Post your Gettysburg Relative

gentlemanrob

Major
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Location
Upcountry South Carolina
So for the next few days I am asking you to post your Gettysburg Relative. Tell us a little about him, a photo of him or one of his grave. Anything you want to share with the website. I think this will be great to honor these veterans on both sides of the Battle.
 
Abe C. Freet, Sgt., Company D, 151st Pennsylvania. Enlisted October 24th 1862, promoted to Sergeant November 19th. KIA July 1st, Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
That is pretty much all I have on this man. I did not find out about this man until I looked on ancestry.com searching their Civil War files for the name Freet. Got around 37 results, of which Abe seemed to be in about the same region my family lived in for 2 centuries. At best he's a hunch.
 
At about this time of day, 157 years ago, my ancestor was about to be severely wounded in the action of the 111th New York Infantry Regiment just west, south West of where the 1st. Minnesota monument now stands, in the action that cost his Regiment 50% casualties in about twenty minutes, per the Regiments Colonel.

I lift my holiday glass, as I do every year, to him.

John
 
At about this time of day, 157 years ago, my ancestor was about to be severely wounded in the action of the 111th New York Infantry Regiment just west, south West of where the 1st. Minnesota monument now stands, in the action that cost his Regiment 50% casualties in about twenty minutes, per the Regiments Colonel.

I lift my holiday glass, as I do every year, to him.

John
I will lift a glass to this brave soul with you as well.
 
imgvassar-jpg-jpg.jpg


Rev. Thomas Edwin Vassar, D.D.
1834 - 1918
(Post-War Photo, circa 1872-1880, Flemington Baptist Church)
  • Thomas is my 3rd Great Grandfather
  • Son of William and Mary (Hageman) Vassar
  • Born on December 3, 1834 in Poughkeepsie, New York
  • Ordained as a Baptist Minister on January 19, 1857 in the First Baptist Church of Poughkeepsie, Age 22.
  • Married to Tamma G. Sackett on October 7, 1861
  • Chaplin of the 150th New York Volunteer Infantry
    • Service Duration: 10/11/1862 - 8/6/1863
    • Participated in the Battle of Gettysburg at the Trostle House (7/2) & Culps Hill (7/3)
  • Post War Vocation as a Traveling Minister, traveling as far west as Kansas City, Missouri before finally settling in Elizabeth, NJ
  • Children: Clarence, Thomas, Anvenette ('Nettie'), Frances, Harvey
  • Thomas is the Author of Uncle John Vassar: The fight of faith, published 1879
  • Died on July 2, 1918 in Elizabeth, NJ, likely of natural causes, at age 84
  • Buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Elizabeth/Hillside, NJ
    • Coord: 40°41'38.6"N 74°12'46.5"W (40.694051, -74.212906)
  • Thomas' name is listed on the front of the 150th NYVI Monument at Culps Hill, Gettysburg, PA
 
I don't have any direct ancestors that I know of that were at Gettysburg (they were either in the Western armies, already out due to wounds or in a different area of the Eastern theater) but I do have a couple great-uncles and 1st and 2nd cousins that were there. I will list them except the 2nd cousins because that would be a very very long post. First, a great-uncle:

Sgt. Henry Myers (1844 - 1869)
He was mustered in September 21, 1861 in Company H of the 60th New York Volunteers as a private, and later promoted to Sergeant. He mustered out Jul 17, 1865. At Gettysburg, they were on Culp's Hill, and played a role in repulsing the attack on the hill. I found a good description of the battle here.

NY60_4469.png


Another ancestor(s) at Gettysburg are the brothers Thomas Davenport Terwilliger (abt. 1831 - 1917), and James Terwilliger (abt. 1838 - 1864). There was another brother, Charles Terwilliger but he was in the 14th Michigan Infantry and was in the West. They were first cousins to one of my ancestors who was in the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. The following is directly from the roster of the 4th Michigan Infantry, the regiment they were in. The regiment involved in heavy fighting in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg, and nearly lost their flag but their Col. saved it, unfortunately being mortally wounded by bayonet in the process.

"Terwilliger, Thomas D., Hillsdale County. Enlisted in Company E, Fourth Infantry, September 16, 1861, at Hudson, for 3 years. Mustered October 8, 1861. Transferred under G. O. No. 365 to the Invalid Corps November 15, 1863. Transferred from Company I, Eleventh Regiment Invalid Corps, to Fourth Infantry, March 14, 1864. On detached service with Company K, First Infantry, by order, July 2, 1864, Petersburg, Virginia. Discharged at expiration of term of service at Weldon R. R., September 12, 1864. Resided in, Pentwater, Michigan after war. Died in Hudson, Michigan in July of 1917 and was buried at Addison, Michigan."

"Terwilliger, James, Hillsdale County. Enlisted in company E, Fourth Infantry, Oct. 5, 1861, at Hillsdale, for 3 years. Mustered Oct. 8, 1861. Killed in action at the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864." I have learned that at the Wilderness he was a color guard, and "On May 5th 1864 at the first days battle of the Wilderness, one of the color guards was shot through the head his blood and brains were scattered over the flag and upon the face of the color bearer who was also wounded." Source. The color guard was definitely James Terwilliger.

MI4_27041.png


Another 1st Cousin was Pvt. Alfred G. Dawson (born 1845). He was in Company E of the 7th West Virginia Infantry. At Gettysburg, they helped repulse General Early's attack on Cemetery Hill on 2nd. From the monument: At dusk July 2nd Carroll's Brigade was ordered by General Hancock to this point. On arriving there we found the Battery about to be taken charge of by the enemy who were in large force. Whereupon we immediately charged on the enemy and succeeded in completely routing their entire force and driving them beyond our lines.

