Pennsylvania 62nd Infantry RegimentField and Staff Officers, Regimental Band,
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The commanding officers of the regiment were, in succession, Colonel Black (killed), Colonel Sweitzer (promoted to command brigade); Lieutenant Hull (killed); and Captain William P. McClay from Company C. McClay was never promoted above Captain and was not listed in Bates as a regimental field officer. McClay rose in the ranks from 1st Sergeant.
Date of muster was 4 July 1861, except where noted.
| Field and Staff Officers, with highest rank |
Remarks |
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Colonel Samuel W. Black
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Killed at Gaines Mill, Va., 27 June 1862. Sam Black, born on 3 September in 1816 (or 1818, according to one source) in Pittsburgh, was the son of a Covenanter preacher. He was graduated from Western University and trained as a lawyer, married well at an early age, soon rose to a lucrative practice, became interested in politics, and became a noted stump speaker. His political career was postponed by the Mexican War. In May 1846, Black became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Sixth Regiment of State Militia. By June, Black was on a committee of resolutions, which served to stir up war fever, raise funds, and recruit volunteers. By December, the many companies that were formed, including the Duquesne Greys and Jackson Blues, were officially mustered into the United States Army as the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers. Black's political background proved valuable. As one of several company captains, he was elected by popular vote of the soldiers to serve as Lieutenant Colonel, defeating several officers from Philadelphia. Black was presented with his sword in a joyous ceremony on December 21. The next day the regiment departed by steamboat to New Orleans and reached their destination on 28 December. Black's chief glory during the Mexican War may have come in the Siege of Puebla, the last battle of the war. When General Scott left the city of Pueblo earlier in the year to march on Mexico City he left behind only a small garrison (plus 1800 soldiers sick with dysentery). The garrison, with the total effective strength of 247, was commanded by Colonel Thomas Childs. The infantry was made up of six companies from the 1st Pennsylvania, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Black. After Mexico City was captured, in a last gasp effort, Santa Anna attempted to retake the city of Puebla, the second largest city in Mexico. Over 4000 soldiers under General Rea surrounded the city and entered significant sections of it. The Americans were forced to take refuse in the three strongholds they had garrisoned. Black took command of the citadel of San Jose, which also served as the hospital. Childs was requested on three different occasions to surrender, but each time refused. For more than thirty days and nights, the troops were showered with cannon fire and bullets fired from streets, balconies, and the tops of buildings. Access to food and supplies were cut off, and attempts were made to divert the stream supplying water. Childs, in his report, wrote of a "violence that knew no cessation" and praised Black in his command of San Jose, where the point of the attack occurred. The food supply was short, many soldiers were sick, but the troops endured and survived. This became no Alamo, but as a result, perhaps, the officers at Puebla did not become legendary. One black mark against Black, however, but not one held against him in his day, was that after relief column arrived and drove off the Mexican army, the Pennsylvania troops under his command celebrated by plundering several buildings and setting fire to a bullring that had served as a camp for the Mexican army. As a politician, according to Pittsburgh author William G.Johnston, Black was nicknamed the "Bengal tiger" for his fiery eloquence and strong emotions. While still in the field of battle, he became the Democratic candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives. He lost that election, and, returning to Pittsburgh after the war, became an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. He was a member of the Pennsylvania delegation at the Democratic National Convention of 1852 and was chosen to speak for the delegation in casting its vote for Franklin Pierce. Through his political connections, he was appointed justice of the Territory of Nebraska's Second Judicial District and moved up to become a justice on the Territorial Supreme Court in 1857. In February 1859 was appointed Governor of the Nebraska Territory by President James Buchanon. He served two