History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 54

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and others followed as fast as they could be or- ganized. On the 14th the head of the Army of the Potomac met the enemy at South Mountain, and hurled him back through its passes, and on the evening of the 16th and on the 17th a fierce battle was fought at Antietam. In the mean time the militia had rapidly concentrated at Hagerstown and Chambersburg, and General John F. Reynolds, who was at the time com- manding a corps in the Army of the Potomac, had assumed command. Fifteen thousand men were pushed forward to Hagerstown and Boons- boro', and a portion of them stood in line of battle in close proximity to the field, in readiness to advance, while the fierce fighting was in pro- gress. Ten thousand more were posted in the vicinity of Greencastle and Chambersburg, and about twenty-five thousand were either at Harrisburg, on their way to Harrisburg, or in readiness and waiting for transportation to pro- ceed thither. The Twenty-fifth Regiment, under command of Colonel Dechert, at the re- quest of General Halleck, was sent to the State of Delaware, to guard the Dupont Powder-Mills, whence the national armies were principally supplied. But the enemy was defeated at Antietam, and retreated in confusion across the Potomac. The emergency having passed, the militia regiments were ordered to return to Harrisburg, and in accordance with the condi- tions on which they had been called into service, they were ou the 24th mustered out and dis- banded. The train on which the Twentieth Regiment was returning over the Cumberland Valley Railroad collided, upon nearing Harris- burg, with a train passing in the opposite direction, by which four men were killed and thirty injured.

In a letter addressed to Governor Curtin by General Mcclellan, thanking him for his energetic action in calling out the militia, and placing them in the field, the general adds,-

" Fortunately, circumstances rendered it impossible for the enemy to set foot upon the soil of Pennsylva- nia, but the moral support rendered to my army by your action was none the less mighty. In the name of my army; and for myself, I agaiu tender to you our acknowledgments for your patriotic course. The manner in which the people of Pennsylvania re- sponded to your call, and hastened to the defense of

their frontier, no doubt exercised a great influence upon the enemy."

In an order issued by Governor Bradford, of Maryland, soon after the battle, he says,-

"To Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and the militia of his State, who rallied with such alacrity at the first symptoms of an invasion, our warmest thanks are also due. The readiness with which they crossed the border, and took their stand beside the Maryland brigade, shows that the border is, in all respects, but an ideal line, and that in such a cause as now unites us, Pennsylvania and Maryland are but one."

The following seven companies of volunteers were enlisted from Berks County in this service :

Co. G, 2d Regt., Captain Franklin S. Bickley.

Co. E, 11th Regt., Captain Charles H. Hunter.

Co. I. 11th Regt., Captain Nathan M. Eisenhower. Co. G, 20th Regt., Captain William Geiger.

Co. H, 20th Regt., Captain Samuel Harner.

Co. I, 20th Regt., Captain Frederick S. Boas.

Berks County Cavalry, Independent, Captain Samuel L. Young.

COMPANY G, OF 2D REGIMENT IN MILITIA OF 1862.

(Regiment organized Sept. 6-13, 1862; discharged Sept. 23-25, 1862.)

Frank S. Bickley, captain.

Lewis H. Wunder, first lieutenant.

Charles H. Richards, second lieutenant.

John G. Seltzer, first sergeant.

Sergeants : William H. Strickland, Lewis Briner. Corporals : Henry R. Hertzel, Bodo Otto, John

W. Burkhart, Levi Malzburger, John Phil- lipson, Albert G. Green, Jacob K. Sterreit, Franklin V. Shoener, William Potteiger, Amos B. Yeager.

Privates .- Rufus H. Addams, Samuel Bell, Henry. Bennethum, Jr., Daniel H. Beideman, Harvey Birch, Robert Bland, Lewis Bohler, George W. Boyer, Michael Bright, Edward Burkholder, Ephraim Dautrich, William P. Dickinson, George W. Eckert, Daniel Ermentrout, Philip M. Ermentrout, Jacob H. Forney, Daniel Gauker, Thomas W. Hain, Hervey Herman, Amos B. Hoff, Alexander Howell, John R. Kaucher, Warren B. Kelley, James Koch, John Lash, William S. Madeira, James Madeira, Abraham Mengel, George K. Miller, H. H. Muhlenberg, James S. Norris, Gustavus Opitz, Henry M. Otto, William Prison, George W. Rauk, Samuel Rapp, James Reber, Emanuel Reider, William E. Reifsnyder, George W. Rabold, Lewis L. Richards, Ferdinand S. Ritter, Madison Sallade, Jacob M. Sallade, Charles W. G. Schlemm, John D. Schoener, William D. Souders, John Scheetz, Owen J. Thomas, Jacob Van Reed, Henry Van Reed, Jacob Wanner, Daniel S. Zacharias, John Zieber.

