Soldier Story: Private John "Albert" Sunday 96th Pennsylvania Infantry

 

John Albert Sunday (Known as Albert) was born on the outskirts of Hamburg Pennsylvania on May 12^th 1845 to John and Margaret Sunday.

At 18 he joined company G of the 96^th Pennsylvania Infantry and mustered in in Pottsville PA on October 23^rd 1861.

After the Battle of Gettysburg, the 96th Regiment, along with the rest of the Army of the Potomac, pursued General Lee's army southward. By October 1863, they were stationed along the Rappahannock River. During a subsequent battle near Bristoe Station, Albert was captured and swiftly sent to the notorious Andersonville Prison in Georgia.

Andersonville Prison

He and two other Union soldiers managed to escape the prison in early September...

The story was relayed in the August 10^th, 1893, National Tribune

“A very pleasant reunion recently occurred in Chicago, involving Comrades William Gannon of Hartland, Michigan; John A. Sunday of Hamburg (Pennsylvania); and Robert Commons of Chicago. On September 11, 1861 (Should be 1864), these three men escaped together from Andersonville. After traveling for nine days, or rather nights, they reached the Union lines 12 miles south of Atlanta. They attribute the success of their escape to a blunder.

When leaving the prison, they followed a little stream for several hours, only to find that it brought them back to their original starting place. This fortunate error meant the hounds, which were put in chase immediately upon the discovery of their escape, did not track them, as the roundabout circuit proved too much for the dogs. Mr. Gannon said that Comrade Commons was nearly played out during the escape, having five gangrene sores on his legs and feet.

"We could not leave him behind, or would not, so we made bandages from our shirts to protect Mr. Commons's feet, as we were all barefooted. It was difficult to get anything to eat. By eating berries and green corn, we pulled through. One colored man gave us some flour. We tried to make a fire but had to put it out because of the smoke, which might have led to our capture. General McArthur was the first Union man we met, and we were sent to Atlanta, arriving after its fall. General Sherman was reviewing the troops. We were provided with clothing and transportation to our respective commands. We parted at Indianapolis, and in the excitement of parting, we neglected to take each other's addresses."

After the war John returned home and became a dealer in Horses and cattle on the corner of 3rd and Walnut in Hamburg

John is buried at St. Johns Church in Hamburg Pennsylvania

Soldier Story: David Vetter New Ringgold PA

 

David Vetter was born in Pottsville PA on February 22^nd 1843 to John and Mary Hetzel. He started off working as a boatman on the Schuylkill Navigation and then moved to New York State where he worked as a boatman on the Erie Canal.

After the war broke out, this is where he joined the 120^th New York Infantry company H in at Kingston New York in August of 1862 under the command of Colonel George Henry Sharpe

 

Henry Sharpe

The 120th New York Infantry, also known as the Ulster Regiment or Washington Guards, was recruited from Greene and Ulster counties. The regiment assembled at Kingston and was mustered into U.S. service on August 22, 1862, for a three-year term. In July, August, and October of 1864, its ranks were bolstered by veterans and recruits from the 71st and 72nd New York regiments.

 

The regiment, 900 strong, left the state on August 24, 1862, and proceeded to Washington, D.C., where it encamped near the Chain Bridge. In early September, it was attached to the renowned Excelsior Brigade (Sickles' 2nd Division, 3rd Corps) and saw its first combat at Fredericksburg.

 

According to Col. Fox, in his account of the three hundred fighting regiments, the 120th was actively engaged at Chancellorsville, then part of Berry's Division, demonstrating commendable steadiness and efficiency. The regiment suffered 4 killed, 49 wounded, and 13 missing in that battle.

In June David received leave to return home to marry his sweetheart (and second cousin), Mary Hetzel.

At Gettysburg, now in Humphrey's Division, it was caught in the disaster of the second day's battle but managed to retreat in good order to the second line, fighting as it went. The casualties at Gettysburg totaled 30 killed, 154 wounded, and 19 missing, with 8 officers killed and 9 wounded.

 120th Monument at Gettysburg

After the 3rd Corps was merged into the 2nd, the 120th was placed in Brewster's Brigade of Mott's Division and continued to fight under the 2nd Corps flags, retaining their old 3rd Corps badge. When Mott's Division was discontinued, the Excelsior Brigade became part of Birney's (3rd) Division, later becoming the 4th Brigade. General Mott eventually commanded this division, with Col. McAllister leading the brigade.

 

The regiment faced significant losses in several battles: 5 killed, 48 wounded, and 8 missing at the Wilderness; 8 killed, 30 wounded, and 21 missing at the Boydton Road; and 6 killed, 32 wounded, and 46 missing at Hatcher's Run. During the Virginia campaigns of 1863, following Gettysburg, the regiment lost 140 men killed, wounded, and missing. It also suffered heavily in the trenches before Petersburg, with 51 casualties.

 

In the final campaign, culminating in Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the regiment's losses totaled 52 killed, wounded, and missing. The 120th displayed remarkable bravery and discipline, notably rallying three times around its colors on the second day of Gettysburg.

 

The regiment participated in 17 significant battles, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Spotsylvania Where David was wounded in the side.

Then the 120^th moved on to fight at North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, and White Oak Road. It was also present at Fredericksburg, Wapping Heights, Kelly's Ford, Po River, Deep Bottom, Sailor's Creek, Farmville, and Appomattox.

 

The 120th was mustered out near Washington, D.C., under Lt. Col. Lockwood on June 3, 1865. Throughout its service, the regiment enrolled 1,626 men, with 51 dying in Confederate prisons, 11 officers and 140 men killed or mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 179 men dying of disease and other causes.

After the war David returned to Pennsylvania where he became the night telegraph operator at New Ringgold Station. in 1878 the Justice of the Peace for the area. In 1891 we became the station agent at New Ringgold, he also served as the US  Express Agent.

He fathered 8 children

David was laid to rest at Friedens Church Cemetery in New Ringgold, Schuylkill County where he served as Deacon for many years

He belonged to Doubleday Post 189 GAR and Washington Camp 100 POS of A