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Looking for diaries/letters of 139th PA Volunteers  Rate Topic 
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 Posted: Wed Apr 13th, 2011 06:01 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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Mana: 
My g-g-grandfather was a private in the 139th and he wrote a short biography which I have.  I am working on a book about his life in the Civil War and would like to find other diaries or letters of members of the 139th.  I am especially interested in any from Company I, my g-g-grandfather's company.:D

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 Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 12:55 am
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apr139
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Mana: 
I've been working on a history of the 139th PVI for a number of years now.  From another site I see that the vet you are related to is Pvt. Thomas Hershman, Co. I, 139th PVI.

The only info I have on him is from Bates': muster-out roll list his enlistment at age 19 and the Bates' roll states: deserted 6-14-1864-returned 11-18-1864-wounded at Petersburg,Va., 3-25-1865-absent in hospital when the unit was mustered out on 6-21-1865...Pension info just has his year of death as 1913--exact dod, place of death or burial is not stated..

Co. E of the 139th has the most written on it, but Conrad Smith of Co. I, put together a short booklet of his biography, in it there are a few pages devoted to his service in the Civil War.

Google Ron Bardnell and his book Preserve it reader in rememberance of me--his wife was a descendant of George Bellas of Co. E and he had the letters Bellas sent home during the war printed.  Bellas survived the war( died 1898) ; he joined the unit in 1862 and was in all the battles of the 139th.  I have a copy of his book and it was worth the $20 I paid---Hope this helps--any questions give me a call at home  412-548-3323---Al Richardson

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 Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 01:41 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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Mana: 
Hello!  Actually Conrad Smith is my relative. :-)  I have his book and that is the basis for my research.   Thank you for this information, I will check it out.  I would be interested in anything else you have on the 139th.  I did get a copy of a thesis written by a guy (drawing a blank on his name right now) specifically on the 139th.  I am thrilled to find a fellow 139th enthusiast! :-)

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 Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 02:58 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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Mana: 
I'm curious where you found Conrad Smith's book? To my understanding, only about 25 copies were printed and were given to family members.

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 Posted: Wed Aug 17th, 2011 02:59 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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FYI - my email address is djr1285@yahoo.com. That is easier for me than telephone since it is free. :-)

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 Posted: Thu Nov 10th, 2011 01:15 am
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Teufelhund
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Mana: 
I hope you do not mind me jumping in here.

I've been researching the 139th also, but more specifically on Otto Boehmig (Company F). My wife is a descendant and as Vet myself, I've been doing some research on the 139th hoping to find more information on Otto. And also I enjoy learning and reading about the Civil War.

I've found a number of diaries at the State library and it looks like some at the Army Heritage Center (but I've not been able to head down there to confirm if they truly exist). I work in Harrisburg, so getting to the State library is not too difficult (when it is open). This past weekend, I was at Gettysburg researching another area of the battle, but was not able to stop and look at the 139th monument. Though I will be going back in a week or two just for that purpose and to walk the ground they did.

The State Library has two diaries in it’s catalogue. One is for Nathan Divvens, Co. I (The PA Civil War Project has him listed as Nathan Devins on the muster out roll). There are only three copies of this in existence so they will not let me check it out, which I understand. So, I’m going when I can to read it.

The other one is “The Civil War diary of John H. Hieber : Hospital Steward, 139th Regiment...”. Unfortunately, when I went this week to check out the book, I could not find it on the rack. I reported it and I see now that it is confirmed as missing in the catalogue. I’m checking to see if it is at another library within the State.

Last edited on Thu Nov 10th, 2011 01:43 am by Teufelhund

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 Posted: Tue Jan 3rd, 2012 02:56 am
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OS21986
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My g-g-grandad was Private Phillip Forney, Co. D. He was wounded at Spotsylvania but apparently returned in time to be mustered out. His records indicate he was courtmartialed in May of 1863, apparently for losing his musket, bayonet, and sling, and charged $4.00. Apparently that was Chamcellorsville, but I never saw that they were routed or anything on that date.

If anyone has any info on something like that, I'd be very interested.

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 Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2012 05:08 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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Obviously I have not been watching this blog very regularly becuase I am just now seeing your post from last november.  Thank you for the information on the Divvens and Hieber publications.  I live in Kansas so I am very jealous you live so close to the library.  I do hope to be able to get out there myself.

I have been watching the website http://www.fold3.com.  They are digitizing the Widows Pension Files from the Civil War.  They only have about 4% done so far but they are adding about 200,000 images a month.  They are going in chronological order based on the when the applications were filed so the soldiers who died during the war are coming up first.   So far there are only three from Company F - Josiah McDonald, George Sessions and Wilson Stuart.  The website is really cool and easy to navigate.

I have found several sources that I am taking notes from for my research.  I'd be happy to discuss them if you are still interested.

