Category: Company K

Frank Baker, Company F

RGoldie

Frank Baker
• Enlisted in Company F; August 28, 1861
• Promoted from 1st Lt. Co. F; March 22, 1862 (to what rank?)
• Resigned July 23, 1862
• Re-enlisted (as Sergeant?), Co. K; February 15, 1864
• Promoted to 1st Lt., Co. I, July 6, 1864 (also showing date as September 9, 1864?)
• Promoted to Captain, Co. E; January 24, 1865 (Date also listed: January 1, 1865?)
• Wounded at Petersburg; April 2, 1865
• Mustered out with Company August 29, 1865

Baker enlisted and was commissioned as a 1st Lt. August 28, 1861, in Company F.
He was wounded during the Breakthrough at Petersburg (Fall of Petersburg/third battle of Petersburg); April 2, 1865.
He mustered out of service on June 29th, 1865.
On July 31, 1866 Baker applied for a Federal Pension on account of his wound.

Served with the 98th PA: Siege of Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill. Wilderness, Spottsylvania (assault on the Salient), Cold Harbor, Petersburg, siege of Petersburg, defense of Washington against Early’s attack. He participated in Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign, battles of Opequan, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, Fort Fisher, and the assault and fall of Petersburg.

*Photo and history courtesy of Dave Hann

 

(Note to self: verify ranks and dates ~ some confusion/overlap with dates and rank via Bates across 4 companies.)

Bernhard Gessler

RGoldie

Major Bernhard Gessler

b. 1824 – d. February 21, 1889

21st Pennsylvania Infantry, Co. E
98th Pennsylvania Infantry, Cos E and K

Buried: Breslau Cemetery, Lindenhurst, Long Island, NY
m. Augusta

The Brooklyn Eagle
March 9, 1889

The Old Veteran Dead

Major Bernhard Gessler, of Breslau, the paralyzed veteran of the late war, whose sad case has long elicited the sympathy of the people of Babylon and vicinity, died on Thursday. Major Gessler’s devotion to his adopted country is well known and his subsequent sufferings, which were unrelieved by the Government, were not forgotten by his friends. For the past three years, the deceased has subsisted entirely upon the charity of his neighbors. He leaves a widow in destitute circumstances.

The Corrector
March 9, 1889

Major Bernhard Gessler, of Breslau, the paralyzed veteran of the late war, whose sad case has long elicited the sympathy of the people of Babylon and vicinity, died on Thursday.

The Long Island Daily Star
January 17, 1889

A Case for the G.A.R. to Assist

A sad case of destitution isn’t present taxing the liberality of the ladies of Babylon. Bernhard Gessler is a bedridden paralytic, and his wife is an invalid from various causes. Kessler enlisted as a Federal soldier at the breaking out of the Rebellion and by re-enlisting remained in the army until peace was declared. He received eleven wounds, the seriousness of which has been growing upon him until now, when he is helpless, and added to his physical suffering is the equally trying not of poverty. He made application for pension a long while ago, but various technicalities were interposed which he could not understand, and being unable to fee a lawyer he gave up in despair. Unless the good people of Babylon continue in their charity toward the old couple they must die of hunger.

Enlistment Date:

Enlisted: April 29, 1861 ~ Captain, Company E, 21st PA
Mustered Out: August 9, 1861 ~ Philadelphia, PA

Enlisted: September 19, 1861 ~ Sergeant, Company E, 98th PA
Resigned: March 22, 1863

Re-enlisted: September 6, 1862 ~ Sergeant, Company K, 98th PA
Transferred From Company K to Company I: November 1, 1862
Promoted to 1st Sergeant: September 1, 1863
Promoted to Captain: March 1, 1864
Promoted to Major: June 10, 1865
Transferred from Company I to Field & Staff: June 10, 1865
Mustered Out: June 29, 1865

Occupations: (Pre-War) Tailor

Pension Application Date: May 4, 1878
Wife’s Pension Application Date: January 30, 1891

 

*Thank you to the Lindenhurst Cvil War Project.
** Thank you to Rob Pellegrino for his contribution to our website.

Morning Report of Sick & Wounded ~ Document

RGoldie

Morning Report of Sick and Wounded
McClellan General Hospital, Ward 17, Philadelphia, PA
Dated: Thursday, August 4, 1864-Friday, August 5, 1864

View Document: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Document References:

John Thornton, PVT; 23rd Mass, Co. E
Michael Kelley, PVT; 95th NY, Co. E (furlough)
Jacob F. Gochring, PVT; 98th PA, Co. K
(Unknown), PVT; 183rd PA, Co. G
Harry Shelly, SGT; 119th PA, Co. I
Harry Wilgus, PVT; 119th PA, Co. K
Frank (listed as F. M.) Wordell, PVT; 121st PA, Co. I
Jas. Devlin, PVT; 69th PA, Co. E
Wm. Smith, PVT; 2nd PA Artillery, Co. B (deserted)

Signed by Richard A. Cleemann, Acting Assistant Surgeon