years, starting on 2 May 1859. He was a popular choice initially (not that the sentiments of the people of the territory had any political weight), but he was not adverse to political partisanship or controversy as governor and made a few enemies. He was characterized in one newspaper as being intemperate, but this may have been an unfounded political attack. Since Black was a Democrat, it was not at all surprising that he was replaced as governor by Abraham Lincoln almost as soon as Lincoln took office. However, Black was a friend of, and one source even indicates he was once a law partner of Edwin M. Stanton, who was Lincoln's Secretary of War. Hardly an ardent abolitionist (he vetoed an antislavery bill), Sam Black, however, was loyal to the cause of saving the Union. As soon as his replacement arrived in the state, Black returned to Pittsburgh for the sole purpose of organizing a regiment in Lincoln's army. Here is a sample of Black's eloquence on an entirely different issue: "Let us all with one accord, say, 'God bless the common school system. For it is to the wintry condition of the world what the sunshine of spring, the rain of heaven and the distilled dews of the night are to the earth in her struggles to bring forth through ribs of frost the bud, the leaf and the flower.'" Black's death came very early in the war. At the very outset of the battle of Gaines Mill, the Sixty-second Pennsylvania and the Ninth Massachusetts charged across a ravine in their front against heavy infantry fire. While leading the charge, Colonel Black was killed before reaching the woods on the far side of the ravine. His valor was profiled in Samuel P. Bates' Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania (1876). GAR Post 59, in McKeesport, was named in his honor. Black was married and had at least one son. Samuel Black, Jr., after his father's death, appeared to use the tragedy as a means of getting into West Point. He was more than a mediocre student and received a host of demerits while he was there. He was about to be dismissed for a hazing violation, when he used his connection with the Secretary of War to try to prevent this terminal disciplinary action. The Secretary of War quite heavy handedly came to Cadet Black's rescue, at the expense of the careers of three admired veterans of the war and distinguished graduates of the United States Military Academy, kept black from being dismissed and overruled the decision of a court martial. Unfortunately for Stanton, even after his vindictive actions, Cadet Black shortly resigned from West Point anyway, and enlisted in the Army as a substitute and was appointed second lieutenant in the 17th U.S. Infantry. He apparently was a better soldier than student and rose through the ranks and remained in the army after the end of the war. The younger Sam Black died of yellow fever five years after his father was killed, while on duty in Texas. For more of the young Black's story, see the Civil War History article, Duty, Honor, Country, and Skullduggery, by Eugene C. Tidball. |
Colonel Jacob Bowman Sweitzer (usually known as J. Bowman Sweitzer or J. B. Sweitzer)
(Made Brevet
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Mustered in as Major. Promoted from Major to Lieutenant-Colonel, 17 November 1861; Wounded and Captured at Gaines Mill, Va., 27 June 1862, and was sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. Returned to the regiment before 14 August 1862. Promoted to Colonel 27 June 1862. Became Commander of Second Brigade at Chancellorsville, 30 April 1863. Served temporarily as Commander of First Division, Fifth Corps, December 1863. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Promoted to brevet Brigadier General, 13 March 1865, for gallantry and meritorious service during the war. Born in on the Fourth of July, 1821, in West Brownsville (Washington County), PA, Jacob Bowman Sweitzer was educated at Jefferson College (graduate of the class of 1843), and began to practice law two years later. He became a prominent Pittsburgh attorney and served as U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Like Sam Black, he was an influential member of the Democratic Party. And like Black, he was hardly known as an abolitionist. In the first fugitive slave case to be tried in Pittsburgh, Sweitzer, then a United States Commissioner, took action to prevent the slave from being rescued after a court ordered him to be returned to his owner. For doing so, he was severely criticized in the press. As late as January 1861 he spoke at a public meeting favoring the Crittenden Compromise, a futile effort to prevent the war by proposing constitutional amendments to protect and extend slavery. However, Sweitzer was loyal to the