth: Co. H
Private George T. Eisenhuth: Co. H
Private George W. Christian: Co. H
Corporal Benjamin F. Kershner: Co. I
Private Rudolph Rumble: Co. I
Private Eli Fenstermaker: Co. K
Private James Day: Co. K
Private Milton Ludwig: Co. K
Private James Cavanaugh: Co. K
Private James Dullard: Co. K
Private Joseph Burgess: Co. K
 

Captured/Missing In Action {57}  

 

Corporal John Taylor: Co. A
Corporal John Brobst: Co. A
Private Israel Britton: Co. A
Private Henry Davis: Co. A
Private William H. Koch: Co. A
Private George Livingston: Co. A
Private Daniel Leiser: Co. A
Private Morgan Simon: Co. A
Private F.W. Simon: Co. A
Sergeant Philip Hughes: Co. B
Private William Bradley: Co. B
Private Henry Copeland: Co. B
Private John Evans: Co. B
Private Joseph Rahny: Co. B
Private Samuel Stanley: Co. B
Corporal John Roarty: Co. C
Private Murt Brennan: Co. C
Private John Jones: Co. C
Private William Larkin: Co. C
Corporal Leonard Shrishorn: Co. D
Corporal Israel T. Vankannon: Co. D
Corporal William Timmons: Co. D
Private Mattis Bailey: Co. D
Private Eli Derr: Co. D
Private Isaiah Kline: Co. D
Private Joseph Kuhns: Co. D
Private Bodo Otto: Co. D
Corporal D. McAllister: Co. E
Private Alfred Barlow: Co. E
Private Jefferson Canfield: Co. E
Private James Greener: Co. E
Private Joseph Lord: Co. E
Private John McSorely: Co. E
Private John Morrissey: Co. F
Private Samuel Dunkerly: Co. F
Private John Devine: Co. F
Private Richard Littlehales: Co. F
Private Thomas Lyshon: Co. F
Lieutenant Henry Clay Jackson: Co. G
Corporal Joel Betz: Co. G
Sergeant Samuel Ruch: Co. H
Corporal Thomas H. Sillyman: Co. H 
Private John Benedict: Co. H
Private William Huber: Co. H
Private Daniel Lauer: Co. H
Private John W. Ray: Co. H
Private Israel Schmehl: Co. H
Sergeant Theodore Pletz: Co. I
Private Christopher Seward: Co. I
Corporal Thomas Brennan: Co. K
Private David Boyer: Co. K
Private W.D. Dress: Co. K
Private Daniel Shaneley: Co. K
Private W. Fenstermaker: Co. K
Private Hiram Spears: Co. K
Private William T. Reed: Co. K
Private William Lavenberger: Co. K
 

Before The Crater: The 48th Pennsylvania at Petersburg: Part 3: Casualties

The past several posts have focused on the actions of the 48th Pennsylvania at the Battle(s) of Petersburg, fought in mid-June 1864. These actions have long been neglected, or overlooked, with the lionshare of attention on the Petersburg Campaign centering on the Battle of the Crater and even the April 2, 1865 assault, which led to the collapse of the Confederate line.

But the fighting that took place from June 15-18, 1864, as the armies arrived at Petersburg and settled into position was no less important. As mentioned several times in the previous two posts, the 48th Pennsylvania was heavily engaged in these actions, particularly on June 17, and suffered a high number of losses. Indeed, during the action on June 17-18, the 48th lost twenty men killed or mortally wounded, forty-one wounded, and four captured/missing.

Their names follow.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

48th Pennsylvania Casualties at the Battle of Petersburg
[All casualties lost on June 17, 1864, unless otherwise stated]

Killed/Mortally Wounded (20)

John Cochrane (Co. A)
[Mortally Wounded]

Francis M. Stidham (Co. A) [June 18]
[Mortally Wounded; Died 7/10/1864]
Gilbert Graham (Co. C) [June 18]
[Mortally Wounded; Died 4/1/1865]
William Reysons (Co. E)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 6/24/1864]
James Regan (Co. E)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 6/30/1864]
James Mercer (Co. E)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 5/21/1865]
John Major (Co. E)
Horace Straub (Co. F)
Isaac Lewis (Co. F)
Simon Devlin (Co. F) [June 18]

1st Lieutenant Curtis C. Pollock (Co. G)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 6/27/1864]
Howard Jones (Co. G)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 7/13/1864]
George W. Morey (Co. H)
Jefferson W. Beyerle (Co. H)
James Mulholland (Co. H)
Anthony Gallagher (Co. H)
Thomas Davis (Co. H) [June 18]

