David Vetter was born in Pottsville PA on
February 22nd 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 120th
New York Infantry company H in at Kingston New York in August of 1862 under the
command of Colonel George 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.
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 120th 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
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