Company "F" the Venango Company

History, 121st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
by the
Survivor's Association

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AN ACCOUNT FROM THE RANKS
PHILADELPHIA, PA
1893

...the Venango county men being in number about one-fifth of the A company. About the same time that these enlistments were started in Franklin, John M. Clapp, who then resided about twenty miles up the Allegheny river from Franklin, at a little village called President, commenced recruiting a company for the service. ...and on the 26th of August Clapps men started in wagons from President. Later, in Pittsburgh they held an election for officers. John M. Clapp was unanimously awarded the captaincy, Joseph K. Byers was elected First Lieutenant, Charles H. Raymond, Second Lieutenant, and Nathaniel Lang, Orderly Sergeant. In Philadelphia the men were mustered into the service August 29th and 30th, and went into Camp John C. Knox, where Company A was already stationed. A day or two later the regiment was consolidated with that of Colonel Chapman Biddle, and went into active service as the 121st Regt. Penna. Vols.

The men from Venango and adjacent counties were the beaux-ideal of soldiers, not, perhaps, of the French chivalry pattern, but of the model that fought at Bunker Hill and at New Orleans, for they could shoot. They were born with rifles in their hands and shot squirrels from their cradles. One of these, telling no soldiers yarn (he was complimented in general orders for his conduct in battle), claims he hit an enemy every time he pulled the trigger. On October 1st the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of the Third Division of the First Army Corps. From this day to the end of the war Company F, consisting of 96 men was to have 16 men killed in action, 8 died of disease, 35 were wounded and 9 were taken prisoner. James R. Ray was taken prisoner and died at Andersonville, Ga., August 1, 1864. Grave #14476. Following Appomattox, Company F was part of the march to Washington, D.C., May 1st to the 12th, and the Grand Review on May 23rd. The men of the 121st along with Company F were mustered out on June 2, 1865.

Captain John M. Clapp; age, 27; enlisted September 3, 1862; sunstroke while on march from Bealeton, Va., to Manassas Junction, Va., June 14 1863; honorably discharged at Rappahanock, Va., August 7, 1863, on surgeons certificate of disability.
First Lieutenant Joseph K. Byers; age, 23; enlisted September 3, 1862; wounded with loss of right arm, and taken prisoner at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; honorably discharged October 14, 1863; was regimental and adjutant at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., 1864 and 1865, and quartermaster 15th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps at Chicago, Ill., and Springfield, Ill., brevet captain U. S. Volunteers July 12, 1866; first lieutenant 42nd Regiment U. S. Infantry March 7, 1867; brevet captain U.S.A. March 7, 1867; placed on retired list of U.S.A. as first lieutenant December 15, 1870; died of consumption at St. Louis, Mo., November 30 1878.
Second Lieutenant Charles H. Raymond; age, 30; enlisted September 3, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; honorably discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., July 23, 1863, on surgeon�s certificate of disability.
Sergeants:

First Sergeant Nathaniel Lang; age, 27; enlisted August 29, 1862; second lieutenant July 24, 1863, captain, October 16, 1863; honorably discharged January 20, 1865.
*Second Sergeant Daniel B. Levier; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862; first sergaent May 20, 1863; first lieutenant, October 16, 1863; captain January 20, 1865.
Third Sergeant Solomon Rugh; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital at Wind Mill Point, Va., January 18, 1863; discharged at Finley Hospital, Washington, D.C., May 25, 1863.
*Fourth Sergeant Quimby C. Hays; age 21; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; died near Franklin, Pa., April 30, 1884.
Fifth Sergeant Nathaniel L. Kahl; age, 26; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital at Wind Mill Point, Va., January 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April 6, 1864; discharged at Pittsburgh, Pa., July 3, 1865; died at Elk Township, Clarion Co., Pa., March 23, 1885.

Corporals:

*First Corporal James J. Douglass; age, 28; enlisted August 29, 1862; sergeant, December 1, 1863; detailed with sharpshooters battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until mustered out with the regiment.
Second Corporal Thomas Service; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; sergeant February 10, 1864; killed near Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864.
Third Corporal Blair C. Hood; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital at Wind Mill Point, Va., April 27, 1863; died of typhoid fever at Wind Mill Point (Va.) Hospital April 30, 1863.
Fourth Corporal Jacob Shawkey; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Fifth Corporal Joseph Weaver; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862.
Sixth Corporal John Phipps; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., January 15, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Seventh Corporal Jeremiah Johnson, Jr.; age, 29; enlisted August 29, 1862; died at Washington, D.C., January 15, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Eighth Corporal John W. H. Smiley; age, 28; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital from Brooks Station, Va., December 8, 1862; transferred to 14th Company, 2d Battalion, Veterans Reserve Corps, in 1863; discharged at Washington, D.C., June 30, 1865

Musicians:

Alvy C. Amon; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at Frederick city, Md., October 4, 1862.
Elias Harmon; age, 35; enlisted August 29, 1862; died of apoplexy, at Elkhart, Ind., March 24, 1882.