1st Lieutenant Joseph Edwards (Co. I)
[Mortally Wounded; Died 7/2/1864]
Nathan Rich (Co. K)
Arthur Gray (Co. K) [June 18]

Wounded (41)
Elias Britton (Co. A)
John Holman (Co. A)
John McLean [or McLain] (Co. A)
William Huckey (Co. A)
John H. Shaeffer (Co. A)
Joel Lins (Co. A)
Henry Schreyer (Co. A) [June 18]
James W. Sterner (Co. A) [June 18]
William Dreibelbeis (Co. A) [June 18]
Joseph Dreibelbeis (Co. A) [June 18]
Sergeant Robert Campbell (Co. B)
Corporal James Rider (Co. B)
Sergeant Henry Weiser (Co. C)

1st Lieutenant James K. Helms (Co. D)
Corporal Jonathan Deitrich (Co. D)
Lewis Dietrich (Co. D)
Jacob D. Caspar (Co. D)
Joseph Berlinger [or Buddinger] (Co. D)
Joseph Lindenmuth (Co. D) [June 18]
Thomas Clemens (Co. E)
R.B. Thompson (Co. E)
Murt Brennan (Co. F)
Pat Boran (Co. F)
Corporal Robert Wallace (Co. F)
Edward L. Shissler (Co. F)
Joshua Reed (Co. G)
Lieutenant D.B. Brown (Co. H)
Charles Eberley (Co. H)
Lewis Aurand (Co. H)
Jonathan Dillet (Co. H)
Frank Ringer (Co. I)
William Kramer (Co. I)
Corporal Benjamin Williams (Co. I) [June 18]
Christian Seward (Co. I) [June 18]
Samuel T. DeFrehn (Co. I) [June 18]
Jacob Reichwein (Co. I) [June 18]
Charles R. Koch (Co. I) [June 18]
Sergeant Thomas Irwin (Co. K)
John Gillinger (Co. K)
Oliver W. Schwartz (Co. K)
David Houser (Co. K)

Captured/Missing (4)
Corporal Andrew Wren (Co. B)
[Captured; held in captivity 6/21/64-4/21/65]
Jacob Wigner (Co. B)
[Captured; Died 1/1/1865]
Mike Lavell (Co. G)
William Auchenbach (Co. G)

The 48th/150th: "Like A Savage Torrent:" The 48th Pennsylvania at Petersburg: June 17-18, 1864

Harpers' Weekly Depiction of Attacks on Petersburg, June 1864

150 Years Ago. . .the ranks of the 48th Pennsylvania had once more been bloodied following a series of assaults at Petersburg.

A week before, Grant had ordered the army south from Cold Harbor and on the morning of June 16, the soldiers of the 48th crossed the James River and arrived in front of Petersburg later that afternoon, in time to watch soldiers of the army's Second Corps launch an unsuccessful attack against the entrenched Confederate line. Sometime around dusk, the regiment was led to the left, marching south along a creek bed until they arrived at a position directly opposite Battery No. 15, which was a well-entrenched angle in the Confederate lines. The opposing lines were very close. Sometime around 10:00 p.m. on the night of June 16, Colonel Henry Pleasants ordered the men of Companies B & G to advance across to the Confederate side of the creek to reconnoiter. Creeping forward in the darkness--regimental historian Joseph Gould later wrote that that night was "dark as pitch"--the two companies came under fire and scampered back. Yet the question remained as to whether they were fired upon by friend or by foe and it fell to two men of Company B, Sergeant Andrew Wren and Private Jacob Wigner, to go forward once more to find out. Once more they slowly crept forward in the darkness. When nearing the line of earthworks, both were grabbed and, by the collars of their uniform coats, pulled inside the Confederate lines. They were both now prisoners of war and both were soon shipped south to Andersonville Prison. It was there, six months later and still in captivity that Wigner, an 18-year-old machinist from Pottsville, died. Wren would remain a prisoner at Andersonville for the next ten months before, finally, being released in late April 1865.

While these two men ventured forth in the darkness only to become prisoners of war, the rest of the regiment settled in for the night, catching whatever sleep they could and knowing that they would most likely be called into action the next day. That next day arrived all too soon.