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THE CIVIL WAR.

COMPANIES E AND I OF THE 11TH REGIMENT, IN MILITIA OF 1862.

(Regiment organized Sept. 12, 1862; discharged Sept. 24-25, 1862. Charles A. Kuoderer was colonel of this regiment.)

COMPANY E.

Charles H. Hunter, captain.

Harrison Mattzberger, first lieutenant.

J. S. Allgaier, second lieutenant.

Philip Benson, first sergeant.

Sergeants : Charles F. Hass, E. F. Smith, Frank- lin Bitting, John N. Fisher.

Corporals : Gustavus A. Nicolls, Charles Boyer, Henry Kessler, R. B. Fichthorn, Bertolette Connard, F. S. Allgaier, William D. Reeser. Musicians: Thomas Humphreys, William Lerch, G. E. Reeser.

Privates .- J. Allison, Francis M. Banks, Highland H. Banks, John A. Banks, W. P. Bard, James Bastler, Albert Boyer, William A. Bayne, E. Bishoff, H. Boyer, H. R. Boyer, J. N. Boyer, Y. Yardley Brown, Frank R. Butz, John Christman, Hiester Clymer, J. De Puy Davis, W. R. Davis, D. Dehart, Albert R. Durham, A. S. Esterly, B. S. Fix, Franklin Fricker, Geo. M. Graeff, Jacob H. Graeff, Edward Greath, D. P. Greath, W. Hartman, Peter Y. Heckman, Reuben V. R. High, G. W. High, Jacob Hole, Samuel M. Hollenbach, Daniel S. Hunter, J. Timothy Jackson, J. Jennings, Richmond L. Jones, H. C. Jones, Elijah F. Keever, Samuel Kerns, Franklin Keffer, W. F. Kerper, J. H. Kershner, J. A. Kutz, George B. Kupp, Richard Leaf, A. L. Leopold, Charles A. Leopold, Daniel D. Lerch, Charles C. Malsberger, Samuel C. Mayer, Daniel Maurer, Geo. W. Morgan, William Myers, Ezra Miller, Samuel McNeal, H. Neihart, James Nicholson, John Printz, John Ralston, J. A. Rankin, A. F. Reeser, A. W. Rhoads, John Rhoads, John Rick, Albert Ritter, Charles Ritter, John R. Ritter, J. P. Ritter, Edward Samuel, J. R. Schmucker, John R. Strecker, D. E. Schroeder, W. M. Swartz, W. C. Swartz, C. A. Smith, Charles L. Still, B. F. Stim- mel, Herman Strecker, J. S. Strohecker, Henry A. Upson, H. Witman, Levi Wunder, James Yeager, F. Yocum, J. Yohn.

COMPANY I.

Nathan M. Eisenhower, captain. William J. Clouse, first lieutenant.

James L. Douglass, second lieutenant.

Abraham H. Phillippi, first sergeant.

Sergeants: Lewis G. Swain, Jacoh H. Boyer, John F. Clouse, John Flink,

Corporals : Samuel Blackman, Ephraim Moser, Jesse Mercer, John S. McConnel, Samuel Fink, John Miltimore, Samuel Stackhouse, Peter Eiler.

Musicians: John Ringler, Winfield Anthony.

