62d Pennsylvania Volunteers

Company A: Federal Guards (Allegheny County)

62d  Pennsylvania Monument at Gettysburg


Company Origins

Recruited in Allegheny County, principally from the city of Allegheny. Allegheny City, independent from Pittsburgh until it was annexed in 1907, was located on the north side of the junction of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and is now known as North Side. The company mustered in on 22 July 1861, but it grew out of a military company already in existence.

During the new war excitement of April 1861, in the city of Allegheny, J. C. Hull organized and served as captain of the Federal Guards. When the state of Pennsylvania began to muster regiments into service, Hull volunteered his company to the Allegheny County Committee for Public Safety for the field service. He was not interested in home guard service, but wanted to lead his unit in the real fight. Because so many indedpendent companies came forward, only a few were accepted into service by the Governor to be formed into three-month Pennsylvania Volunteer regiments. Hull and his Federal Guards missed the initial call. As was the case with many other unaccepted companies, the Federal Guards remained together as a unit and regularly drilled in one of the new training camps formed around the tri-cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and Birmingham. They did not have to wait long for their time to come. The core of Company A grew out of the old Federal Guards. A dozen volunteers from Beaver County were also included in the initial mustering in, none of them officers.

The average age at enrollment of the officers was 23.4 years old. The average age of the privates was only slighlty younger at 22.7 years old. Only ten of the volunteers listed their age as young as 18. Only 14 of the volunteers were 30 or over. Three soldiers, none of them officers, William Magarary, William A. Charlton, and George Menkin (or Minkin) were over 40. The musicians were both teenagers. In some companies, a single industry -- glass, logging, and farming -- dominated, but in Company A, this was not true. The building trades supplied the largest percentage of the volunteers, but it was less than 30 percent. The captain was a carpenter, as was one other officer and eight privates. Others in the building trades were painters (four officers and four privates), eleven brick workers, and three plasterers. In the officer ranks were a dentist and a doctor, but they were the only professional men in the unit, unless you include the five engineers. There were no teachers in the company and only one student. Three farmers became officers, among the 17 farmers over all in the company. Among the occupations found plentifully in other companies were a single puddler and but one moulder, nine clerks, three stone cutters, three blacksmiths, three rivermen, and various makers of things: wogons, frames, boilers, shoes, patterns, and cigars. There is little mention of steel by name in the regiment, but Company A had one steelheater. Two occupations that may be unique to Company A were a butler and an auctioneer.

Company Roster

Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers

Go to Privates and Musicians

All officers mustered in on 24 July 1861, except where noted.

portrait of Lt. Col. James C. HullJames C. Hull | Captain.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, dated to 27 July 1862, after taking command of regiment. Died of wounds received at Laurel Hill.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 32; Occupation: Carpenter; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11 1/4": Remarks: Trans. from Company A [to ranks of Field & Staff Officers]; Pro. to Lt. Col. 6-27-02. Died 5-22-64 of wounds (rec'd at Laural Hill, Va.)

Hull was born on 16 January 1829 in Allegheny, PA (now part of Pittsburgh). When he enlisted in Company A of the First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers on 26 November 1846 to serve in the Mexican War, however, his age was listed as 17, instead of 19. In that previous service, Hull moved through the ranks from private to fourth sergeant. He was buried at his family gravesite at Uniondale Cemetery in Pittsburgh. He was married to Caroline N. Hull, and they had at least one daughter, Mary. GAR Post 157, in downtown Pittsburgh, was named in his honor. Thanks to Phyllis Love Ard, Hull's great granddaughter for additional information.


James Brown | 1st Sergeant, 2d Lieutenant, Captain.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Took over command of Company A on 27 July 1862. Died of wounds received at Gettysburg.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 23; Occupation: Auctioneer: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'11": Remarks: (Pro. 2nd. Lt. 6-8-62 Bates) Pro. to Capt. (7-27-62 Bates) Died 7-28-63 of wds. rec'd at Gettysburg, Pa. 7-2-63


William Crider | 1st Sergeant, 1st Lieutenant, Captain.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Took over command of company after Gettysburg; became Captain 15 September 1863. Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 27; Occupation: Plasterer; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Light Brown; Complexion: Fair; Height: 6'1": Remarks: Pro. 1st Lt. (10-12-62 Bates) Pro. to Capt. 9-15-63 Bates) Dis Ep. of Term.

