Guided here from my new guy post

TheBumper78

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Joined
Jun 20, 2019
I think I’m in the right thread now. My cousin gave me names and regiments. I’m just starting this adventure. My last name is Hower. My cousin found Hower’s in the PA 54th, 192nd, and 193rd. I’d like more info if possible on John Robinholdt PA 93rd. Also Charles Boehmer 123rd infantry, and Samuel Kessler 105th. My cousin said Mr. Kessler was behind the mining and explosion at Petersburg. No way of knowing for real. Thank you all.
 
Welcome. This is a great place to get started on researching your ancestor's service records. I don't have much info or background on Pennsylvania regiments.
The more info you can provide the better. The best place to start is the 1860 Census and post the State(I assume PA but may be different) and County where they lived, their age and anything that might be important for the research.

Good luck.
 
Welcome!

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn't have full service records on Fold3, so for the complete record you'll have to send off to NARA. (I have not done that yet, but I know others here have and could give you some pointers on that.)

What Pennsylvania does have is index cards with very brief summaries of name and regiment for each man, but I am not finding anyone with the last name Robinholdt on there. There are 2 John Robinholts/Robinholds. Not sure if the same man or not because all that is given are names and regiments. But they're for the 202nd PA and 210th PA.

Are Boehmer and Kessler also in Pennsylvania regiments?
 
Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi! Be sure and visit the Forum soon
Regards
David
 
John Robinholdt
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Welcome!

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn't have full service records on Fold3, so for the complete record you'll have to send off to NARA. (I have not done that yet, but I know others here have and could give you some pointers on that.)

What Pennsylvania does have is index cards with very brief summaries of name and regiment for each man, but I am not finding anyone with the last name Robinholdt on there. There are 2 John Robinholts/Robinholds. Not sure if the same man or not because all that is given are names and regiments. But they're for the 202nd PA and 210th PA.

Are Boehmer and Kessler also in Pennsylvania regiments?
Honestly I don’t know. I’m so excited and gathering info that my family has. Names and regiment numbers may not be 100% correct. I’ll work on it on my end. You folks are so freaking awesome. I appreciate it.
 
I think I’m in the right thread now. My cousin gave me names and regiments. I’m just starting this adventure. My last name is Hower. My cousin found Hower’s in the PA 54th, 192nd, and 193rd. I’d like more info if possible on John Robinholdt PA 93rd. Also Charles Boehmer 123rd infantry, and Samuel Kessler 105th. My cousin said Mr. Kessler was behind the mining and explosion at Petersburg. No way of knowing for real. Thank you all.

I believe the mine at Petersburg would be the 48th PA.

There is a Lewis M. Robinholdt lited in the 48th PA. Only PA soldier with that surname I could locate.

There's a Christian Bohmer listed in the 87th PA. No Charles.

Samuel Kessler Company A 105th PA. Enlisted as a Private 9/8/1861. promoted to Corporal 1/9/1865. Mustered out at Washington D.C.
7/11/1865.

Chancellorsville, VA after battle report:

No. 118.

Report of Lieut. Col. Calvin A. Craig, One hundred
and Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry.

CAMP SICKLES, VA.,
May 9, 1863.
CAPT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
movements of my command since April 28 until our return of this
camp:

Having complied with all preparatory orders, the regiment moved with
the brigade on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28, with 27 officers and
320 men, and reached a point about 4 miles below Fredericksburg, on
the Rappahannock, where we bivouacked for the night.

The next day, April 29, we moved to the woods skirting the river,
where we encamped for two nights, Col. McKnight holding an
informal regimental muster on April 30.

May 1, we took up our line of march about 2 p.m. for the right, and
halted within a short distance of the United States Ford at 12 p.m.

Soon after daylight (May 2), we moved forward, and crossed the
Rappahannock at the United States Ford about noon, when we received
orders for picket duty, and moved to a field near Chancellorsville, on
the Plank road to Orange Court-House.

At 5 o'clock, our orders being countermanded, we moved and formed
line of battle near the Chancellorsville brick mansion (our batteries at
that point having been attacked), where we received a heavy artillery
fire, and remained there until daylight, the brigade at that time being
moved to the center, where we were deployed as skirmishers, and
remained until afternoon, when we were ordered to join the
reconnaissance. This we did, and returned about 9 p.m., and lay during
that night (Saturday) to the rear of the batteries, about 1 mile south of
the Orange road, while the other brigades of the division were engaged
with the night attack.

At daylight on the morning of Sunday, we moved a short distance for
the purpose of making an artillery road across a swampy piece of
ground. As we finished this, we received a sweeping fire of musketry
from the enemy, which wounded several men, and the then moved to
the rear of the batteries at the brick mansion.

From this point we moved forward, the One hundred and fourteenth
Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers on our right, we being the extreme
left of the brigade, and charged the woods immediately in front of these
batteries, where we were engaged for nearly two hours at the entrance
of these woods.

At the time we were gaining position, Col. McKnight was shot
through the head and instantly killed. The command of the regiment
then devolved upon me. It was at this time my regiment suffered
severe loss in killed and wounded.