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 Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2012 05:16 pm
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djr1285
Dianne


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Hi!  I just saw your post.  I have been watching a site called http://www.fold3.com.  It is really cool and easy to navigate.  They are only about 4% done digitizing the pension files and Forney is not in there yet but I will keep an eye out for it.  I checked but don't see much on court martial records.  They do have George A. Custer's court martial papers though.  They are interesting. :-)

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 Posted: Sat Nov 24th, 2012 11:05 am
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Hellcat
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Mana: 
You might be interested in these from the War of the Rebellion.

This first one is from Series I Volume 27. It starts at the bottom of page 687, ends on the next page, and is a report of Lt Colonel William H. Moody from August 3, 1863. http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=139th%20Pennsylvania;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0043;didno=waro0043;view=image;seq=0707

Then there's this report from a Major Robert Munroe in Series I Volume 43 dated September 21, 1864. It starts on page 204 and goes to page 205. Then it's followed on 205 by a report by a Capt James McGregor dated September 26th. This one ends on page 206 to be followed by a report by Lt. Colonel John G. Parr dated October 20th. This one ends on page 207. http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=139th%20Pennsylvania;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0090;didno=waro0090;view=image;seq=0224

Going back to Lt. Colonel Parr there's this report from Series I Volume 46. It's dated March 25, 1865 and starts on page 303, going to page 304. http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=139th%20Pennsylvania;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0095;didno=waro0095;view=image;seq=0325

Staying in the same volume as above we return to McGregor, now a Major instead of the captain in his previous report. Major McGregor's report this time is dated April 16, 1865 and starts on page 965, running to page 966. http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=139th%20Pennsylvania;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0095;didno=waro0095;view=image;seq=0987

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 Posted: Sun Nov 25th, 2012 12:19 am
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djr1285
Dianne


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Mana: 
Thank you so much.  I know these volumes are at my local library I just haven't had the time to go down there.  It is good to know they are online.  Thanks!

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 Posted: Sun Nov 25th, 2012 12:24 am
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djr1285
Dianne


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Mana: 
Hello!  Obviously I haven't been paying very close attention to this blog.  I just recently was sent copies of both the Divvans (Devins) and Hieber diaries from another 139th enthusiast.  I will see if it is ok for me to make additional copies and let you know. 

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 Posted: Sun Nov 25th, 2012 03:08 am
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Hellcat
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Mana: 
It's easier to search online as you can just enter your search parameters. In this case I just did 139th Pennsylvania. Came up with 20 volume hits (some are in a part one, some a part two, etc.) and the number of hits in each volume. Then you go into each volume and see which page the hits are on then check out each page. Most of them were more order of battle and post battle casualty reports, which I left out.

As far as I'm aware, since I've never seen them there, my local library doesn't have any copies of the War of the Rebellion or it's naval companion. I did purchase both on CD-ROM though their not as good as what Cornell has online as a part of their Making of America series. Would love to have a hard copy of both, but I am extremely thankful Cornell scanned them and posted them online.

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 Posted: Sun Dec 9th, 2012 02:18 pm
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Rusty
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Hi Diane, My name is Rusty Swenson and my great-grandfather was David Boggs Freetly , who was assigned to E Company and is listed at the Gettysburg memorial. David (carried as D.B on the placque) was the son of Jacob Freetly, who was the first lawyer in Apollo, Pa (approx 1857). David was wounded twice, first on 3 May 1863 at Salem Heights, then on 12 May, 1864 at Spottsylvania. David was married to one Thala C. per the 1900 census, and his only son, David Ralph Freetly (who later changed his name to Ralph J. Freetly,) was my grandfather on my mom's side. Rumor has it he changed his name because the D.R. was always being misinterpreted as "doctor" :). My mom, Harriet Kathleen Freetly, was one of 3 girls of 7 who survived birth. I am very interested in trying to find out more details on where David was more specifically located on 3 May and 12 May. If you have any ideas or information, I'd appreciate you sharing with me. Thanks, and good luck in your book.

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 Posted: Sun Dec 9th, 2012 02:30 pm
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Rusty
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Hi, My great-grandfather D.B. Freetly was a member of Company E and is listed on the Gettysburg Battlefield. I'm just starting to research hm and if there is any information you have about the Salem Heights battle (May, 1863) or Spottsylvania (May, 1864, it would really be helpful. My great-grandfather was wounded in those two battles on 3 and 12 May respectively. He was a private.
Rusty Swenson, formerly of Apollo, Pa.

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 Posted: Thu Dec 13th, 2012 10:58 am
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Johanshletin
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have you found any yet?



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heck outbilling companies in Georgia
for all your medical Software needs.

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 Posted: Thu Dec 13th, 2012 05:50 pm
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apr139
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Mana: 
I'm the one working on a history of the 139th PVI...send me your e-mail and I'll give you the info I have on Pvt. Forney. Do you have a place of burial ? Info I have--he died 7-1-1915 in Newville, Cumberland Co., Pa.

Albert P. Richardson

apr139pvi@hotmail.com

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