Died 12 April 1912, according to Proceedings of the 47th Annual Encampment of the Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic (Gettysburg, 1913).


Robert A. Scott | 1st Lieutenant.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Resigned 7 June 1862 (after the regiment had seen only one battle)

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 32; Occupation: Dentist; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'1": Remarks: Resigned 6-8-62 [sic; differs from Bates].


Alfred McDonald | 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Resigned 12 October 1862.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 32; Occupation: Brick Layer; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'7 1/2": Remarks: Disc. by Resignation 10-12-62. Pro. 1st. Lt. (6-8-62 Bates)

A certificate of discharge written at Harrison's Landing, Virginia in July of 1862, (and cataloged by an artifact auction house) indicates a medical disability: "Enlargment of the Liver and Spleen and general disability with great tenderness with movments in the abdominal muscles. Painful."


John D. Walkinshaw | Sergeant. 2d Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant.
Mustered in 4 July 1861. Dishonorably discharged 20 April 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 24; Occupation: Oil Painter; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11": Remarks: (Pro. Sgt. date unknown) Pro. 2nd. Lt. 11-18-62 to 1st Lt. 7-29-63. See S.O.#114 dated 5-18-87 dishonorably by S.O. #153 dated. W.D. A.G.O. Wash. 4-20-64; Rolls show first name as John. [listed as J.D. in Bates, who does not indicate he was dishonorably discharged].

The United States Service Magazine June 1864 issue, in a section labeled "Official Intelligence" confirms dishonorable discharged on 20 April 1864. No reason was provided. Walkinshaw did apply for an invalid pension, which would not have been granted for someone dishonorably discharged. The index card is stamped "RDG."

Census record for Allegheny in 1870 indicates he became a carpenter after the war. According to a Veteran Burial Card, he died in 1907 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wilkinsburg, with a G.A.R. marker on his tombstone.

Jonathan Deer | Private or Corporal, 1st Sergeant.
Mustered in as Corporal (specifically 4 Corporal) or Private (records vary). Promoted to 1st Sergeant 12 December 1862 (during of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 22; Occupation: Plasterer; Residence: Allegheny City.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Dark; Height: 5'5"

According to family records, after the war he married Jessie Preston in July 1869. They had five children and lived out their lives at 251 Jackson Street, Allegheny City, PA (renumbered to 20 N. Jackson when Allegheny City became part of Pittsburgh). He was a plasterer and later a wallpaper hanger. This Deer family came to Pennsylvania in the very early 1800’s and settled in McCandless (formerly part of Pine) County.

Thanks to Bonnie Ingram of Leavenworth, KS, for the portrait and additional information about Sergeant Deer.


Thomas Woods | Private, Sergeant.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 26; Occupation: Puddler; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11": Remarks: (Pro. Sgt. 12-12-62 Bates)

Mustered in as 5 Corporal; last served as 2 Sergeant., according to the "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]."


Richard B. Geyer | Private, Sergeant.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866 [under Geyers] : Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Butler; Residence: (born) Allegheny Co..; Hair: Black; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5' 9"; Remarks: Rolls show last name as Geyer.

Geyer lived in Allegheny after the war. According to pension records, he died in 1911. His widow, Elizabeth, filed for a pension on 18 November 1911. Geyer named a son after General Jacob Bowman Sweitzer, and Sweitzer gave the baby a silver christening mug. Jacob Bowman Geyer, born 26 March 1884, was more commonly known as Rube Geyer when he played four years as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals (1910-1913). Thanks to Rick Geyer, Richard B. Geyer's great grandson for additional information about his ancestor.

Died 16 November 1908, according to Proceedings of the 43th Annual Encampment of the Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic (Gettysburg, 1908).

Census information from 1860 contradicts CWVCF in that Geyer's birthplace is listed as Maryland.

Listed as Geyers in Bates.


