Ethan S.
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2019
- Location
- Carter County Kentucky
Hello folks, today I bring you a photo mystery that I threw a hypothesis at and would like to see what yall think.
I've always wanted a 148th PA infantry photo, as the 148th PA was my 4th great grandfathers regiment. Even though this gentleman is in a different company, I'm still excited to have it.
I decided to attempt to ID him, based on the fact that Company B only had so many corporals. One thing that stuck out to me was this man's height. He seems to be very much taller than the average soldier, and so I began searching into the veteran card files of all of Company B's corporals.
The average height was 5'8", though most of the corporals were in the 5'6" range. Two corporals stood out from the rest though. The first one was 5'11", but had blonde hair, which I believe rules him out here. The latter Corporal clocked in at 6'1" and this is who I believe is in the photograph.
George P. Hall enlisted in August 1862 and mustered in as a private, being promoted to Corporal in November of that year. He was 29 at the time of his enlistment, and was a laborer near Milesburg PA. He was described as being 6'1", with dark hair and a light complexion.
On July 3rd 1863, he was seriously wounded at Gettysburg, his obituary stating that he had been shot through both lungs. I doubt this, but he was apparently seriously wounded regardless as he disappeared from the regiments story until he was discharged in May 1865 with the rest of the regiment. Whether he ever returned to the regiment or remained in a hospital that entire time is unknown, pension records would be able to tell me.
So what do you guys think? I know it's flimsy at best but I believe I found my guy, and least I hope I did. Without a companion photograph I will likely never know for sure.
I've always wanted a 148th PA infantry photo, as the 148th PA was my 4th great grandfathers regiment. Even though this gentleman is in a different company, I'm still excited to have it.
I decided to attempt to ID him, based on the fact that Company B only had so many corporals. One thing that stuck out to me was this man's height. He seems to be very much taller than the average soldier, and so I began searching into the veteran card files of all of Company B's corporals.
The average height was 5'8", though most of the corporals were in the 5'6" range. Two corporals stood out from the rest though. The first one was 5'11", but had blonde hair, which I believe rules him out here. The latter Corporal clocked in at 6'1" and this is who I believe is in the photograph.
George P. Hall enlisted in August 1862 and mustered in as a private, being promoted to Corporal in November of that year. He was 29 at the time of his enlistment, and was a laborer near Milesburg PA. He was described as being 6'1", with dark hair and a light complexion.
On July 3rd 1863, he was seriously wounded at Gettysburg, his obituary stating that he had been shot through both lungs. I doubt this, but he was apparently seriously wounded regardless as he disappeared from the regiments story until he was discharged in May 1865 with the rest of the regiment. Whether he ever returned to the regiment or remained in a hospital that entire time is unknown, pension records would be able to tell me.
So what do you guys think? I know it's flimsy at best but I believe I found my guy, and least I hope I did. Without a companion photograph I will likely never know for sure.
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