Privates .- Charles B. Ansart, Conrad Anthony,

Benjamin R. Bratt, David Benson, Joseph Bridegam, Lee C. Bricker, John L. Borrell, Henry Connard, Jeremiah O. Coller, Henry H. Crouse, Benneville Dewalt, Sampson Dane, William H. Dickenson, James Earl, John Evans, Fiedele Einzig, Elias H. Eyrich, Charles Focht, Andrew J. Fink, Reuben Fink, Jere- miah Fehr, Otto Flatt, John F. Fox, Rudolph F. Fleer, Henry Griscom, Samuel Griscom, Abraham W. Hain, James Hahs, Henry A. Hoff, Joseph Hauckenbach, Daniel Hausum, Jr., John Horn, Jeremiah Hopp, Jacob Kauffman, John Kaul, Frederick A. M. Keller, Peter Keffer, Henry M. Keim, Charles A. Knoderer (promoted to colonel, Sept. 15, 1862), Thomas P. Kinsey, Peter R. Lutz, Andrew Lutz, Otto Mellert, Edwin L. Mull, Augustus Moser, Charles Miller, David McKnight, Peter McCord, John McKnight, Spencer C. Neal, Samuel Newkirk, Samuel Rochstull, Andrew S. Rhoads, James Ruth, Joseph Ritner, Charles Ruth, Joseph Saxe, Frederick L. Smith, Alfred Spearce, Henry H. Sharman, Henry Spohn, Israel Sallada, Jr., Michael J. Seiling, Wil- liam A. Schall, Thomas Schofield, William Treat, Charles O. Whiteman, Adam E. Wcise, Wesley H. Wells, Charles Wannamacher, Franklin Warren, Charles F. Witman, Frederick Wittich, Charles A. Wick, Gustavus A. Worth (promoted to adjutant Sept. 15, 1862), William R. Yeich, William S. Yocum.

COMPANIES G, H and I OF 20TH REGIMENT, MILI- TIA OF 1862.

(Regiment organized Sept. 18, 1862; discharged Sept. 26-30, 1862.)

COMPANY G.

William Geiger, captain.

Lewis Hagenman, first lieutenant.

Amos H. Deysher, second lieutenant.

William A. Coxel, first sergeant.

Sergeants: Lewis Shaneman, Jacob Spatz, Amos W. Boyer, Henry W. Corbit.

Corporals: John Weitzel, Wiliam Quimby, Au- gustus Strohecker, Solomon Holston, Thomas Lincoln, Michael McCullough, Hiram Hol- ston, Joseph V. Diehl

Musicians : Mahlon Houck, Amos W. Graul.

Privates. - Charles H. Barrett, Thomas Burker, Theodore H. Deysher, Franklin Doutrich, Joseph Deysher, Martin Eisenhower, William H. Engle, Theodore Foreman, Thomas Fehr, Reuben Gruff, George E. Goodhart, David Gross, Francis Y. Hyne- man, Edward A. Howell, Jeremiah N. Hagenman, James Holston, John Hungerford, Thomas Hunger- ford, Jacob L. Keller, Daniel Kepple, Chas. Keeler, Samuel K. Kraemer, David N. Keenan, Hezekiah J. Knauer, Reuben C. L. Kissinger, Reuben C. Kis- singer, Daniel Kilpatrick, Henry Krook, Daniel Lein- back, Albert Leinback, Benneville Ludwig, Clayton Lawrence, John B. Maxton, Jediah Miller, Sebastian Mohring, Nelson Moore, Morris P. Miller, Levi Rel- ler, Joseph Reese, Lyman Ruth, John Steffenberg,

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Isaac Sheetz, Henry J. Smith, John Stubblebine, George Sheetz, Joseph Steffenberg, William Shoeffer, Uriah T. Trait, William H. Thomas, Cornelius Van- hammersfeld, Thomas Yeager, James Yeager.

COMPANY H.

Samuel Harner, captain. Franklin Till, first lieutenant. Alonzo B. Turner, second lieutenant. Anthony Bickel, first sergeant.

Sergeants: Henry Rorke, Harrison Fix, Mahlon Fox.

Corporals: William Harbster, David Mullin, Charles Davis, Charles A. Ringle, Henry Wunder, Henry Reeser.

Musicians: Howard P. McCord, Robert Binga- min.

Privates .- William K. Arnold, Lewis Arsell, I-aac Bird, Peter Brisse, Henry Cole, William W. Collers, Patrick Diamond, Franklin K. Davis, William Fox, Israel Goodman, George Girvan, Aaron Haupt, Isaac Harvey, Dominick Kramp, William C. Kutz. Dickin- son Kutz, Cyrus J. McCord, John H. Nagle, Timothy O'Bryan, Andrew Paulhamus, William Ruth, John Ruth, Thomas K. Richards, David Ringler, Jeremiah Shirey, Jacob Shaffer, John Sweetwood, Abraham Trate, Daniel Ubil, James M. Witman.

CAPTAIN SAMUEL HARNER gave seven years of his life to the service of his country. He was five years in the regular army, having in this time passed through the Mexican War; and at the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted as a volunteer and served one year in Ken- tucky. He commanded Company H in the Twentieth Regiment of the State Militia from Reading, during the rebel invasion of 1862, and Company B, Forty-second Regiment, dur- ing the invasion of 1863. He died at h's resi- dence in Reading on February 11, 1865, aged thirty-seven years. He was a native of Read- ing and a highly-respected, exemplary man.

