Men of the 151st Pennsylvania Infantry in Northern Berks at Gettysburg 161st Anniversary

 The 151st Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as “The Schoolteachers’ Regiment” played a crucial role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George F. McFarland from McCalisterville Juniata County, the regiment brought 467 men to the field on July 1, 1863. 

The Majority of the companies were from Berks County. 

Companies A and C, Susquehanna County

Company B, Pike County

Company F, Warren County

Company D, Juniata County

Companies E, G, H, K, and part of I, Berks County

Remainder of Company I, was from Schuylkill County

On July 1st ...the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 151st Pennsylvania was positioned near the Lutheran Theological Seminary. At around 3pm the regiment was the last reserve of 1st Corp who had been diligently fighting the Confederates most of the day, and was ordered forward to fill a gap between the famed Iron Brigade and other regiments of Rowley's Brigade. 

Unfortunately for the 151st the Iron Brigade mistakenly pulled back thinking the 151st was there to relive them. On their left the other regiments were smashed leaving the 151st alone to face the Confederate tide. They were surrounded and decimated.

The regiment’s steadfast defense helped delay the Confederate advance, allowing Union forces to regroup on Cemetery Hill. Over the next two days, the 151st Pennsylvania continued to fight valiantly, participating in the defense of Cemetery Hill and repelling Pickett’s Charge on July 3

By the end of the battle, the 151st Pennsylvania had suffered devastating losses, with 51 killed, 211 wounded, and 75 missing. Their sacrifice was among the highest of any Union regiment at Gettysburg, with a casualty rate of 75%. Despite these losses, their actions were instrumental in the Union’s eventual victory at Gettysburg.

Today 161 years later I wanted to remember those men and mention the ones buried in our little corner of Northern Berks.

Buried at Zions Blue Mountain Cemetery Strausstown (all company H)

Private Daniel  L Bagenstose    (34)       

Private Elias M Boltz     (20)       

Private Joseph S Boltz (21)       

Private Joseph M Goodman (44) Wounded

Corporal Percival R Goodman  (31)       

Corporal Jonathan G Haag (29) Wounded: Lost Right arm

Private Levi B Kobel (18)             

Private John W Lengel  (23)       

Corporal Levi R Manbeck (33) Wounded

Private Andrew B Miller (38) Wounded: Lost Left Leg

Corporal Joseph N Moyer (29) Wounded: Lost Right Arm

Private Jeremiah M Reichert (20)           

Private Solomon Strauss (41) Wounded: Lost Left Arm

 

Buried at Ebenezer Cemetery Shoemakersville

Private Samuel Schlear (34)  Company E Wounded

 

Buried at Friedens Union Shartlesville

Private Benjamin Pearson (21) Company E wounded: fingers shot off

 

Buried at Jacob Haag Cemetery Bernville

Corporal George D Farhrenbach (18) Company G

Corporal Lewis P Kershner (20) Company G

Private Monroe K Manback (18) Company H

 

Buried at St. Thomas Bernville

Private Daniel  Blatt (21) Company E   

Corporal Christian R Koenig (26) Company G   Wounded lost right arm

Private Daniel  Livers (18) Company G Wounded both thighs

Private Henry R Lutz     (19) Company H             

Private Alfred U Moll     (19) Company  H           

Sergeant Jonathan L.B. Reber  (22) Company G             

Private Alfred D Stoudt (18) Company G Wounded: Shot through left wrist and thigh

Private Frederick H Werner (41) Company G   

 

Buried at Greenwood Cemetery Hamburg

Corporal Benjamin Egolf (23) Company E Wounded: Shot Through right calf and just below the knee

Private Benjamin Ketterer (34) Company G

 

Buried at Bern Church Leesport

Private Ephriam Bingaman (21) Company K      Wounded

Private Erasmus H Gruber (24) Company G      Wounded Shot in left arm 6 inches below shoulder, lost arm

Private Joseph Hartline (42) Company G           

Private Israel D Heffner (29) Company G           

4th Sergeant Washington K Hiester (25) Company G   

Private William R Stamm (22) Company G        

Private Adam G Strause (23) Company G Wounded above right knee

Private Daniel  L Zechman (40) Company G     

Private William H Zechman (18) Company G Sent to hospital sick

 

Buried at Eplers Church Leesport

Private Ruben  Beecher (22) Company E Wounded, sent to hospital in Philadelphia where he died on 7/3

Corporal Peter K Harbach (21) Company K      

Sergeant Benneville F  Kramer (21) Company  G  Wounded

 

Buried at Gernants Cemetery Leesport

Private Isaac Hinkel      (21) Company E

Private Edwin Mogle     (30) Company G

Private George Rapp     (21) Company K

Private John Rothermel (36) Company H

 

Buried at Leesport Cemetery Leesport

Private Nelson Bodey   (18) Company  E Wounded

Captain Jacob  S Graeff (28) Company E            

Private Aaron   D Hains (32) Company E            

Private Israel  Marks (27) Company E  

Private Valentine Painter (29) Company G Wounded shot in head (survived)

 

Buried at Bellemans Church Mohrsville

Private Adam Greim (29) Company E   Missing at Gettysburg

Corporal Edmund Kauffman (23) Company E   Wounded

Private Paul Lengel (22) Company G    

Private Aaron Snyder (22) Company G