cause of saving the Union. Although he had no previous military experience, Sweitzer served as a Major in the First Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Allegheny County Home Guards, joining in the spring of 1861. Joining the 62d as a major, Sweitzer rose quickly in the ranks, taking command of the regiment upon the death of Col. Black at Gaines Mill, and being promoted to command the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Fifth Corps. Possibly because of the black mark painted against the Fifth Corps' First Division during the Battle at Gettysburg, even if the Second Brigade acquitted itself well under the circumstances, he was not promoted to General until after the war was over. His valor was profiled in Samuel P. Bates' Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania (1876). After the war he returned to his law practice until he was appointed by President Grant to the position of Supervisor of Internal Revenue for the Western District of Pennsylvania in 1869. In 1873, after the Internal Revenue merged districts, Sweitzer was appointed Protonotary of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court. He served in that office until his death on 9 November 1888. His charitable interests included libraries, hospitals, reform schools, and welfare of the poor. See also this biographical sketch of Sweitzer taken from The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Pennsylvania of the 19th Century (1874). Sweitzer came from prominent families. The colonial Sweizers, also spelled Schweitzer, were Mennonite farmers. Sweitzer's great grandfather, Conrad Schweitzer, is listed in 30,000 Names of Immigrants in Pennsylvania as arriving in Philadelphia on 15 September 1749 aboard the "Edinburgh." J. Bowman's father, Henry Sweitzer, was both a sheriff and member of the legislature in Maryland before he married Ann Elliot Bowman and moved to western Pennsylvania, where he flourished in business, banking, and real estate. The Bowman family was important in the industrial development of western Pennsylvania. J. Bowman Sweitzer married Mary Holmes Stevenson in 1852. He was the older brother of Nelson Bowman Sweitzer, a West Pointer, who was an aide-de-camp to McClellan and, most famously, commander of the regiment that tracked down and killed John Wilkes Booth. Nelson B. Sweitzer, as far as I can tell, had little to do with the capture of Booth, however. Lieut. Edward P. Doherty was assigned to lead a detachment of twenty-five men from the Sixteenth New York Cavalry for the special assignment. They tracked down Booth and David Herold to the barn on the Richard Garrett farm. |
Lieutenant-Colonel T. Frederick Lehman |
Born in Germany, and had military academy training. He organized the Columbia Rifles, which in the Allegheny Home Guard organization was part of the First Regiment Rifles of the First Brigade. Lehman left the 62d Pennsylvania to accept promotion to Colonel to organize and command the 103d Pennsylvania Volunteers. He returned to Armstrong County to recruit its volunteers, and was able to muster it in on 3 October 1861. He survived the war. |
Promoted from Captain, Co. A to Lieutenant-Colonel, June 27, 1862; Died 22 May 1864, of wounds received at Laurel Hill, Va. (Cold Harbor). Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 32; Occupation: Carpenter; Residence: Allegheny Co.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11 1/2" Hull was born on 16 January 1829 in Allegheny, PA (now part of Pittsburgh). He was buried at his family gravesite at Uniondale Cemetery in Pittsburgh. He was married to Caroline N. Hull, and they had at least one daughter, Mary. Thanks to Phyllis Love Ard, Hull's great granddaughter for additional information. |
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Captain William Plunkett Maclay |
Maclay never was promoted in rank beyond Captain of Company C, so, technically, his name should not appear among the Field and Staff Officers. However, after Lieutenant Colonel Hull was mortally wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, Maclay assumed command of the regiment. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 20; Occupation: Carpenter; Residence: Clarion Co.; Hair: Sandy; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11 1/2". Name is listed McClay, with a note that rolls show name as Maclay. Maclay was born on 4 May 1841 in the town of Hartleton, Union County, Pa. After the war, Captain Maclay moved to the western United States, but he filed an invalid pension in Pennsylvania in 1881. There is no record of wife or children. Alternate spellings of the nast name are M'Clay and McClay. Plunkett is also spelled Plunket. Maclay came from a distinguished family. His father was a judge and his grandfather and great uncle were both United States Senators -- his great uncle (along with Robert Morris) was Pennsylvania's very first Senator. More on the Maclays can be found on Ken Westcott's Family names page includes six William Plunket Maclays. |
