Soldier Story: Captain Graeff gets in trouble.

Jacob moved to Leesport at 16 with his family and worked as a clerk at A.D. Himmelreich who ran a successful grain business in the basement of the Schuylkill Valley House in Leesport. Jacob also worked for a time worked at the hotel at 5th and Penn in Reading,
 

At 28 Jacob was commissioned in  Company E 151st Pennsylvania Infantry on September 25th 1863 in Reading as Captain. The 151st was mustered in as a 9 month term unit on October 29th 1863.

On November 26th the 151st moved to Washington DC and was attached to the 3rd Brigade Casey's Division as part of the defensive line around Washington DC

In February they moved to Belle Plains VA and were attached to the 1st Army Corp.

At the end of February they were on picket duty along Bull run when Captain Jacob got himself into a little trouble by leaving the picket line.

He would later be Court Martialed for this..

The following is a report from that Court Martial

Before a General Court Martial which convened at Centerville, Virginia, April 11, 1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 38, dated March 31, 1863, and Special Orders, No. 36, dated April 3, 1863, Headquarters Casey’s Division, Washington, and of which Colonel George L. Willard, 125th New York Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and tried —

Captain Jacob S. Graeff, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Charge I. — “ Quitting his guard.”

Specification — “In this; that, Captain Jacob S. Graeff, Company ‘E,’ 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, having been regularly detailed as officer of the picket guard for the right wing of the picket line extending from Union Mills to Blackburn’s Ford, along the general course of Bull Run stream, did, after having been duly placed in command of such guard, and after said guard had been posted, quit his said guard and leave the said picket line and go to the camp of his said regiment. This at or near Union Mills, Virginia, on or about the 9th day of February, 1863.”

Charge II. — “Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.”

Specification — “In this; that he, Captain Jacob S. Graeff, Company ‘E,’ 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, while regularly in command of the picket guard of said Regiment — which guard was posted along the picket line from Union Mills to Blackburn’s Ford, along the general course of Bull Run stream, and while stationed at post number seven of said picket line, to wit, at McLean’s Ford, with a reserve of said guard— did, before he was regularly relieved, quit said post number seven, and go away from the said picket line to the camp of his said Regiment, and did so remain away for a long time This at or near Union Mills, Virginia, on or about the 9th day of February, 1863.”

To which charges and specifications the accused, Captain Jacob S. Gratff, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, pleaded “ Not Guilty.”

Finding.

The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds the accused, Captain Jacob S. Graeff, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, as follows:

Charge I.

Of the Specification, “Guilty.”

Of the Charge, “ Guilty.”

Charge II.

Of the Specification, “Guilty, except the words, ‘and did so remain away for a long time.’ ”

Of the Charge, “Guilty.”

Sentence.

And the Court does therefore sentence him, Captain Jacob S. Graeff, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, “To be dismissed the service of the United States.

The proceedings of the Court in the case of Captain Jacob S. Graeff, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, have been forwarded to the President of the United States, who approves the sentence, but directs that it be mitigated to a forfeiture of pay for the period of three months.

After the Civil War Captain Graeff came home and became a proprietor of the Leesport hotel and also for a time was the postmaster of Leesport. 

He is buried at the Leesport Cemetery in Leesport PA