Privates:

*John W. Adams; age, 31; enlisted August 29, 1862; taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864, and returned to the regiment May -, 1865.
Solomon Albaugh; age, 24; enlisted August 30, 1862; sent to hospital at Frederick, Md., October 8, 1862; discharged at Convalescent Camp, near Alexandria, Va., May 4, 1863; killed at Tidioute, August 27, 1892, by the falling of a bank of earth while digging a sewer.
Henry B. Anderson; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at North Anna River, Va., May 25, 1864; discharged at Readville, Mass., July 8, 1865.
*William S. Anderson; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Hatcher�s Run, Va., October 27, 1864.
Dallas Bailey; age, 18; enlisted August 30, 1862; died of typhoid fever at Stanton Hospital, Washington, D.C., December 15, 1862.
James R. Bell; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863.
John B. Bell; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at camp near Belle Plains, Va., March 21, 1863.
William Bell; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps March 16, 1864; discharged July 10, 1865.
Daniel Bly, Jr.; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; taken prisoner at Peeble's Farm, Va., October 1, 1864; died at Salisbury Prison, N.C. December 2, 1864.
Samuel T. Borland; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862; corporal December 14, 1862; on recruiting service from March 25, 1864, to September 10, 1864; sergeant, October 1, 1864; wounded at Boydton Plank Road, Va., March 31, 1865; discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., June 24, 1865.
Henry Borts; age, 31; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital May 3, 1864; discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., May 15, 1865; killed by the falling of a bank on Allegheny Valley Railroad near Foxburg, Pa., November 1, 1868.
*Abram Carbaugh; age, 27; enlisted August 29, 1862; died of consumption at Payne's Mills, Forest Co., Pa., August 19, 1877.
James A. Clark; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; taken prisoner at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862, and was released and returned to regiment in August 1863; wounded by a piece of a shell near Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps August 3, 1864; discharged at Elmira, N.Y., July 14, 1865.
*George W. Confer; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862.
David Cribbs; age, 35; enlisted August 29, 1862; died in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., December 23, 1862, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
John S. Culbertson; age, 20; enlisted August 20, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps January 15, 1864; discharged August 17, 1865.
Hiram M. Dale; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps February 15, 1864; discharged at Convalescent Camp near Alexandria, Va., April 3, 1864.
*James Davison; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; first sergaent August 1, 1864; first lieutenant January 21, 1865.
Samuel J. Dodd; age, 25; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; absent-sick at muster= out of regiment; died at Richland Township, Venango Co., Pa., September 5, 1885.
George Douglass; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded with loss of eye, at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., September 11, 1863.
*William Douglass; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; wounded near Petersburg, Va., August 19, 1864.
Edward M. Dowling; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., March 5, 1864; died of wounds (received July 1, 1863) at Richland Township, Venango Co., Pa., Narch 21 1864.
*Jacob G. Downing; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until mustered out with the regiment.
John Elliott; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; corporal, February 10, 1864; sergaent, March 25, 1864; wounded near Petersburg, Va., August 19, 1864; discharged at Alexandria, Va., June 5, 1865.
*Samuel W. Farmer; age, 40; enlisted August 29, 1862.
David W. Farmer; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital from Berlin, Md., October 30, 1862; discharged at Carver Hospital, Washington, D.C., December 15, 1862; died of consumption at Elkhart, Ind., March 22, 1878.
Ernst E. Fichte; age, 29; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital August 20, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps 1864; discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., May 13, 1865.
*Henry Frain; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862.
*Isaac W. Fry; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; was a prisoner about one month.
*Augustus J. Glass; age, 28; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 5, 1863, but remained with the regiment; corporal May 25, 1864; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, remained there until mustered out with the regiment.
*Frederick Glass; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862.
Adam Harmon; age, 25; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps May 1, 1864; date of discharge unknown.
William H. Hawn; age, 19; enlisted February 15, 1864; transferred to Company "G" 191st Regt. Penna. Vols., about June 1, 1865; discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., July 4, 1865.
Samuel M. Hays; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to Windmill Point Hospital April 20, 1863; died of typhoid fever at Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D.C., April 27, 1863.
William P. Hayes; age, 17; enlisted February 9, 1864; wounded near Petersburg, Va., June 19, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps March 19, 1865; discharged at Annapolis, Md., July 27, 1865; died at New Lebanon, Mercer Co., Pa., July 11, 1882.
Abram Heckathorn; age, 27; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; died in field hospital at City Point, Va., February 9, 1865, of wounds received at Dabney's Mills, Va., February 6, 1865.
Charles Heckathorn; age, 29; enlisted August 29, 1862; in hospital from May 4, 1864; absent from regiment at time of muster out, and afterward discharged.
James H. Heckathorn; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital at Berlin, Md., October 30, 1862; discharged at 5th Street Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., January 12,1863; died at Edenburg, Pa., May 5, 1876.