Discovering a movement to outflank our left, I ordered Lieut.
Nesbit, of Company B, to take his men beyond the breastworks. This
he did, occupying a position where he killed and wounded many of the
enemy, thus assisting to drive them from their position and for the time
checking their movement. The enemy, however, were re-enforced, and
the brigade was then outflanked upon the right, when we retired from
the woods to the rear of the batteries, forming line of battle
immediately in rear of the brick mansion. From this position, we next
reached the woods near the Orange road, where we remained, alternately doing
duty in the entrenchments and to the rear of the abatis of fallen timber,
the right wing being placed upon the front line of battle.

It being relieved in the morning, our regiment took position on the
third line, when several unimportant movements took place, but nothing
of note, until orders were received to march. We were ready and in
line from 8 p.m. until 12 p.m., when we lay down and rested for an
hour.

At 3 a.m. we started for the ford, which we recrossed about 7 a.m.,
and returned without particular events to our camp.

We arrived in order, about 5 p.m. with 16 officers and 220 men, our
loss during the entire operation being 5 killed, 65 wounded, and 7
missing.

Straggling did not occur at any time. A few men, being cut off from the
regiment during the retiring, rejoined us about 4 p.m. All the men and
officers seemed to vie with one another in doing their duty, no
instance of cowardice having occurred during the different engagements.

All having done so well, I cannot with justice make particular mention
of individual bravery.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. A. CRAIG,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. 105 Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Capt. F. BIRNEY,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., First Div., Third Army Corps.

Source: Official Records Series I. Vol. 25. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 39

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

Gettysburg after battle report:

Report of Col. Calvin A. Craig, One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania
Infantry.

Hdqrs. 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers,
July 11, 1863.
Lieut.: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the part taken by this regiment in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., from
July 1 to 4, inclusive:

On the afternoon of the 1st instant, the regiment moved with the
rest of the brigade at 1.15 p. m., with 20 officers and 257 men, from a
point about 1 mile east of Emmitsburg, Md., where we had encamped
the night previous, and marched to a point about half a mile west of
the town and near the Hagerstown road, where we received orders to
encamp.

At 4 p. m. the order was countermanded, and we took up the line
of march in the direction of Gettysburg, Pa. The march was a very
severe one and fatigued the men very much, but the regiment stood
the march well, and when the brigade bivouacked for the night 1
mile south of Gettysburg, we had only 3 men who had fallen out of
the ranks on the march. These rejoined us during the night.

On the morning of the 2d, we moved with the balance of the brigade
a short distance, when line of battle was formed about half a
mile east of and parallel with the Emmitsburg road, in which position
we remained until 11.15 a. m., when we received orders to move
to the front to support the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, who
were deployed as skirmishers along the Emmitsburg road. My regiment
took position immediately in their rear, with Companies A, F,
D, I, and C deployed, the other companies in reserve. The fire from
the enemy's sharpshooters was severe. One man was killed very soon
after we got into position.

At 1 p. m. orders were received from Gen. Graham to rejoin
the brigade, and to take position in rear of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and on the right of the One hundred and fourteenth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, in column doubled on the center.

The regiment remained in this position until 2 p. m. We then
moved forward with the brigade to a point near the brick house on
the Emmitsburg road, where we halted and deployed, still maintaining
our relative positions, my right resting on a by-road running at
right angles with the Emmitsburg road. At this time the enemy
opened with his artillery a very destructive fire. My regiment suffered
a loss of some 12 men while in this position.

At 4 p. m. we again moved forward near the brick house and immediately
in its rear. At this time I noticed the enemy's infantry
advancing from the woods on the left of the house and in its rear,
and seeing that I could do nothing in the position I then occupied
(in the rear of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers), and that
I must necessarily suffer severely, I ordered the regiment forward to
fill a vacancy on the right of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers,
in the front line and a little beyond the Emmitsburg road.
Having gained this position, the fire from the enemy being very severe,
we immediately opened fire.

After occupying this position for a short time, I noticed the regiments
on my immediate left (One hundred and fourteenth and Fifty-seventh
Pennsylvania Volunteers) cluster in groups behind the brick
house and adjacent out-buildings. A few moments later the One
hundred and fourteenth fell to the rear, and the Fifty-seventh very
soon followed, leaving my left flank entirely unprotected.

The enemy, taking advantage of this, advanced across the Emmitsburg
road, in front of the house, and immediately opened fire upon
our left flank. Seeing this, I ordered my regiment to retire slowly a
short distance, and changed front to the rear on the first company. A
small remnant of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers rallied
with us, and formed line along the by-road before mentioned, where
we again opened fire, and checked the advancing rebels for a few
minutes; but the regiment being so small and both flanks being
entirely unprotected, I ordered the regiment to retire slowly, and
formed line again a short distance to the rear. The troops in our rear
by this time were beginning to be effective, and the brigade having
gone to the rear, I formed with these troops, and fought with them,
sometimes advancing and sometimes retreating, but do not know
whose troops they were.