7WV-4c-451-064.png


There are also many 2nd cousins who were there but there are too many to list. Among the second cousins were some in Confederate regiments. I also probably missed some 1st cousins and perhaps even great-uncles because there are as of yet still some gaps in what I know of my ancestry.
 
Abe C. Freet, Sgt., Company D, 151st Pennsylvania. Enlisted October 24th 1862, promoted to Sergeant November 19th. KIA July 1st, Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
That is pretty much all I have on this man. I did not find out about this man until I looked on ancestry.com searching their Civil War files for the name Freet. Got around 37 results, of which Abe seemed to be in about the same region my family lived in for 2 centuries. At best he's a hunch.
A couple others with the last name Freet in History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865. Not much info.
The link should open doing a word search. Wait several seconds for their names to found.

 
Sgt. Henry Schildt my gr gr granduncle of the 6th Wisconsin CO. F. Wounded on the first day during the charge on the Railroad Cut. Left on the field during the retreat to Cemetery Ridge and captured by the Confederates. Recovered by the Federals after the Confederate retreat on July 4. Sent to the Federal Hospital at York, PA. Served with the Invalid Corps until August 1864 when he returned to the 6th to be the captain of CO.F ( their last one ).

HenrySchildt.jpg
 
Lorenz Kutzelman of the 39th NY Infantry was my gr gr grandfather. The 39th arrived at Gettysburg on the second day. They were first deployed as skirmishers at the Bliss Farm. Then they were sent to the Wheatfield where they recaptured the guns of Battery I, 5th US Artillery. On the third day, they were posted in support of the 14th Connecticut along the stonewall during Pickett's Charge. As the rebels pressured the 14th, the 39th rushed in to plug the hole. They captured three Confederate battle flags during heavy fighting, IIRC flags of the 22nd and 26th NC Infantries. Photo at the dedication of the 39th's monument in 1888, Lorenz is the man in the middle.

10312701_723491967702658_9885139251102273_n.jpg
 
My GG Uncle, Reuben Evans,

Born Somerset, England, came to US age 17 in 1848. Family legend was that he went west to California for gold rush but returned to Skaneateles, NY. His obituary (1902) confirms travel to California.

I am trying to collect information on the 149th NY Inf. for a book project. With regimental history and G. Collins 1891 book, I believe there is a lot of history on the 149th that had not been told. For example, on left flank of 137th NY on Culp's Hill, the 149th actions seem forgotten in comparison to writings on the 137th and of course, the 20th Maine at the other end of the line on Little Round Top.

Collin's book referenced that each man of the 49th fired over 300 shots on between July 2 and 3 and the rotated back and forth to fill the works and were spread very thin. I want to research and learn more of their actions at Gettysburg but also subsequent history to end of war.

Any information you may have is appreciated and will be credited in my writings.

[email protected] or, [email protected]

Thanks in advance,

Professor Reg Parker
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


1593959443927.png
 
View attachment 364995

Rev. Thomas Edwin Vassar, D.D.
1834 - 1918
(Post-War Photo, circa 1872-1880, Flemington Baptist Church)
  • Thomas is my 3rd Great Grandfather
  • Son of William and Mary (Hageman) Vassar
  • Born on December 3, 1834 in Poughkeepsie, New York
  • Ordained as a Baptist Minister on January 19, 1857 in the First Baptist Church of Poughkeepsie, Age 22.
  • Married to Tamma G. Sackett on October 7, 1861
  • Chaplin of the 150th New York Volunteer Infantry
    • Service Duration: 10/11/1862 - 8/6/1863
    • Participated in the Battle of Gettysburg at the Trostle House (7/2) & Culps Hill (7/3)
  • Post War Vocation as a Traveling Minister, traveling as far west as Kansas City, Missouri before finally settling in Elizabeth, NJ
  • Children: Clarence, Thomas, Anvenette ('Nettie'), Frances, Harvey
  • Thomas is the Author of Uncle John Vassar: The fight of faith, published 1879
  • Died on July 2, 1918 in Elizabeth, NJ, likely of natural causes, at age 84
  • Buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Elizabeth/Hillside, NJ
    • Coord: 40°41'38.6"N 74°12'46.5"W (40.694051, -74.212906)
  • Thomas' name is listed on the front of the 150th NYVI Monument at Culps Hill, Gettysburg, PA

So, are you related to Vassar College?

My Mom grew up in Poughquag, nearby Poughkeepsie.
 
My GGGrandfather Joseph A. Piner enlisted in New Hanover County, NC and mustered as a High Private, Company K, 3rd North Carolina Infantry on 28 January 1862. He was wounded at Antietam and reached Gettysburg with his regiment. He and his unit were heavily engaged at the base of Culp's Hill and fortunately he left Pennsylvania without injury.
He was captured in November at Mine Run and sent to Point Lookout POW camp. He was released in August of 1864 and seems to have not returned to military service.
Regards
David
PS I love his epitaph!
1593998997741.png

1593999027799.png
 
My GGGG Uncle, Simeon A. Plumb (all records list him as Alavantus S. Plumb), was a Private in Company H, 147th NY.

I haven't been able to determine if he was on the firing line at Gettysburg, or was on detached duty behind the line. This is an important distinction to make, as the 147th took 75% casualties at Gettysburg, and Simeon came out without a scratch. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 1863 and made it unscathed through the Overland Campaign, only to die June 22, 1864, while sniping at the Confederate picket line and keeping his head exposed for too long.

My GGG Grandfather, Charles Foster, was a member of the 1st PA Cavalry, Company D, and I've found his name on the Pennsylvania monument at Gettysburg. The 1st PA Cavalry was attached to AoP HQ at Gettysburg and does not appear to have done much fighting. Foster survived the war.
 

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