“Taneytown’s Civil War Veterans”

Carroll County Times article for 3 August 1997

By Jay A. Graybeal

More than 75 Taneytown District men answered the call of duty during the Civil War with all but one joining the Union army. The largest group of them served in the 3rd Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Infantry which surrendered with the garrison at Harper’s Ferry during the Antietam Campaign. Another sizable group served in the 6th Maryland Volunteer Infantry which for a time was commanded by Taneytown native Lt. Col. William A. McKellip. Other men were members of several Maryland infantry and cavalry units. Several African-Americans enlisted in Co. D, United States Colored Cavalry. A “roll of honor” was published in The Carroll Record newspaper as part of a 1894-5 serialized history of Taneytown, written by Dr. Clotworthy Birnie. The original article has been slightly edited for this column:
“The following is the roll of honor for Taneytown district; it shows that we sent 75 men to the union army out of a voting population of about 500, making about one of every 5 men liable to do military duty. It was furnished by Mr. John T. Reck, who was a member of Co. G., 3rd. Reg. Md. Inf., Vol., P. H. B.
 

1ST. MD. REG. INF. VOLS.
Co. H. George Burke, private, died since the war. Joseph Six, Co. I and orderly for General Kenley; shot in the arm and arm amputated below right elbow.

 

2ND. MD REG. INF. VOLS.
Co. C. James H. Picking, private, wounded in 2nd. battle of Bull’s Run, Va., by minie ball passing through the neck, within one-fourth of an inch of the windpipe, and coming out of the right shoulder. He was captured, while unconscious and sent to a Confederate hospital. Died since the war.

 

3RD. MD. REG. INF. VOLS.
Co. G. Henry Aulthouse, private, slightly wounded near right ankle in the battle of Chancellorsville, Va. He is now blind, caused by two sun strokes which he received during the war. One of the strokes he received on the march to the battle of Gettysburg.

 

6TH. MD. REG. INF. VOLS.
Co. A. Joseph M. Thomson, fife major, captured at Winchester Va., June 15th. 1863, nine weeks in Belle Isle and Libby prisons, Va. John Miller, Private, killed near Petersburg, Va., June 22nd., 1864. Shot in head above right eye. George W. Miller, private. Emanuel Shoemaker, private, killed in the battle of the Wilderness, found lying across a log with eight bullet holes through his body.

Co. C. John E. Buffington, enlisted as a private in August, 1862, was one of the best soldiers in the regiment and at the close of the war was a Lieutenant of his company. He was offered a Lieutenancy in the regular army.

John Wolf, private, wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and died on the way to the hospital.

William Crouse, drummer, captured at Winchester, Va., and paroled on the field.

Samuel Rinaman, private, killed in the battle of Locust Grove, Va.

Alfred S. Rowe, enlisted as a private, promoted to sergeant, wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and died two days afterward. He was shot in the side, the ball cutting off one corner of a memorandum book which he had in his pocket.

Jacob Ocker, private, killed by an explosion of ammunition on Maryland Heights near Harper’s Ferry, June 30th., 1863.

John T. Bishop, private died in camp.

Jacob Royer, private, wounded in leg.

 

7TH. MD. REG. INF. VOLS.
Co. F. Emanuel Hawk, enlisted as private, promoted to corporal. He was one of the color guards of his regiment for some time. He received nine wounds but only one is now painful. This is a wound in the neck, which he received in the battle of the Weldon Railroad, August 18th, 1864. The ball entered just below the right ear and came out back of the neck, near where the skull rests upon the spinal column. He lay unconscious about 2 hours, on the field, between the two lines. At one time the Confederate lines were only about eight or ten feet from him. The Union forces finally charged over his body and he was recovered by some men of his own company.

W. Frank Clingan, enlisted as a private, promoted successively to corporal, to 4th. Sergeant and finally to 1st. sergeant of his company. He was captured April 5th, 1865, near the South Side Railroad, and paroled at Richmond, Va., and sent to Camp Parole, Annapolis. He was wounded at the Weldon Railroad, Aug. 18th 1864, in right breast and in the battle of the Wilderness May 5th., 1864, in left hip.

Abram Fleagle, private, killed in the battle of the Wilderness.

Jeremiah Fleagle, private, wounded.

 

8TH. MD REG. INF.
Co. I. James Shildt, private.

John Newcomer, private promoted to sergeant.

Tobias Reid, private, promoted to corporal.

Joseph Angell, private

Nathan Angell, private, He served several months in the 3rd. Md. Reg. P. H. B. Inf.

Co. G., about the close of the war.

 

COLE’S MD. CAVALRY
Co. A. Harvey T. Null, private, killed at Loudon Heights, Va., in a night attack.