COMPANY I.

Frederick S. Boas, captain. Samuel Robinson, first lieutenant. Henry Schroeder, second lieutenant. Samuel Hamilton, first sergeant.

Sergeants: Henry Fleck (accidentally killed, Sept. 26, 1862), George S. Rowbotham, Daniel M. Weidner, Frank Dundore.

Corporals: John R. Cbrist, Zeno Hoffmaster, Gottlieb Heller, Isaac Hale, Henry Seiders, Alexander Werner, William R. Williams, Nelson Bell.

Musicians: Henry Redmond, Jacob Hamilton. Privates .- Philip Arnold, Daniel Aldendorfer, Geo. W. Armbruster, William Brown, David Bridegam,

Elias Bitter, David Bechtol, Albert D. Boas, Henry Becker, Adam Busell, Henry Bowman, John Boyer, Linderman Britton, Isaac Barton, Jacob Crow, Geo. Davis, Adam Deem, Lewis Eisenhower, Isaiah Espen- shade, William Eisenbise, William Ehrgood, Peter Eagle, Richard Eagle, Henry Fix, Charles Frill, Henry Goodman, George Hoffman, Jacob Herst, Charles Huyett, James Hafer, John Herm, Rufus Hunberger, William Harbold, Charles Johnson, Evan James, Augustus Keller (accidentally killed, Sept. 26, 1862), William Keller, John Killian, Peter Koch, William H. Lewis, Daniel Lausch, William E. Lewis, George Livingood, Isaac Moore, Daniel Moore, Win. Moore, John L. Morris, John E. McGrew, Redman McManus, George Northhammer, William S. Neu- gent, Lewis Newdorfer, Bernard O'Macht, James O'Neill, Mark O'Neill, William Printz, George. W. Roland, Henry Rambo, Daniel Seiders (accidentally killed, Sept. 26, 1862), Samuel Snell, Jacob Snell, Peter Snell, Isaac Snell, Francis Y. Sallade, Benjamin Sterling, Peter Smith, William Schuler, Wm. Statt, Joseph Seyfert, Michael Smith, Albert B. Werner (ac- cidentally killed, Sept. 26, 1862), Henry Wolfskill, Eli Williams, David Zimmerly.

CAPTAIN FREDERICK S. BOAS is of German extraction. He is the great-grandson of Rev. William Boas, who emigrated from Würtem- berg, Germany, and settled at Reading, where he became one of the first pastors of the German Reformed Church. He continued to officiate as a pastor until old age compelled his retire- ment from active service. He was married to Barbara Epler, of Bern township, Berks Coun- ty, and had eight children-John, Jacob, Fred- erick, William, Daniel, Barbara (intermarried with Jacob Levan), Catherine (intermarried with Abraham Wanner) and Elizabeth (inter- married with Frederick Rapp). He died No- vember 28, 1814, aged seventy-five years. His son John was born March 17, 1774, at Reading, and died August 8, 1860, having followed dur- ing his early life the trade of a hatter. He was married to Susanna Herbine, of Bern township, whose children were John, Daniel H. and Cath- erine (intermarried with - Sallada). Daniel H., the father of Captain Boas, was born Septem- ber 28, 1800, at Reading, in the dwelling now oc- cupied as a residence by his son, where he died October 6, 1852. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Shearer, of Reading, born January 13, 1800, and died December 30, 1858. Their children are Mary Ann, born in 1824 (wife of George W. Goodrich) ; Catherine, in

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1828 (now deceased) ; Eliza E., in 1827, who was intermarried with Daniel B. Kerper, de- ceased ; Susan A., in 1828, deceased; Frederick S .; Albert D., in 1838; and Clara E., in 1840, intermarried with - Austin.

Frederick S. Boas was born November 10, 1834, at the homestead in Reading. He re- ceived a thorough rudimentary education. In 1830 his father abandoned his trade as a manu- facturer of hats, and then embarked in the lum-

ret Cressman, of Reading ; Mary M., and Cad- die S. John K. Boas is actively engaged in the lumber business in Reading.