Archibald Chambers | Private, Sergeant.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Carpenter; Residence: Allegheny City, Pa.; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'10 3/4": Remarks: Pro. Corp. 1-24-62. Pro. (Sgt. 12-12-62 Bates).


John P. McHendry | Private, Corporal, Sergeant.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 20; Occupation: Engineer; Residence: Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'8": Remarks: (Pro. to Corpp 1-7-62 St. 9-12-63 Bates)


Robert Swan | Sergeant.
Mustered in as Second Sergeant, promoted to First Sergeant, date unknown. Not on muster-out roll.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 22; Occupation: Clerk; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 6': Remarks: (Not on M.O.R. Bates)

Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Card does not clarify "not on muster-out roll," but it does provide date of death, 29 September 1872, and location of cemetery, Uniondale, Pa.


George Potter Steck | Sergeant.
Mustered in as Fourth Sergeant. Discharged for disability, 13 June 1862, in Philadelphia.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 27; Occupation: Doctor; Residence: (born) Allegheny Co..; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5' 6"

Born 11 November 1833. Cousin of John Michael Steck of Co. I?

The U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938 record for George P Steck Listed in Bates as "Not on muster-out roll."


Samuel K. Forsyth | Sergeant.
Promoted to Sergeant Major of regiment, then Adjutant. Discharged for disability 30 June 1863.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 25; Occupation: Painter; Residence: Allegheny County, Pa.; Hair: Fair; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11": Remarks: Trans. from Company A. Pro. to Sgt. Major (Date Unknown) Trans. to Adjt. 3-19-63 Dis. S.C. of D.

William K. Sinclair | Private, Corporal.

Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 21; Occupation: Clerk; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'10": Remarks: (Pr. to Corp. 12-12-62. Bates).


Joseph P. Willison | Private, Corporal.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 20; Occupation: Farmer; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'10": Remarks: (Pro. Corp. 12-12-62 Bates)

Joseph J. Cracraft | Private, Corporal.
Promoted to Third Corporal 12 December 1862. Captured at Kelly's Ford, while serving as brigade mail carrier. Absent at muster out.
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Painter; Residence: Pittsburgh, Pa.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'6": Remarks: (Pro. Corp. 12-12-62, Captured at Kelly's Ford 6-11-63. Absent at M.O Bates). Rolls spell last name: Cracroft.

His father, Joseph Cracraft, filed for a survivor's pension from Ohio, in September 1890.


Charles S. Gibson | Private, Corporal.
Mustered out with company, July 13, 1864.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 21; Occupation: Wagon Maker; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Brown; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5': Remarks: (Pro. Corp. 12-12-62 Bates)


Mason Prophater | Private, Corporal.
Wounded at The Wilderness. Absent at muster out.
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Farmer; Residence: Beaver County, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Light; Height: 5': Remarks: (Pr. Corp. 9-12-63. Wounded at Wilderness 5-5-64. Absent in hospital at M.O. Bates).

William Boyd | Corporal.
Died before first battle. (on Christmas Day 1861)
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 24; Occupation: Frame Marker; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'8 3/4": Remarks: Died 12-25-61 at Miners Hill, Va.

portrait of Francis Marion CraigFrancis Marion Craig | Corporal.
Killed at Fredericksburg, 13 December 1862. 
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 22; Occupation: Painter; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Grey; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'11"; Remarks: Killed at Battle of Fredricksburg, Va. 12-13-2.

Listed in records as Francis M. Craig, but written as Marion Craig on photograph. The Marion Craig Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, organized on 16 April 1883 in Grove City, Pa., was named in his honor.

Although the CWCCF indicates otherwise, a History of Mercer County, Pennsuylvania suggests Craig was born in Mercer County. His family moved to Iowa when he was 5 but returned to Pine Grove (now Grove City), Mercer County, in 1848. He was educated at Westminster College for two years, then learned the printing trade and became type setter for the Westminster Herald, a United Presbyterian magazine which was printed in New Wilmington. He quit in 1861 to join the 62d. This source also suggests that although he was elected to promotion to second lieutenant, he died at Fredericksburg before the commission of promotion reached him. He was unmarried.

Mustered in as 3 Corporal; last served as 5 Sergeant., according to the "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]." Listed as "Not on Muster out Roll" in Bates.