Isaiah Kregelo, private, wounded in a night attack on Loudon Heights, Va.

Co. C. Charles C. Currens, private, captured near New Market, Va., 13th. of May, 1863, and was seven months in Andersonville, Ga., and Florence, S. C. prisons.

William N. Currens, enlisted as private, promoted to commissary sergeant, wounded by accident.

Alfred N. Fritchey, private, captured at Rectortown, Va., and was seven months in Andersonville, Ga., and Florence, S. C. prisons.

Clayton Kehn private, died since the war.

Henry Reaver, private, died since the war.

Leander Bowers, private.

David Shildt, private.

Alonzo Benner, enlisted as private, promoted to corporal, slightly wounded near New Market, Va., in cheek and ear.

Co. D. Joseph Good, private.

William Reindollar, private captured at Rectortown, Va., and died in Andersonville prison, Ga.

Samuel McGuigan, private, captured at Rectortown, Va., and died in Andersonville prison.

Vincent Valentine, private, captured at Rectortown, Va.

Co. E. Elias Reck, private, captured.

John H. Ocker, private, died at home during the war.

 

1ST. MD. EASTERN SHORE REG.
Co. I. Samuel Clingan, private.

 

3RD. REG. P. H. B. MD. INFT. VOLS.
Co. C. Uriah Heltibridle, private, died since the war.

Christian Dayhoff, private, died since the war.

Co. G. Thomas Eck, enlisted as a private, promoted successively, to eighth corporal, to 2nd Lieutenant and finally, to captain of the company, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th. 1862, and paroled on the field.

Jesse H. Haugh, enlisted as a private, promoted to 2nd. sergeant and afterward to 2nd. Lieutenant. He was at one time color bearer. He was captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862 and paroled on the field.

William Eck enlisted as a private, promoted to sergeant, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862 and paroled on the field.

Thomas Angell, enlisted as private, promoted to corporal, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field.

Joseph Shoemaker, private, died at St. John’s Hospital, Annapolis March 28th., 1863, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field.

James T. Kregelo, private, killed by the accidental discharge of his own gun, while on guard at Opequanbridge, Va., July 2nd., 1862.

John Clabaugh, private, wounded in the index finger of left hand, in a charge, in the battle of Monocacy Junction, died in the hospital at York, Penna. He was captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va. Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field.

Ephraim Angell, private.

Samuel Crouse, private.

George Crouse, private.

Joseph Bowers, private, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field, died since the war.

John Dayhoff, private.

Conrad Rowe, private, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field.

John T. Reck, private, captured at Harper’s Ferry, Va., Sept. 15th., 1862, and paroled on the field.

John Shriner, private, died since the war.

Jacob Shaffer, private.

John Stuller, private.

Worthington Fringer, private.

Jacob Fringer, private.

Samuel Slagenhaup, private.

Albert L. Slagenhaup, private.

James T. Angell, private, died since the war.

Nelson Hawk, private.

Hezekiah Hawk, private.

Henry Hyser, private.

 

COLORED TROOPS
Randolph Fraling, private, 30th. U. S. colored Reg. Co. C.

David Hill, private, 2nd U. S. colored Reg. Co. D.

Wesley Cook, private, 2nd. U. S. colored Reg. Co. D

Caleb Johnson, private, 2nd U. S. colored Reg. Co. D. Died since the war.

James A. Coates, sergeant, Co. and Reg. unknown, killed near Petersburg, Va.

John L. Coates, private, Co. and Reg. unknown, died since the war.

This list is believed to be correct, but it is possible that there may be a few omissions. Where nothing is given but name and rank, it means that the person was never wounded or captured, and is either yet living, or whereabouts unknown.”
The above record clearly shows that Taneytown men paid a high price their service. Fifteen died during the war and some, like Emanuel Hawk who survived an astonishing nine wounds, suffered until they died.Dr. Birnie noted in his introduction that, as far as he could tell, Taneytown did not “furnish a single man to the Rebel Army.” At least one man did, however, join the Confederate Army. Pvt. Charles Bruce Boyle served in Co. D, 1st Maryland Cavalry, C.S.A. After the war he became a physician and resided in Hagerstown where he died in 1924.

Since the above list of veterans was published more than a century ago, the writer would welcome any additions or corrections.
Photo caption: Lt. Col. William A. McKellip, 6th Maryland Infantry, was the highest ranking Union soldier from Taneytown. More than 75 other Taneytown men served in the Union Army; only one is known to have served the Confederacy. Historical Society of Carroll County collection.
Sidebar copy: Civil War history will be a major theme of Celebrate Taneytown on Saturday August 23, 1997. For additional information call (410) 751-1100.