Map by Hal Jespersen
(http://www.posix.com/CWmaps/) 

At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of June 17 and in the total darkness, Colonel Henry Pleasants quietly made his way from company to company, informing each of their commanders that they would soon be launching an attack. The men were to charge with bayonets fixed and all caps removed from the guns to prevent against the men from firing. The soldiers were soon stirred awake and, according to Robert Reid of Company G, they quietly attached their bayonets, removed the caps, and even secured their tincups so there would be no rattling. "[T]hen we moved out of the works and crossed the creek. . .After getting the whole regiment over, we silently formed line; then, in utter darkness, moved to the right about one hundred yards, when, in a whisper, the command forward was given."

In his regimental history, Oliver Bosbyshell painted a vivid portrait of the morning's preparations and noted that Pleasants "informed the men of the danger before them, and directed that if any felt disinclined to make the assault, the had permission to remain where they were. There is no record or evidence of any kind that a single man of the regiment took advantage of this offer--not one stayed behind! Tin cups and coffee pots were so secured as to make no rattling sound, and directions were passed along in whispered accents. Bayonets were silently fixed. . .and the regiment moved quietly out of the old rebel works, left in front, with the stealthiness of Indians, over the creek where line of battle was formed, in utter darkness. Moving to the right, for about a hundred yards with panther-like tread, a whispered command 'forward!' was given, and the savage rush began."

The soldiers of the 48th swept across the open ground between the opposing lines; it was still dark and the only noise was that of hundreds of feet tramping down upon the dew-covered grass and dirt. Away off to the right, however, some Union troops opened fire, which drew an immediate response from the Confederate line. The darkness was illuminated with the flash of the Confederate rifles. But still, still, the soldiers of the 48th rushed on. "Directly into this fiery ribbon, belching its leaden hail through the ranks of the charging line, swept the Forty-Eighth," wrote Bosbyshell, while Reid boasted that "We went at them squarely, right into their firing line. Not one of our regiment returned a shot until we reached their works, when there was a short, sharp contest, and the line was ours. I still remember how my heart beat when starting on the charge, but it was forgotten in the glorious rush of the fight."


It was a complete surprise. Within a matter of minutes, the 48th PA crashed into the Confederate lines and captured Battery No. 15. Hundreds of Confederates were very quickly captured.

During the sharp engagement, the Irish-born Sergeant Patrick Monaghan noticed a few Confederate soldiers attempting to flee. He ran amongst them and demanded their surrender. Their hands went up and it was soon noted that one of these Confederate soldiers was attempting to retreat with the flag of the 7th New York Heavy Artillery. The flag had been captured the day before and now Monaghan of the 48th re-captured it and later it would be returned to the New York regiment. For this action, Monaghan received the Medal of Honor.

Robert Reid of the 48th would also receive a Medal of Honor for his actions during this pre-dawn attack on June 17, 1864. Sweeping forward and rushing up and over the Confederate lines, Reid wrestled away the flag of the 44th Tennessee from its regimental color bearer, capturing those colors.

Wrote Bobsyshell: "How the heart beat, and the pulse throbbed during that onslaught! If fear or dread marked the supreme moment of the attack, it was banished completely in the glorious rush of the fight! What a harvest of prisoners--they were captured by the score, disarmed, and sent to the rear."



Robert Reid



Post War Image of Sgt. Patrick Monaghan
(Courtesy of Mr. Richard F. Meaney, III)

The Flag of the 44th Tennessee, Captured By Reid
(http://www.tennessee-scv.org/4455/)

As the skies continued to lighten another Confederate redan about 100 yards further south became visible. Confederate cannons posted there soon erupted into the flank and front of the 48th. Very soon, Colonel Pleasants organized the men for yet another attack and "like a savage torrent" the 48th charged forward. "[T]he regiment fairly tore over those hundred yards and swept through the fort irresistibly. The enemy ran in great disorder by squads and singly to their left and rear." Two Confederate Napoleons fell into the hands of the 48th and the two guns were safely hauled, by hand, to the rear.

Two cannons, two flags and two Medals of Honor, hundreds of prisoners and a good section of the Confederate line; it was a glorious victory for the 48th and for the Ninth Army Corps. All along Burnside's front, the morning attack had achieved much success. Even George Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, would recognize the success of the Ninth Corps in a note to Burnside, sent on that June 17: "It affords me great satisfaction to congratulate you and your gallant corps on the assault this morning, knowing the wearied condition of your men from the night march over twenty-two miles, and the continual movement this last night; their persistence and success is highly creditable." These words coming from Meade to Burnside was high praise, indeed.