*William A. Hopkins; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; died of consumption at Pine Grove Township, Venango Co., Pa., August 4, 1890.
*Henry Karns; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; prisoner about three months.
James Karns, Jr.; age, 27; enlisted August 29, 1862; corporal February 10, 1864; killed near Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864.
Jacob M. Keefer; age, 19; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at Finley Hospital, Washington, D.C., March 6, 1863; re-enlisted in Company "G" 155th Penna. Vols. February 25, 1864; transferred to Company "C" 191st Penna. Vols. June 2, 1865; mustered out June 28, 1865.
*Henry Keely; age, 36; enlisted August 29, 1862; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until muster out with regiment.
William Kennedy; age, 34; enlisted August 29, 1862; died in field hospital near Fredericksburg, Va., December 21, 1862, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Amos C. King; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at camp near Belle Plains, Va., April 1, 1863.
*Alfred Koch; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; corporal May 25, 1864; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until mustered out with the regiment.
*Cyrus R. Levier; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; detached duty at City Point, Va., August 4, 1864; remained there until after Lee's surrender.
*Solomon McBride; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; died of inflammatory rheumatism at Canal Township, Venango Co., Pa., March 25, 1870.
*Thomas H. B. McPherson; age, 19; enlisted August 19, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until mustered out with regiment; died at Bradford, Pa., February 13, 1879, of injuries received from a boiler explosion at Sawyer City, Pa.
*Peter W. Mohney; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862.
Daniel Moran; enlisted February 24, 1864; sick in hospital from August 12, 1864; transferred to ----- , organization and date unknown.
John Myers; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Dabney's Mills, Va., February 6, 1865.
William Nellis; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed near Petersburg, Va., June 23, 1864.
Charles Nunemacher; age, 20; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; corporal May 25, 1864; taken prisoner at Peeble's Farm, Va., October 1, 1864; released February 28, 1865, at Wilmington, N.C. and returned to the regiment; discharged at Annapolis, Md., June 28, 1865.
Daniel Persing; age, 36; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; discharged at Washington, D.C. April 27, 1863.
James R. Ray; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at Frederick City, Md., October 4, 1862; re-enlisted in Company "B," 184th Penna. Vols., and was mustered into service May 12, 1864; taken prisoner and died at Andersonville, Ga., August 1, 1864. Grave #14476.
John W. Ray; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; sick in hospital from June10, 1864; absent from hospital on furlough and died at French Creek Township, Venango Co., Pa., December 26, 1864.
*Robert Reece; age, 25; enlisted August 29, 1862.
Branson D. Robison; age, 26; enlisted August 29, 1862; sent to hospital at Berlin, Md., October 30, 1862; discharged at Providence, R.I., March 16, 1863.
John Sager, Jr.; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; taken prisoner at Peeble's Farm, Va., October 1, 1864; released at Washington, N.C., February 28, 1865, and returned to the regiment; discharged at Annapolis, Md., June 29, 1865.
John Saulsgiver; age, 30; enlisted August 29, 1862; died of typhoid fever in camp near Belle Plains, Va., April 7, 1863.
Alfred Say; age, 17; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; discharged at Pittsburgh, Pa., March 4, 1865; died at Salem Township, Clarion Co., Pa., April 26, 1887.
Leslie L. Say; age, 25; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
George A. Showers; age, 23; enlisted August 29, 1862.
Obadiah Simpson; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; wounded near Petersburg, Va., June 20, 1864; died in field hospital, City Point, Va., February 14, 1865, of wounds received at Dabney's Mills, Va., February 6, 1865.
William H. Slonaker; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862;sick in hospital from December 2, 181864; discharged at Washington, D.C., June 5, 1865.
Samuel Stewart; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; sick in hospital at time of muster-out of regiment; date of discharge unknown.
*John H. Stoke; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862.
John Stone, Jr.; age, 31; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862; discharged at Annapolis, Md., August 28, 1863.
Reuben Swab; age, 33; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Simon P. Swab; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; died at Gettysburg, Pa., July 7, 1863, of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863.
Daniel Swaney; age, 17; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded with loss of right arm, at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; discharged at York, Pa., November 26, 1863.
Chester W. Tallman; age, 22; enlisted August 29, 1862; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863.
John F. Tucker; age, 21; enlisted August 29, 1862; died of typhoid fever in camp near Belle Plains, Va., February 22, 1863.
Wesley G. Tucker; age, 19; enlisted August 30, 1862; died of gastric fever in Corp's Hospital, near Culpeper, Va., January 4, 1864.
Samuel P. Weaver; age, 24; enlisted August 29, 1862; discharged at camp near Belle Plains, Va., April 1, 1863.
*John S. Wilson; age, 18; enlisted August 29, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864, and remained there until mustered out with regiment.
*Henry Wise; age, 27; enlisted August 29, 1862; corporal December 10, 1862; sergaent, May 25, 1864; detailed with sharpshooters' battalion August 1, 1864; and remained there until mustered out with regiment; died of heart disease at President, Venango Co., November 19, 1879.

* Mustered out with regiment June 2, 1865.

Contributor
Larry Paul Glass
lpglass@cox.net

Company "F" the Venango Company

History, 121st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers by the Survivor's Association

Sergeants:

Corporals:

Musicians:

Privates:

History, 121st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
by the
Survivor's Association