Major James W. Patterson |
Promoted from Captain, Co. B to Major, 15 December 1861; Resigned 10 August 1862. |
Major William G. Lowry |
Promoted from 1st Lt., Co. C to Major, 10 September 1862; Killed at Gettysburg, 2 July 1863. Buried in National Cemetery, sec. B, grave 26. His widow was Mattie S. Lowry. Lowry was born in Pennsylvania and was a 25 year old clerk living in Piney Township, Clarion County, at the time of the 1860 census. From the census record there is in indication that he was then married, and he appeared to be a member of a boarding house, or some other household with six family members and seven additional unrelated individuals of both sexes. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 26; Occupation: Clerk; Residence: Clarion Co.; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'8 1/2" John N.Boucher in History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (1906), p. 442, indicated that on 12 February1863, Lowry, a native of Freeport, Pa., married Martha Stewart, a teacher who was educated at the Saltsburg Academy. Brother of Corporal Robert A. Lowry of Company C. |
Adjutant Joseph H. Brown |
Resigned October 28, 1862. In a letter dated 25 June 1862, Colonel Black remarked that had been "quite sick with fever" for a few weeks, and the colonel thought he should go home for a few weeks. -- Moorhead, Elizabeth, Whirling spindle : the story of a Pittsburgh family |
Adjutant J. E. Cunningham |
Mustered into service, 11 December 1861; Promoted from 1st Lt., Co. L, October 28, 1862; Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., 13 December 1862. |
Adjutant Samuel K. Forsyth |
Promoted from Sgt. Major, 19 March 1863; Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 30 June 1863. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 25; Occupation: Painter; Residence: Allegheny County, Pa.; Hair: Fair; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11": Remarks: Trans. from Company A. Pro. to Sgt. Major (Date Unknown) Trans. to Adjt. 3-19-63 Dis. S.C. of D. |
Promoted from 1st Lt., Co. C, 30 June 1863, Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., 12 May 1864; Buried at Wilderness burial ground [Fredericksburg National Cemetery]. His pension claim was filed by his mother, which would be a strong indication that he was unmarried. |
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Quartermaster Andrew T. Howden |
Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant of Company M, 21 August 1861. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. |
Surgeon James Kerr |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Died on or before 25 July 1892. Pension filed by his widow, Harriet L. Kerr. |
Asst. Surgeon Joseph H. Webb |
Resigned, 12 September 1862. |
Asst. Surgeon Thaddeus S. Gardner |
Mustered into service 2 August 1862. Promoted to Surgeon, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry (162d Volunteers), 23 October 1863. Resigned on 6 April 1864. |
Asst. Surgeon Wallace D. Martin |
Mustered into service 17 March 1863. According to Bates, he resigned October 9, 1863. According to CWVCF, he was dismissed for desertion 23 September 1863. |
Asst. Surgeon Joseph F. Wilson |
Mustered into service 23 October 1863. According to the invalid pension record he filed, he also served as an Asst. Surgeon for an "Indpt. Batt'n Pa. Mil." Died 10 August 1898, according to Proceedings of the 31st Annual Encampment of the Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic (Wilkes-Barre, 1899). |
Asst. Surgeon Philip M. Zeigler |
Mustered into service, 6 November 1863 ; Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Zeigler was born in Lebanon county on 11 January 1834, a fourth generation Swiss-American. He was well educated in the classics and the medical sciences, attending Mt. Joy Academy, Litiz Academy and the Pennsylvania Medical School, all before the war. After the war, he applied for a commission as surgeon in the regular army, but before the commission arrived, he purchased the drug store in Reading, and resigned his commission when it finally arrived. He continued in the pharmacy trade for more than forty-two years. He was also very active in the Reading Hospital and served for a time as its treasurer and manager. He married Sarah Ann McFarland on 13 July 1871, and they had two children, Howard and Stella. Dr. Ziegler was a Presbyterian, and helped found the Olivet Church in Reading. |
Chaplain James F. Read |