Mr. Boas was formerly much interested in the State militia, having in 1855 become captain of the " Reading Rifles." This company, by its perfect equipment and excellent discipline, ac- quired a high reputation as a military organiza- tion. During the Civil War, he organized a com- pany of volunteer militia, numbering one hun-

ber business. His son, upon finishing his stu- dies, became associated with him in this busi- ness, and in 1852 succeeded him as the sole proprietor. Although interested at various times in other enterprises, he has since 1848 been thoroughly identified with the lumber trade in Berks County, and the various building operations incident to that business. On the 30th of November, 1858, he was married to Rosa, daughter of Joshua Keeley, of Reading. Their children are John K., married to Marga-

dred and ten men. It was Company I, in the Twentieth Regiment, mustered into service September, 1862. Military service was per- formed nearly two weeks. The regiment was discharged in the latter part of September, when the company returned to Reading.

The Boas family have for many years advo- cated the principles of the Democratic party. Captain Boas represented the Southwest Ward in the select branch of City Council from 1858 to 1861, having been president during the last

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

year. He was for a time secretary, and one of the building committee, of the South Reading Market-House Company, and also secretary of the West Reading Railroad Company until it became merged into the Philadelphia and Read- ing Railroad Company. In June, 1856, he be- came a member of Lodge No. 62, of Free and Accepted Masons, and afterward filled various official positions. He aided in organizing St. John's Lodge, No. 435, in which he filled the office of first Worshipful Master. He is a member of Reading Chapter, No. 152, and also of Reading Commandery, No. 42, being now Past High Priest in the former. He is the pres- ent representative of St. John's Lodge, and one of the managers of the Home for Free and Ac- cepted Masons of Peunsylvania.

The father of Captain Boas was one of the organizers of the Universalist Church of Read- ing, and the captain himself has been a member of the church since 1851. He has filled the office of secretary of the church vestry since 1854. He has taken an active and prominent part in the Sunday-school since his boyhood. As a delegate and representative from the church, he attended many of the conventions held by the Universalist denomination.

INDEPENDENT CAVALRY COMPANY.

(Commanded by Captain Samuel L. Young ; organ- ized September 17, 1862; discharged September 27,1862.)

Captain, Samuel L. Young.

First Lieutenant, John D. Stitzel.

Second Lieutenant, John M. Kauffman. First Sergeant, Edwin M. Shalter.

Quartermaster, Townsend W. Evans. Sergeants : Richard N. Shalter, Robert Pierson, Calvin K. Whitner, George Weiser.

Corporals : Sadosa S. Stevens, Henry W. Hertzel, Jeremiah S. Parvin, William H. Parvin, William H. Spang, Lewis Evans, Frederick B. Border, Walton K. Hagy. Farriers : William Yohn, Samuel Dewees.

Privates .- Edwin Brobst, Samuel K. Boyer, Marcus Behm, John B. Bowman, William Brendel, Franklin Clark, Anson Dehart, Luther T. Eggers, Daniel B. Edelman, Charles Ernst, Harrison K. Epler, Henry A. Flickinger, Frank D. Faber, Joseph N. Good, An- drew Gehret, John A. Groff, Jonas Y. Greth, Adam Gehret, Jesse G. Hawley, John D. Hiester, William A. Hoffa, Cyrus J. Hunter, Alvin W. Hornung, Daniel Y. Jones, Jacob Kemp, Charles R. Koenig, Albert K. Kuabb, Henry S. Knipe, William T, Lyon,

Richard Lechner, William H. Livingood, Gernant S. Maurer, William Moyer, Charles Murphy, Jacob J. Moore, James H. Parker, Levi B. Rogers, Levi B. Renninger, Alexander Royer, Cyrus W. Rothenberger, John Richards, John S. Rothermel, William Seit- zinger, William D. Seltzer, Jeremiah B. Wentzel, Charley Wright, John Wiley, Moses Wolf.

DRAFTED MILITIA OF 1862.

During the year 1862 the military operations were conducted with such energy, and so many men were required, that volunteer companies were not sufficiently numerous to supply the in- creasing demands for troops. The government was therefore driven to the extreme measure of impressing men into service by drafting them for that purpose. This was repugnant. to the people ; but the imperiled situation of the coun- try justified the proceeding, and it was there- fore borne with submission. The following com- panies were composed of drafted men from Berks County, who were mustered into service for nine months :

Company A, 167th Regt., Capt. Jonathan See.

Company B, 167th Regt., Capt. Charles Melcher. Company C, 167th Regt., Capt. Peter Y. Edelman. Company D, 167th Regt., Capt. Samuel A. Haines. Company E, 167th Regt., Capt. Hiram H. Miller. Company F, 167th Regt., Capt. Josiah Groh.