For the actions of the 48th, Oliver Bosbyshell would later write that the attack on June 17, 1864, at Petersburg, "was probably, in all its results, the most brilliant engagement for the Forty-Eighth of any in which it participated. Praise is due to every officer, from Colonel Pleasants down, and to every many who was in this grand assault, for the splendid record the work here accomplished. .  . ."

Throughout the rest of the day on June 17 the Confederates made several attempts to regain their captured works, but each were turned back. A sometimes lively skirmish fire was kept up throughout the day. The next day, Burnside determined to strike once more, this time with his 1st and 3rd Division leading the way while the 2nd Division--which included the 48th--would advance behind in support. The fighting renewed once more in intensity on June 18 as the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac attempted to drive the Confederates from yet another line of earthworks and trenches very close to the city of Petersburg. Along the Ninth Corps front and though designated as a reserve, the soldiers of the 48th were once more brought to the front. They charged down a ravine and across a railroad cut and they made it closer to the Confederate line than any other Union force. Night settled in and to their front, just a hundred yards or so away, rose Elliott's Salient, held by a brigade of South Carolina soldiers and the gunners of Richard Pegram's Virginia Battery.

One week later, on June 25, the soldiers of the 48th would begin to dig a mine underneath this portion of the Confederate line. . . .

Trenches at Petersburg

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The soldiers of the 48th were justly proud of their actions on the Seventeenth and Eighteenth of June; indeed, Bosbyshell later described the attacks on June 17 as the regiment's most brilliant action of the war.
But the price was heavy. . .During its attacks on June 17-18, the 48th Pennsylvania lost 19 men killed or mortally wounded, 42 men wounded, and 4 men missing/captured, for a total casualty count of 65.


Killed/Mortally Wounded: (19)
Private Francis M. Stidham, Company A (MW6/18/1864; Died 7/10/1864)
Private Gilbert Graham, Company C (MW 6/18/1864; Died 4/1/1865)
Private John Major, Company E (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private William Rasons/Reysons, Company E (MY 6/17/1864; Died 6/24/1864)
Private James Reagan, Company E (MW 6/17/1864; Died 6/30/1864)
Private James Mercer, Company E (MW 6/17/1864; Died 5/21/1865)
Private Horace Straub, Company F (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Isaac Lewis, Company F (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Simon Devlin, Company F (KIA 6/18/1864)
Lieutenant Curtis C. Pollock, Company G (MW 6/17/1864; Died 6/23/1864)
Private Howard Jones, Company G (MW 6/17/1864; Died 7/13/1864)
Private George Morey, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Jefferson W. Beyerle, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private James Mulholland, Company H (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Anthony Gallagher, Company H  (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Thomas Davis, Company H (KIA 6/18/1864)
Lieutenant Joseph Edwards, Company I (MW 6/17/1864; Died 7/2/1864)
Private Nathan Rich, Company K (KIA 6/17/1864)
Private Arthur Gray (KIA 6/18/1864)

Lieutenant Joseph Edwards, Co. I
Mortally Wounded, June 17
(Hoptak Collection)

Lieutenant Curtis Pollock, Co. G
Mortally Wounded, June 17, 1864
(Hoptak Collection)

Private Francis M. Stidham
Killed, June 18, 1864
(Hoptak Collection)

Wounded: (42)
Private Elias Britton, Company A
Private John Holman, Company A
Private John McLean, Company A
Private John Cochran, Company A
Private William Huckey, Company A
Private John Shaffer, Company A
Private Joel Lins, Company A
Private Henry Schreyer, Company A
Private James W. Sterner, Company A
Private William Dreibelbeis, Company A
Private Joseph Dreibelbeis, Company A
Sergeant Robert Campbell, Company B
Corporal James Rider, Company B
Sergeant Henry Weiser, Company C
Lieutenant James K. Helms, Company D
Corporal Jacob Dietrich, Company D
Private Lewis Dietrich, Company D
Private Jacob D. Casper, Company D
Private Joseph Berlinger/Buddinger, Company D
Private Joseph Lindenmuth, Company D
Private Thomas Clemens, Company E
Private R.B. Thompson, Company E
Private Murt Brennan, Company F
Private Patrick Boran, Company F
Corporal Robert Wallace, Company F
Private Edward L. Shissler, Company F
Private Joshua Reed, Company G
Lieutenant David B. Brown, Company H
Private Charles Eberle, Company H
Private Lewis Aurand, Company H
Private Jonathan Dillet, Company H
Private Frank Ringer, Company I
Private William Kramer, Company I
Corporal Benjamin Williams, Company I
Private Christian Seward, Company I
Private Samuel DeFrehn, Company I
Private Jacob Reichwein, Company I
Private Charles Koch, Company I
Sergeant Thomas Irwin, Company K
Private John Gillinger, Company K
Private Oliver Schwartz, Company K
Private David Houser, Company K