Resigned 2 March 1862. Bates spells last name as Reed. CWVCF and pension index card (invalid pension filed by his attorney 2 April 1895) both indicate the correct spelling of the last name was Read. According to Samuel W. Durant's History of Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania (1876), Rev. James F. Read, D.D., was pastor of the Birmingham Presbyterian Church (now South Side Presbyterian Church), from November 1858 to November 1862. It is possible, if this is the same individual, that he took a leave of absence to serve as chaplain with the 62d P.V. |
Chaplain Albert G. Williams |
Mustered into service, 24 July 1862; Resigned December 4, 1862. According to Boyd Crumrine's History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (1882), Rev. Albert G. Williams served as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Washington, Pa., from 1858-59. |
Mustered into service, 22 July 1861; Promoted from Sgt, Co. F, 8 December 1861; Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 10 December 1862. |
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Sergeant-Major Samuel Kennedy |
Promoted to Adj., 103d reg. P.V., 9 February 1862. |
Sergeant-Major Watson H. Guthrie |
Promoted from Sgt., Co. I, 14 December 1863. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. His widow, Margaret E. Guthrie, filed a pension claim on 10 July 1890. |
Quartermaster's Sergeant Walther Fleninken (first name also listed as Walter) |
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, date unknown. |
Quartermaster's Sergeant George S. Campbell |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. |
Commissary-Sergeant George E. Berger |
Began as a private in Company I. Promoted to 1st Lt, Company K., 9 February 1864. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Woodlawn Born in 1833, he would have been 28 when he joined the regiment. He was living with his wife in Pittsburgh in 1910. Died 21 January 1913. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Wilkinsburg. His widow was Hannah M. Berger. |
Commissary-Sergeant Joseph O'Brien |
Promoted from Sgt., Co. G, 22 March 1864. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. |
Hospital Steward Ernest G. Krehan |
Mustered into service, 22 July 1861. Promoted on 5 August 1861, from Private, Company B. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. |
Bates provides no information on the Regimental Band, but it served the regiment for close to a year from September 1861 to early in 1862. Its members likely all joined together having played as a brass band before the war, and prior to joining the 62d, were attached to the 12th National Guard Regiment of the State of New York, a three month regiment. The Withers family were the core of the band and before the war had the name the Withers Brass Band and the Withers Excelsior Band.
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William Withers, Jr. |
Band Leader |
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William Withers, Sr. |
Principal Musician |
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William F. English |
1 Cl. Musician |
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August Newman |
1 Cl. Musician |
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Joseph Withers |
1 Cl. Musician |
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Reuben Withers |
1 Cl. Musician |
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Charles Eichele |
2 Cl. Musician |
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John Eichele |
2 Cl. Musician |
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Peter Eichele |
2 Cl. Musician |
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Francis Withers |
2 Cl. Musician |
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William Stephens (or Stevens) |
3 Cl. Musician |
Unlike the Regimental Band, the field musicians -- buglars, fifers, and drummers -- were integral to each company. Following regulations, each company should have had a drummer and a fifer. Bates, however, indicated only sixteen musicians on the muster out rolls and none from Companies D, E, and H. I believe this due to the fact that many musicians had become combatants before the end of their service, mostly as privates, but in a few cases as officers. I was surprised to see how few mustered out with the regiment, even though none were listed as killed in action. The list below is still incomplete. I have long heard of the drummer boys who were underaged lads unable to enlist as soldiers, but the company musicians of the 62d ranged widely in age. However, most do appear to be short in stature.
All mustered into service in July or August 1861 (dates vary slightly by Company), except one (where noted).
