Weldon Railroad fatality

[Allyn]

This is going to be a little disjointed because I am working with somewhat dubious information from a questionable source. Supposedly Frederick Byerly died 10 Dec. 1864 during the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. He was allegedly (but not definitively) a private in the 191st PA Inf. Would there be any record of men killed during that action, which wasn't exactly a battle, if I understand correctly. Place of burial isn't known, unfortunately.

Unfortunately, the surname itself is a bit of a problem. In Germany, the name was Baierle. Various alternatives that cropped up in the US include Byerly, Bierley, Beyerly, even Burley. And although our soldier was known as Frederick in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, he seems to have been given the name Franz at birth, and was sometimes called Frank, or Fred, in some records.

And, just FYI, the passenger list for October 1837, when the family emigrated from Spirkelbach, Pfalz, Germany, indicates that he was born on the ocean.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my ramblings.

 

[DorwinBlack]

He was in Company E of the 191st according to the attached pension index card, which indicates that his widow Rebecca received a widows pension.

 

[Allyn]

Hmmm. Rebecca claimed his pension, but they hadn't been married long, and she was roughly 17 years older than he. Curious.

But thanks for the confirmation. Now I need to find more info on the Weldon Railroad.

 

[DorwinBlack]

The action in which Pvt Byerly was killed was part of the Stony Creek Raid in December 1864:

Stony Creek Raid: December 7-12, 1864

Name: Stony Creek Raid Other Names: Hicksford Raid, Weldon Railroad Raid, Nottoway River Raid Location: Sussex County Campaign: Richmond-Petersburg Cam

www.beyondthecrater.com

 

[DorwinBlack]

Alias "Frederick Free"? I think "Free" was his middle name, and through a clerical error, was listed as his last name on several documents. He apparently mustered-in with the 39th Pennsylvania (10th Penn reserve) in April 1864. Somehow transferred to the 191st later in the year? The records are very confusing.

 

[DorwinBlack]

From "The Civil War in the East" timeline for the 39th PA Volunteers:

10th Pennsylvania Reserves in the American Civil War

History of the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves (39th Pennsylvania Infantry) in the American Civil War, with timeline of important events.

civilwarintheeast.com

31 May 1864 - Left the front to muster out. A number of men reenlisted as Veterans and became part of the 190th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment and 191st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.
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My guess is that he was initially mustered-in to the 39th under the name "Frederick Free", then reenlisted in 191st under his correct name "Frederick Byerly"