Contact Me

If you enjoy this blog--or at least are interested in the history of the 79th Pennsylvania--I'd love to hear from you.  Please feel free to email me at vince@lancasteratwar.com, or post comments on this blog.

Also, if you have any primary sources or pictures that you would be willing to make available here, it could better tell the story of the 79th Pennsylvania and I'd appreciate the chance to learn about them.


17 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. (Comment by mitchell logsdon moved to http://www.lancasteratwar.com/2011/12/mudsills-indeed-judge-caines-letter.html)

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Better Know a Soldier" posted in October 2011 has led me to your site. William P Leonard is my husband's great great grandfather. I had very little to go on and was excited to find this story. Amazingly enough, my husband received the sword from his father that was passed down through the family! Several years ago he allowed it to go to his older brother who now has the sword. We had nothing to go on but family lore and now to find this and the actual article from the Daily Evening Express as to how William was given the sword by Elias H Witmer is just surreal. I can't wait to share this with my husband! Thank you for all your hard work! I do have a civil war photo of William's son, George Washing Leonard that I would be happy to share with you.
    Sincerely,
    Debby Luttenberger
    tomndebby@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for getting in touch, Debby. I'm excited to know the sword still exists, as it was given with quite a speech. If you have any more information about William P. Leonard, I'd be interested in learning what you know, and would indeed like to see the photo of his son.

      Also, keep watching the blog in April and May as Elias Witmer resumed writing more frequently then, and perhaps there will be another reference or two to William Leonard. A schedule of upcoming letters, which I'll try to roughly follow, is posted at:
      http://www.lancasteratwar.com/p/soldiers-letters.html

      Delete
  4. I found a receipt of some type for $20 for "holding elections" in the "SW Ward" of Lancaster, Feb 5 1861, just on the eve of the civil war. Do you have any info on that election? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151820480815893&set=gm.10151824977301139&type=1&theater

    ReplyDelete
  5. Does there exist a list of names of the women who belonged to Lancaster Daughters. I am looking the name of my Great Aunt Mary Gall aka Gaul who lived in the West Lampeter part of Lancaster County.

    Thanks,
    True Blue and Diamond Hard,
    Harry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Harry, There is no single list (that I know of) representing all the members of the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster. Unless she was an officer or a member of a specific committee, it's difficult to ascertain involvement with the Patriot Daughters. Donation lists were published in the Daily Evening Express (and sometimes other newspapers), which are available on microfilm. There were also ladies' societies in towns around Lancaster County (possibly even Lampeter) in which Mary Gall could have participated, but few records of those exist outside of donation lists published in the Express. Thank you for the comment. Good luck with your family research!

      Delete
  6. My mother was a Hambright from the Pittsburgh and I have found your website fascinating. Her Great Great Grandfather was Major Frederick Hambright who led the procession in Lancaster PA during the grand return of General LaFayette's return to America in 1825. Do you have any old photos of that event on your website or in your possession. larrymanross@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am interested in the family of Daniel B. Vondersmith and Horace Binney Vondersmith. I have evidence that Daniel had a second wife. Mary Emma Vondersmith made application for pension benefits related to the service of Captain Daniel B. Vondersmith in the Civil War. I have found no record of the marriage, but she was buried in Wilmington Delaware as Mary Emma Vondersmith. Daniel served in the war and was slightly wounded and left the service. I would love to obtain any information you have regarding Daniel. I have his record in the Civil War and some information about his trial and pardon by President Buchanan. RichardSnow2009@q.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Richard, Thank you for commenting. I would be very interesting in learning what you have found. I have been somewhat confused as there were two Daniel B. Vondersmiths in Lancaster County at the time, but it does seem that the judge was also a captain in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry.

      Delete
  8. My great-grandfather, Joseph Charles, was a member of Company K, 79th Regiment. I was happy to read the information you've posted as I don't know much about the regiment. He is buried at Boehm's Cemetery, Pequea Twp. just above his farm and his tombstone records his Company and Regiment. I would imagine there are a lot of descendants of members of the 79th and I would be interesting to put a group together, at least on Facebook. Thanks for this blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the comment. I'm glad that you have enjoyed the blog. A few generations of my family are buried at Boehm's Cemetery. In recent years they have published lists of veterans in the cemetery. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or run into any interesting information.

      Also, there is a Facebook group for 79th PA descendants: http://www.facebook.com/groups/214007511950969
      I hope to run into you there!

      Vince

      Delete
  9. Hi Vince. I am looking for any and all letters, diaries, and documents about the 79th Pennsylvania between May 20th and July 1 pertaining to their involvement in Negley's Chattanooga campaign. Do you have copies of Wm. Clark's and Lieutenant Druckemiller's diaries for this time period? Any help would be great. You can email me at: madisondaybreak@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. To all those Civil War buffs out there: The Historical Society of Salisbury Township has published our latest book: CIVIL WAR VETERANS WHO LIVED OR ARE BURIED IN SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. With over 450 names and extensive collection of regimental records, this book is your key to your generational past. We are having a book signing on May 4th at White Chimneys Estate in Gap..2:00 to 4:00pm This book is a must for your library

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't know if you are aware, but Adam Reinoehl's private letters to his cousin Gertie are still in existence. I bought them many years ago. They are beautifully written in a much more natural style than his published work"About noon the signal gun at the bow boomed a farewell to loyal soil; the paddle wheels slowly revolved, and we were moving down New York Bay. The day was unfathomable to sightseeing. A cold drizzly rain fell, while a heavy fog enveloped land and the water. The battery was soon passed the forts Hamilton and Lafayette frowning grimly like sullen dogs out in the rain".

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was not aware. That's fantastic to hear, though! The contents of his desk, mostly from 1865-1875, were sold at an auction in New Jersey a year ago. I bought several of the lots subsequently listed on eBay. I might have an image of Gertie.

    Anyway, thank you for contacting me. I don't have your contact information from this post. Would you be willing to send me an email at vince@lancasteratwar.com so that I have your email address? It would be wonderful to know more about the letters (whatever you are willing to share), in case an opportunity for a project ever arose. In particular, I hope Reinoehl's story would be part of interpretive projects at F&M or downtown Lancaster, where his boots-on-the-ground Radical Republican military and civilian adventures would like nicely with the emerging Stevens-Smith Historic Site.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Vince, my wife and I owned our first house in Scipio, NY off Rt. 38 a couple decades ago (born and raised in Seneca Falls) now living in California. I have been researching and collecting photos of the 75th NYVI (my grt Grandfathers regiment) for many years and enjoyed reading your post about the 3rd La Native Guard and Gen. Robinson. I've found a couple photos of him in the past. Do you have any additional information/images regarding the 75th NY, I know several veterans enlisted from your area.
    Thank you, Dave Lay

    ReplyDelete