148th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

Today marks the Battle of Gettysburg's 148th Anniversary. This battle has become the quintessential talking point for anyone who reads about the American Civil War, who wants to visit a Civil War battlefield, or for armchair historians who believe that their 20/20 hindsight should have been the glasses through which every General looked across the field.

Most popular histories of the 20th and 21st Centuries focus on the July 2nd battle for Little Round Top and the July 3rd Confederate assault, the poorly named "Pickett's Charge".

The 142nd PVI was not a player in either of these struggles, although they did have a front row seat to Pickett's Charge from their July 3 position, and even had a few casualties via the artillery barrage that preceded this assault.

The 142nd made their battlefield appearance in the July 1st battle for Seminary Ridge.  At that point during the war, the 142nd was part of General John Reynold's First Corps. As Union Calvary kept the Confederate forces at bay at Seminary Ridge (so named for the Lutheran Seminary located there), General Reynolds brought his troops up from the south.

During the ensuing battle, a Confederate bullet felled General Reynolds, leading General Abner Doubleday to take over the command of his Corps.

As the 142nd came on the field, it formed its line of battle to the left of where Gen. Reynolds was killed. Morning turned to afternoon, and  the Confederates, having superior numbers, pushed the 142nd's brigade back, and its lines began crumble after it was flanked. The regiment fell back toward the Seminary, and then back through town. On the field in front of the Seminary, the 142nd's commanding officer, Col. Robert P. Cummins was mortally wounded. Col. Cummins was captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner in the Lutheran Seminary, where he died the next day.

Above is a battle map of the July 1, 1863 action at Gettysburg. The 142nd was part of Biddle's Brigade. 

The regiment saw no action on July 2nd and was held in reserve on Cemetery Ridge and was moved into its final position of the battle near Gen. Meade's headquarters on July 3rd.

Total losses for the 142nd during the battle of Gettysburg were 15 killed, 126 wounded, and 84 missing or taken prisoner.

Corp. Jacob Bittner, Co. C

Jacob Bittner was born on July 3, 1834 in Milford Twp, Somerset County, PA. He and his wife Matilda continued to live there throughout their lives. According to census records, Jacob was a wagon maker by trade.

He enlisted in Co. C on Aug 25, 1862 and was mustered out with his company on May 29, 1865.

Jacob returned home and continued in the wagon making business. He died on Feb 24, 1915 and rests next to his wife in the Rockwood IOOF Cemetery, Rockwood, PA.

Pvt. John Beyers, Co. C

Pvt. John Beyers was mustered into Co. C of the 142nd PVI on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA. Regimental records show that Pvt. Beyers died on Oct 24, 1862. He is buried in Antietam National Cemetery, Section 26, Lot C, grave 234.

Pvt Elijah Berkey, Co. C

Elijah Berkey was born around 1837 in Pennsylvania. On Aug 25, 1862, he was mustered into Co. C 142nd PA Infantry. According to the Historical Data Systems of Provo, UT, Pvt. Berkey "Died from wounds...on 15 Jan 1863 at Washington, DC."

He was buried in Military Asylum Cemetery in DC, which is now known as "Soldiers and Airmen National Cemetery."

Pvt. Michael Ansell, Co. C

Michael Ansell was born on March 10, 1838 in Somerset County, PA to John and Martha (King) Ansell. Census records show that he grew up in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp, along with his brothers and sisters.

Michael was mustered into Co. C 142nd PA Infantry on Aug 25, 1862 at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA. He was mustered out with his company on May 29, 1865.

After the war, Michael moved back to Somerset County to work on the farm, and married Barbara Henry in 1865. The couple would go on to have seven children. In March 1896, Barbara passed away and Jacob was re-married to his second wife, Ellen Zigler two years later.

Above is the Pension Index Card for Michael Ansell, with his 2nd wife listed.

Michael passed away on Jan 9, 1912 and is buried with his first wife, Barbara, in the Scullton Brethern Cemetery in Upper Turkeyfoot Twp, Somerset County, PA.

 

Source:

History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 362/3

Capt. Jacob R. Walter, Co. C

Capt. Jacob R Walter of Co. C was born on Aug 20, 1835 in Somerset County, PA. The 1850 census lists Jacob as living in Milford Twp, and by 1860, he had moved to the county seat, Somerset, where he was listed as being married to Elizabeth and having two children.

Jacob was mustered into service on Aug 27, 1863 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain on Feb 22, 1863, and although he was wounded at Gettysburg, mustered out with his unit on May 29, 1865.

Capt Walter died on Jan 15, 1905 and is buried in the Somerset Union Cemetery in Somerset, PA.

Pvt. Peter Rowen, Co. B

Peter Rowen was born on April 13, 1835 in Westmoreland County, PA to John and Phoebe (Eicher) Rowen. The 1850 Federal Census lists his occupation as "Farmer". Peter married Barbara Livingood on Nov. 17, 1859 in Pennsville, Fayette County, PA.

Peter was mustered into service as a private in Co. B of the 142nd PA Infantry on Aug 26, 1862 in Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, PA.

Peter was among the wounded of the July 1, 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. According to his pension record seen below, Peter received "a shell wound of right leg and right foot."

The record below shows the location of his wounds:

Peter was mustered out the 142nd with the rest of his company on May 29, 1865.

He died on March 24, 1895 in Stauffer, Westmoreland County, PA. There are two headstones in two separate cemeteries that bear his name. One is with his wife and the other is not.

This grave is in Pennsville Mennonite Cemetery

This grave, with his wife, is in Oak Lawn Cemetery in South Union Twp, PA.