Philip D. Miller | Corporal.
Discharged, date unknown (before 26 December 1862).

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Brick Mason; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'9": Remarks: (Not on M.O.R. Bates)

Filed for an invalid pension on 26 December 1862, so Miller must have been discharged for injury or illness. Listed in Bates as "not on muster out roll." In the 1910 Census for Ross Township, Allegheny County, Philip was listed as still working as a brick layer and living with his wife Adda. His wife, Addie, filed for a widow's pension in 1910. Their son, William, also a bricklayer, lived with them.


Jacob B. Funk | Corporal.
Killed at Laurel Hill (Spottsylvania Court House), 24 May 1864. Buried in National Cemetery, Arlington.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 19; Occupation: Farmer; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Red; Eyes: Brown; Complexion: Fair; Height: 6'1": Remarks: Pro. to Corp. (date unknown) Re-enlisted 12-26-63 at Licking Run, Va. (Died 5-24-64) Buried in National Cem. Arlington, Va. Rolls spell last name Funke.

An account of the second day at Gettysburg from a letter written by Jacob B. Funk was excerpted in Voices of the Civil War, Gettysburg, Tell My Father I Died With My Face to the Enemy, a Time-Life book. In it he describes his efforts to preserve "the Colors of the Old Keystone state" and being wounded in the process. The book described Funk as the color-sergeant, but his highest rank in Bates was corporal, so his actual title was color-bearer.


Thomas C. Harper | Corporal.
Died before first battle.

Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 28; Occupation: Blacksmith, Residence: Allegheny City, Pa.; Hair: Dark; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'9": Remarks:Died 1-19-62 at Miners Hill, Va.


Musicians


John A. Irwin
Mustered in 22 July 1861. Not on muster-out roll.
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age at Enrollment: 17; Occupation: Gardner; Residence: (Born) Allegheny, Pa.; Hair: Light; Eyes: Blue; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'; Remarks: Rolls show last name as Irvine [Irvine is crossed out in ink].

John R. Cowling
Mustered in 22 July 1861. Mustered out with company, 13 July 1864.
Mustered in as Drummer; mustered out as Private, according to "United States National Archives. Civil War Service Records [database on-line]."
Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866: Age: 19; Occupation: Mason; Residence: (Born ) Allegheny Co.; Hair: Black; Eyes: Gray; Complexion: Fair; Height: 5'3 1/2" Remarks: Rolls show last name as Cowling.

Census records indicate he was born in London, England, and moved to Beaver County after the war. Census records for 1880 indicate Cowling had been blind since age 30 (about 1872).

Listed as John R. Crowling in Bates. A minor's pension was filed in 1887 by Lide Sterling as guardian for Cowling's son Ralph would have been 14 years old at the time. Cowling's headstone in the Old Mill Creek Cemetery, Hookstown, Beaver County, lists Cowling's dates as 1842-1886.


Notes:

Not on muster-out roll indicates fate had not been determined at the close of the war, at which time these rolls were made out. Those who died before first battle probably were victims of typhoid fever that became rampant during the fall and winter of 1861/62 while the regiment was stationed at Minor's Hill, Va.

The Veteran Reserve Corps, originally called the Invalid Corps, was the military body to which soldiers were transferred when they were not healthy enough to be sent back to their original unit, but not sick or disabled enough to be sent home.

Sources

Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5. Volumes III & VIII. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71.

Evans, Samuel M., editor. Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the war for the suppression of the rebellion, 1861-1865 : roll of honor, defenders of the flag, attack on Fort Sumter, S.C., April 12, 1861, surrender at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. Pittsburgh: 1924.

Under the Maltese cross, Antietam to Appomattox, the Loyal Uprising in Western Pennsylvania, 1861-1865; Campaigns 155th Pennsylvania Regiment, Narrated by the Rank and File. Pittsburg: The 155th Regimental Association, 1910.


Back to the main Pennsylvania 62d Infantry Regiment page?


This page authored and maintained by John R. Henderson [jhenderson @ icyousee . org]
Last modified: 22 April 2013
URL: http://www.icyousee.org/pa62d/a.html