Soon after, I saw Gen. Humphreys, and formed line with some
of his troops. From this point we advanced steadily until we had
regained nearly all the ground we had lost. Noticing at this time
three pieces of artillery that had been abandoned by our artillerists
and turned upon us by the advancing rebels (and who were in turn
compelled to abandon them), I sent forward my few remaining men
to bring them off the field, but being unable to bring them all off, I
got assistance from some men of the Excelsior Brigade with two of
the pieces, and brought the third off the field with my own men. I
withdrew all my men with this piece, and finally delivered it to Sergt.
Daniel A. Whitesell, Battery C, Fifth U. S. Artillery, who identified
it as one of the pieces belonging to that battery.

About this time, Capt. [Timothy L.] Maynard, of Gen. Graham's
staff, came up. I reported to him for orders from Gen.
Graham, and was informed that the corps was forming at a certain
point. I moved the regiment, but could not find the brigade (it was
now quite dark), but formed on the right of the Third Brigade.
Soon after, I moved under the direction of Lieut.'s Benson and
[George W.] Perkins, of Gen. Graham's staff, and joined the
brigade, and bivouacked for the night.

The next morning, July 3, we again moved forward with the brigade,
and occupied a position in the third line of battle and in the
rear of the Fifth Corps, where we remained until about 2 p. m., when
we were again ordered with the brigade to the center, our forces there
having been attacked, and formed line of battle in the rear of the
batteries at that point. We remained in this position until 9 p. m.,
when the regiment with the brigade moved to the front and formed
line of battle on the first line, relieving the Vermont Brigade, of the
First Corps. We remained in this position during the night. In the
morning, the line was withdrawn and the troops occupying it marched
a short distance to the rear. The entire rebel front line had also retired.
Several unimportant movements took place during the day,
but nothing worthy of note.

The entire loss in the regiment during this time was 1 officer killed,
13 officers wounded, 7 enlisted men killed, 101 enlisted men wounded,
and 9 enlisted men missing, making a total of 131 men.*

The regiment never fought better or with more enthusiasm. The
list of casualties proves with what determination they contested
every inch of ground. Fourteen officers out of 17 combatants were
either killed or wounded, and 117 men out of 257 were either killed,
wounded, or missing, being nearly one-half of the entire number
taken into action. No instance of cowardice occurred during the engagements.
All seemed to feel that they were fighting on the soil of
their native State, and that they would either conquer or yield up
their lives in her defense.

I cannot make particular mention of individual bravery. All,
both officers and men, seemed imbued with the same spirit, which
was one of determination never to yield, but to fight to the bitter end,
and until there was not a single rebel in arms to pollute the soil of
their native State.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. A. CRAIG,
Col. One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Lieut. R. Dale Benson,
A. A. A. G., First Brigade, First Division, Third Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

*********************************************************************************
 
Honestly I don’t know. I’m so excited and gathering info that my family has. Names and regiment numbers may not be 100% correct. I’ll work on it on my end. You folks are so freaking awesome. I appreciate it.
Sounds great! I wouldn't be as far along as I am with my genealogy without the good folks here.

You might find these links that follow helpful. They're how-to guides I've been putting together on doing Civil War genealogy.

One is on how to use the NPS Soldier Database, which is free and accessible for everyone. It has its limits for sure, but it's always a first stop for me.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/how-to-thread-nps-civil-war-soldier-sailor-database.155661/

The other is on how to use Fold3, where you can access service records for many but not all states. Now, Fold3 is a subscription service and might not be as worthwhile of an investment for you for CW research if all your folks are Pennsylvania, but it is periodically free for a couple of weeks at a time.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/how-to-thread-fold3.158488/

I'm going to be writing another one of these guides soon-ish on Civil War service records, which might also be of use to you. Just have to find the time to do it. :unsure::giggle::smile:
 
There are Samuel Kessler's in both the 48th Pennsylvania (Company D) and the 105th Pennsylvania (Company A). The Company D, 48th Pennsylvania was raised in Schuylkill County (Pottsville PA) in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania. The 48th dug the Mine for what became the Battle of the Crater near Petersburg. Company A, 105th was raised in Jefferson County which is in the north central part of Pennsylvania. If you know where Samuel lived it would help narrow the choices.
 
I think I’m in the right thread now. My cousin gave me names and regiments. I’m just starting this adventure. My last name is Hower. My cousin found Hower’s in the PA 54th, 192nd, and 193rd. I’d like more info if possible on John Robinholdt PA 93rd. Also Charles Boehmer 123rd infantry, and Samuel Kessler 105th. My cousin said Mr. Kessler was behind the mining and explosion at Petersburg. No way of knowing for real. Thank you all.
There's also a Christopher Kessler in the 105th PA Infantry, enlisted same date as Samuel, possibly related.
 
So my research into my family PA 18th Cav. and 148th Infantry led me to this site with muster rolls.
Infantry it's on the Infantry page but there are Cavalry and Artillery records too. I noticed while I was looking at the 148th muster roll Company B match the Centre County Boggs Township 1860 Census pretty closely with some other people thrown in.
 
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