Captured/Missing: (4)
Sergeant Andrew Wren, Company B
Private Jacob Wigner, Company B
Private Michael Lavell, Company F
Private William Auchenbach, Company F

Private Elias Britton, Co. A
Wounded
(Hoptak Collection)

Private John Cochran, Co. A
Wounded
(Hoptak Collection)

Lieutenant James K. Helms, Co. D
Severely Wounded
(Patriotic Order Sons of America)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 1864:

 

Forty-Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.

Correspondence of the Inquirer.

Near Petersburg, Va., June 19, 1864.

I send herewith a corrected list of killed and wounded in the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, in a brilliant charge made by the First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, on the morning of the 17^th inst.

During the charge the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers recaptured the colors of the ---enth New York Regiment, of Second Corps, which had been captured by the enemy the day previously while on a charge. Also, the Rebel colors of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment. The Brigade took 1150 prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The brigade commander, Colonel Curtin, nephew of the Governor, was wounded yesterday. The extent of his wounds I do not know; I hope not mortally; Captain Migel, of his Staff.

Company A—Elias Britten mortally in breast; John. . . slightly; John McLean, thigh; John Cochran leg, slightly; William Huckey, breast grazed; . . .John H. Shaffer, leg; Joel Lind, thigh.

Company B—Sergeant R Campbell, right breast, slight; Corporal James Rider, contusion by shell; Corporal A . . .missing; Jacob Wigner, missing.

Company C—Serg. H. Weiser, thigh, slightly

Company D—Lieut. JK Helms, right leg, severe; Corp Jacob Dietrich hand and hip, severe; L. Deitrich, both. . .severe; JD Casper, right leg, slight; Jos Bertolett breast, severe

Company E—John Major, killed; Wm. Raysons, back. . .Thos Clemens, arm and shoulder, severe; Jas. . .breast, severe; Jas. Mercer thigh severe; Chas. . .both legs, severe; Thos Hall foot, severe; RB . . .pon foot, severe

Company F—HF Straub, killed; Isaac Lewis, killed; Wurt Brennan, foot; Pat Boran, hand; Corporal Robert Wallace, right shoulder; EL Shistler, leg, slight; Mike Lavell, supposed wounded and missing; Wm Auchenbach, supposed wounded and missing

Company G—Lieut CC Pollock, right shoulder, severe; Howard Jones, groin, severe; Joshua Reed, right breast and face, severe

Company H—Lieut DB Brown, contusion by sent ball in right arm; Charles Eberlie, head; George W. Moray, killed; Jackson W. Byerley, Killed; James Mulholland, killed; Lewis Aurand, arm; Jonathan Fillet, foot; Anthony Gallagher, abdomen

Company I—Lieut Joseph Edwards, both hips and body, severely; Frank E. Ringer, wounded; Wm. Kramer, left foot, severe

Company K—Nathan Rich, killed; Sergeant Thomas Irwin, left leg, severe; John Gillinger, leg, slight; OIiver Schwartz hip, slight; David Houser, arm, slight

 

Killed and Wounded on the 18^th inst.

Company A—Henry Schreyer, in hand; Francis M. Stidham, severely in right shoulder; James W. Sterner, arm and grazed in breast; Wm. Dreibelbeis, slightly in leg; Jos. Dreibelebeis, left heel.

Company C—Gilbert Graham, side, slightly

Company D—Jos Lindemuth, leg, severe

Company F—Simon Devlin, killed

Company A—Thomas Davis, killed

Company I—Corporal Ben Williams, ankle, slightly; C. Seward forehead, slight; C.F. De Frehn, shoulder, severely; Joe Reichwein, left foot , slightly; C.R. Koch, knee, severely

Company K—Arthur Gray, killed.

Captain Lantz, of Fiftieth Pa Vols. was killed.

Colonel Christ, of Fiftieth Pa Vols was wounded. He commanded a brigade in the Third Division.