Company G, 167th Regt., Capt. William A. Schall. Company H, 167th Regt., Capt. Abi'm H. Schaeffer. Company I, 167th Regt., Capt. Jonas M. Shollen- berger.

Company K, 167th Regt., Capt. Edward F. Reed. Company I, 179th Regt., Capt. Amos Drenkel.

Company K, 179th Regt., Capt. John B. Wagoner.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

This regiment was exclusively from Berks county, and was organized with the following field officers : Charles A. Knoderer, colonel ; De Puy Davis, lieutenant-colonel; Gustavus A. Worth, major. Colonel Knoderer was a graduate of the Polytechnic School of Carls- ruhe, and had served as captain in a regiment of the patriot Landwehr in the Baden struggle of 1849. He also served on the staff of Gen- eral Sigel, in Fremont's campaign in Missouri, and was a learned and accomplished officer. Soon after its organization the regiment was or- dered to Suffolk, Virginia, in the Department of the James, under command of General Dix. The forces at Suffolk and vicinity were com-

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manded by General John J. Peck, who was charged with holding the line south of the James, to cover the approaches to Portsmouth and Norfolk. In this service the regiment was actively engaged, being employed in fatigue du- ty upon the fortifications (in the planning of which Colonel Knoderer was an adept), in rec- onnoitring and out-post duty, and in drill, pre- paratory to active campaigning. Late on the evening of January 29, 1863, General Corcoran, who commanded a division under General Peck, moved with his column towards the Blackwater, and at Deserted Farm, seven miles out, encoun- tered a strong force of the enemy, under Gen- eral Roger A. Pryor. Corcoran immediately made an attack, and a fierce night engagement ensued. The fighting was principally with ar- tillery and the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh was fearfuly exposed to the enemy's fire. At the opening of the battle Colonel Knoderer ordered his men to lie down, and fortunately few were injured ; but the horses of the officers, with the exception of that of the adjutant, were all killed, and the colonel himself received a mortal wound. The enemy was finally driven, and the command returned again to camp. Lieut .- Col. Davis succeeded to the command of the regiment, and was subsequently commissioned colonel. It participated in the desultory op- erations, which were kept up until the begin- ning of April, when the right wing of the reb- el army, under General Longstreet, numbering some forty thousand men, advanced upon the place, and attacked, but failed to carry it. He then laid siege to it, and constructed elaborate works for its reduction. For nearly a month these operations were vigorously pushed, and for many days the bombardment of the fortifications was almost incessant. But so skillfully had they been planned, and so well constructed, that General Peck, with a force of only about a third of the number of the invading army, successfully repelled every attack, and fi- nally compelled Longstreet to raise the siege. The One Hundred and Sixty-seventh was actively employed in the defense throughout the entire siege, and rendered efficient service. Towards the close of June, and during the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, the regiment formed

part of the command which was sent to demon- strate in the direction of Richmond, and upon its return was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, then in pursuit of Lee's army in Maryland. It formed junction on the 15th of July, the day after the escape of the en- emy across the Potomac, and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, of the First Corps. With that corps, it participated in the pursuit of Lee to beyond the Rappahannock, when, its term of service being about to expire, it was relieved at the front, and ordered to Reading, where, on the 12th of August, it was mustered out. The conduct of the regiment du- ring its short service in the Potomac army is shown by the following note addressed to Colo- nel Davis by General Cutler, division com- mander : " As you are about leaving the ser- vice with your command, I desire to express to you, and through you to your command, my entire approval of the manner in which they have discharged their duty as soldiers since they joined this division. The regiment has been a pattern of order and promptness on the fa- tiguing marches of the last month."

COLONEL CHARLES A. KNODERER was a native of the Grand Duchy of Baden, and ed- ucated in the Polytechnic School there for the profession of a civil engineer. After gradua- ting he served the government as a civil engi- neer, and then as a lieutenant in the army. When the Revolution broke out in Germany in 1848, he resigned his commission and united with Sigel and other patriots in a struggle for constitutional liberty. But this effort proving a failure, he and many others fled to America. He came to Reading in 1849, and in 1850 en- tered the service of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, remaining in its employ till 1861, when he was appointed chief of engineers on the staff of General Franz Sigel, and participa- ted in the Missouri campaign under General Fremont. He then returned to Reading, and after a short employment with the Navigation Company re-entered the military service. In September, 1861, during the rebel raid into Pennsylvania, he served as colonel of the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, hav- ing gone from Reading as a private and elected

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 54

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418