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John A. Irwin |
Company A |
Not on muster-out roll. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 17; Occupation: Gardner; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'; Remarks: Rolls show last name as Irvine [Irvine is crossed out in ink]. |
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John R. Cowling |
Company A |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Mustered in as Drummer; mustered out as Private, according to "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 19; Occupation: Mason; Residence: (Born ) Allegheny Co.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'3 1/2" Remarks: Rolls show last name as Cowling. Listed as John R. Crowling in Bates. Listed as John K. Cowling in "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." |
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Conrad Dittmere |
Company B |
Mustered in 12 September 1861 at Fort Corcoran, Va. Deserted, date unknown Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 14; Occupation: Tending Boy; Residence: Birmingham, Pa.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5' Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania : personal and genealogical, with portraits. (Madison, Wis.: Northwestern Historical Association, 1904) notes that Conrad Dittmer was a "prominent merchant tailor of McKeesport." |
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Lewis Coursin |
Company C |
Mustered in 25 July 1861. Discharged for disability, 9 February 1863. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 25; Occupation: Carpenter; Residence: Clarion Co.; Hair: Red; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Fair; Height: 6'1" Remarks: Pr. to Musc., (date unknown). Not on M.O.. Roll. Bates). A fifer according to the "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." |
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James Low |
Company C |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Mustered in as Drummer; mustered out as Private, according to "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 16; Occupation: Laborer; Residence: (Born ) Clarion Co.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'5" Remarks: Pr. to Musc. (date unknown). |
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Robert Sutton |
Company D |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: M.I: As Mus.; Age at Enrollment: 18; Occupation: Boatman; Residence: Armstrong Co.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5' 5 1/2" Mustered in as Musician; mustered out as a Private, according to the "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." |
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Company D |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: M.I: As Mus.; Age at Enrollment: 21; Occupation: Farmer; Residence: Indiana Co.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Black; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'10" Mustered in as Musician; mustered out as a Private, according to the "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." |
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Company E |
Originally served as musician; became a private in July 1863 (possibly during the Battle at Gettysburg). Sick with Malarial Fever in Camp in the vicinity Falls Church VA, 26 September 1861 to early winter 1861; treated by Regimental Surgeon. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Borer; Residence: Clarion Co.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Light; Height: 5' 10" Remarks: Pr. Musc. (date unknown) Among other jobs after the war, Cribbs worked on an oil crew in Oil Creek, Pa., and ran for a seat on the assembly of New Bethlehem Borough in 1906. Cribbs married Crissie Mohney, who was likely a cousin or other relative of many of the Mohneys who served in Company E. John died on 28[?] April 1911. Further information and portraits of John L. Cribbs and his family, including one of him visiting Devil's Den, are available online courtesy of his great great granddaughter, Donna Cribbs Messenger. |
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Richard Cooper |
Company F |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, 25 July 1863. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 24; Occupation: Coach Maker; Residence: Beaver Co.; Hair: Sandy; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Light; Height: 5'10 1/2 " |
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Benjamin Barker |
Company F |
Discharged by order of War Department, 2 October 1862. |
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John Bryan |
Company G |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, 11 November1861. |
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Charles Hill |
Company G |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, 3 March 1862. |
| William H. Conner |
Company H |
Mustered in as Drummer, according to "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." Mustered in as private, according to Bates and CWVCF. Promoted to Corporal December 25, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, 2 July 1863. Killed at Cold Harbor 3 June 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 25; Occupation: Laborer; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'8" Member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park. |
John P. Hultz![]() |
Company H |
Mustered in as musician, according to CWVCF. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 23; Occupation: Farmer; Residence: Allegheny Co.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'8 3/4" Member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park. |
| Thomas H. Lynch |
Company H |
Mustered in as private, according to Bates and CWVCF. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. Possibly captured at Gainseville, 27 June 1862, as evidenced by Private W. H. Lynch being listed on register of Prisoners Received at C. S. Prison [Richmond?] on June 27th and 29th, 1862. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 26; Occupation: Miner; Residence: Allegheny Co.; Hair: Sandy; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Fair; Height: 6' 1/2" Gravestone in Anne Ashley cemetery, Munhall, Pa., where he is buried, indicates he served as Musician and Private. Born 1834. Died 4 August 1905.
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Company I |
Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864. |
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John Ready |
Company I |
Absent in hospital at muster out. |
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Samuel Cook |
Company K |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, 10 January 1863. |
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Jacob Shenkel |
Company L |
Mustered out with company, August 15, 1864. Born 1840. Died 1927. |
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Benjamin Morgan |
Company L |
Mustered out with company, August 15, 1864. |
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William Clifford |
Company L |
Deserted 27 August 1862. |
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James Curran |
Company M |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, June 1862. |
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Richard P. Brunker |
Company M |
Discharged on Surgeon's Certificate, 9 January 1863. |
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Edward D. Garden |
Company M |
Mustered in January 1, 1864; Transferred to 91st reg. P. V., July 20, 1864. |
The designation "Unassigned" was given to many volunteers for different reasons. Some who joined late in the war never caught up with the regiment before they were transferred to another regiment. Others may have served directly under the field and staff officers with no company designation. I think others were added to the list because of a problem with record keeping, especially when in the case of misspelling of names.
