- Joined
- Sep 4, 2014
- Location
- Lexington, SC
A young man named George Washington Sandoe would only live to be 20 years, 7 months and 22 days old cut down in the prime of life with everything going for him. Sandoe died on the Gettysburg battlefield on June 26, 1863. Prior to June 1863 George W. Sandoe managed to elude the raging war. The young man married his childhood sweetheart Dianna Caskey on February 19, 1863 in Mount Joy, PA. The young newlyweds were blessed and expecting their first child.
On June 18, 1863 young George for some unexplained reason decided to enlist in the Union army. George enlisted in "B" Company, 21st Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary for 6 months service. George was mustered into service on June 23, 1863 leaving his new bride Dianna for the glory of war.
George's military career would be short lived not even long enough to get his first pay.
On his 3rd day of service Pvt. George W. Sandoe and Pvt. William Lightner were the advance scouts of their unit. The two were near the Baltimore Pike when they unknowingly rode into Confederate pickets of Colonel Elijah V. White's 35th Va. Cav. The young soldiers had not noticed the pickets due to bushes and undergrowth in the area. Confederate pickets ordered the surprised soldiers to "Halt"; they would turn their horses to jump a fence. Pvt. Lightner jumped and made his escape good to the Baltimore Pike. Pvt. Sandoe was not so fortunate, as he jumped the fence his horse fell. He managed to remount his horse when he was mortally wounded in the head as his horse raced on. Official records list his death as: "Killed at Gettysburg, 26-June-1863 by the Rebs, while in discharge of his duty."
He has the distinction of being the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg. There is a monument in his honor. Nine days after his enlistment and just three short days of service Death found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe.
Dianna (Anna) and George.
Monument located near the Baltimore Pike Gettysburg National Battlefield.
http://lew35.blogspot.com/2013/06/death-found-pvt-george-washington.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=Fin...=e4o7WNSGLMaU0gKorJL4Bw#imgrc=IOCE_lR5bymeTM:
http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/140-...ld-know-part-4-gettysburg-lbg-fred-hawthorne/
On June 18, 1863 young George for some unexplained reason decided to enlist in the Union army. George enlisted in "B" Company, 21st Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary for 6 months service. George was mustered into service on June 23, 1863 leaving his new bride Dianna for the glory of war.
George's military career would be short lived not even long enough to get his first pay.
On his 3rd day of service Pvt. George W. Sandoe and Pvt. William Lightner were the advance scouts of their unit. The two were near the Baltimore Pike when they unknowingly rode into Confederate pickets of Colonel Elijah V. White's 35th Va. Cav. The young soldiers had not noticed the pickets due to bushes and undergrowth in the area. Confederate pickets ordered the surprised soldiers to "Halt"; they would turn their horses to jump a fence. Pvt. Lightner jumped and made his escape good to the Baltimore Pike. Pvt. Sandoe was not so fortunate, as he jumped the fence his horse fell. He managed to remount his horse when he was mortally wounded in the head as his horse raced on. Official records list his death as: "Killed at Gettysburg, 26-June-1863 by the Rebs, while in discharge of his duty."
He has the distinction of being the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg. There is a monument in his honor. Nine days after his enlistment and just three short days of service Death found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe.
Dianna (Anna) and George.
Monument located near the Baltimore Pike Gettysburg National Battlefield.
http://lew35.blogspot.com/2013/06/death-found-pvt-george-washington.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=Fin...=e4o7WNSGLMaU0gKorJL4Bw#imgrc=IOCE_lR5bymeTM:
http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/140-...ld-know-part-4-gettysburg-lbg-fred-hawthorne/