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Name |
Muster In Date |
Remarks |
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John Conoway |
21 March 1864 |
Not on muster-out roll. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: No personal information provided. |
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John Doring |
13 March 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll. Also listed in Company L. Transferred to Company K, 91st P.V. 20 July 1864. Mustered out 10 July 1865. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866 [under K - 91 I]: Age at Enrollment: 25; Occupation: Glassblower; Residence: Birmingham, Pa. (Born) Pittsburgh; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Dark; Height: [not listed]: Remarks: Trans. from Co. L. 62 P.V. 7-20-64. Pr. Corp. 4-1-65. |
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Andrew W Driggs |
9 October 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll. Most likely the volunteer listed as Private Andrew M. Driggs in Company H. |
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Andrew J Early |
24 June 1864 |
Transferred to Company I, 155th regiment P. V., 3 July 1864 |
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William Grine |
27 November 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll. [See the volunteer listed as Private William Grein in Company L. Grine is the correct spelling.] |
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Charles F Hugo |
1 November 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: No personal information provided. |
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William H Herr |
22 March 1864 |
Not on muster-out roll. Also listed in Company K. Transferred to Company B, 155th P.V. 4 July 1864. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866 [from B - 155 I]: Age at Enrollment: 18; Occupation: Watch Maker; Residence: Pittsburgh, Pa. (born) Lancaster, Pa.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Light; Height: 5'9": Remarks: Trans. from Company K. 62nd. Regt. 7-4-64. |
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John P Henshy |
15 November 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll [See the volunteer listed as Private John B. Henshey in Company M.] |
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Patrick Henry |
11 November 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll [See the volunteer listed as Private Patrick Henry in Company F.] |
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John Keenan |
22 September 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll [See the volunteer listed as Private John Keeenan in Company H.] |
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Christian H. King |
29 February 1864 |
Not on muster-out roll |
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William Mercer |
23 July 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll |
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John M'Kee |
18 August 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll |
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Patrick M'Ateer |
29 October 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll |
|
William Penney |
19 November 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll |
|
Samuel R Penney |
27 November 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll |
|
Peter Quinn |
30 March 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll |
|
John Sample |
26 December 1863 |
Not on muster-out roll Transferred to Company F, 155th P. V, 3 July 1864. Wounded at Dabney's Mill. Discharged by general order, 7 June 1865. Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866 [under F - 155 I]: Age at Enrollment: 27; [No other personal information listed]; Remarks: D. L. for'd Trans. from 62" P.V. 7-2-64. Wounded 2-6-65 at Point Look, Md. Listed in Under the Maltese Cross. Not listed for the 62d in the Allegheny County Roll of Honor. |
|
Manuel E. Smith |
19 March 1864 |
Transferred to Company I, 155th regiment P. V., 3 July 1864 |
|
Thomas Watkins |
18 October 1861 |
Not on muster-out roll |
|
John Winters |
25 May 1863 |
Transferred to Company B, 155th regiment P. V., 3 July 1864 |
|
William A Watts |
19 March 1864 |
Not on muster-out roll |
Samuel Penniman Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5. has been my primary source of information about rosters. However, within a few years after it was published, it was already recognized as incomplete and inaccurate. At least one attempt was made (in Jefferson County) to correct the rosters on a company level less than ten years after Bates was published. For all its flaws however, it is as good a record as we have for most companies. The challenge Bates faced was huge. Records were not always kept in good order; names were often confused; spellings were not consistent; some soldiers mustered in under assumed name; and mistakes and omissions were made. If you have an ancestor that is not included in Bates, that does not mean definitively that he was not in the regiment. If you have supporting evidence, I will gladly update the rosters to include missing soldiers or correct or add to the information I have listed.
Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5. Volume III. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. -- available online through University of Michigan's Making of America series.
Wilson, Erasmus, edior. Standard History of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Chicago: H.R. Cornell, 1898.
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This page maintained by: John R. Henderson (jhenderson@ithaca.edu)
Last modified: Memorial Day 2008
URL: http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/pa62d/reg.html