The Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013.
Military history researcher, Alfred W. Farris, Jr., wrote me the following from his
research at the Institute:
"Now, my findings are that Samuel was a member of the 4th Cavalry, Company 'A',
as indicated by the roster of Company 'A', 4th Cavalry. But he was part of the
Sixth-Fourth Regiment. This regiment was recruited under the direction of David
Campbell of Pittsburg, in compliance with authority granted by Governor Curtin, on 4th
September 1861. Company 'A', was recruited in Northampton County. It shows Samuel Powell
enlisted on 16 Feb 1864, called to duty the same day, he was mustered out of service
7-1-1865. He was 20 years of age at his time of enlistment, and he enlisted in
Philadelphia, PA. This information is from the 'Bates Book of Pennsylvania Volunteers',
Volume 2, Page 535."
General Reference Branch (NNRG-P), National Archives and Records Administation, 7th and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washingtion, D.C. 20408. Civil War veteran pension and miliary records can be obtained from this archive. Write to them for two application forms. Pension and military records have to be applied for separately. Cost for me several years ago was $10.00, but this can vary.
Pension records contain more genealogical information
than military records. The following is a summary of Samuel POWELL's
pension records.
______________________DECLARATION FOR PENSION:
Samuel POWELL's application is dated May 17, 1912. He gives his current age
as 68 and his current address as 20 South Harrisburg St., Steelton, Pa. He
states that he was enrolled at Philadelphia February 16, 1864, as a private in
Company A, 4th Regiment Pa. Cav. and was discharged at Lynchburg, Va. on July
1, 1865. His personal description at enlistment was: 5'6", dark complextion,
brown hair. At the time of his enlistment he was a laborer; he was born April
29, 1844 in Pine Grove, Pa.; that since leaving the service he has lived in
Coaldale, Pa., Lansford, Pa. and Steelton, Pa. He is a pensioner under
Certificate No. 818376. On a separate form he states that his post office at the time of his
enlistment was Summit Hill, Carbon Co.; he was born April 29, 1844, in Pine
Grove, Schuylkill Co.; his wife is Catherine Rees Powell and they were married
August 5, 1865 in Nesquehoning by Lyshon Thomas. On this same form he lists his
children as:
James S. Powell...born....Oct. 31 - 1866
David L. Powell...born....Oct. 09 - 1868
Jane Powell.......born....Sept.05 - 1871
Ida Powell.......born....Sept.17 - 1873 (dead)
Sarah Powell......born....Dec. 01 - 1875
Samuel R. Powell..born....Mar. 03 - 1878
Elizabeth Powell..born....Aug. 18 - 1880
Verlie R. Powell..born....Jan. 06 - 1887
The following is not from an official form, but from a personal type-written record officially stamped May 9, 1914, included in Samuel POWELL's application for a pension.
"Record of births and deaths of Joseph and Mary Powell's children, late of Lansford, Carbon Co., Pa.
John.............born Jan 16, 1840...died Mar 16, 1842
James Lloyd......born Mar 12, 1842
Samuel Evans.....born Apr 29, 1844
Isabella.........born Sep 14, 1846
Johnathan Tudor..born Oct 27, 1848...died Dec 6, 1876
Elizabeth........born Dec 26, 1850
Vassar Erasmus...born Jan 02, 1853
Evor Aneurian....born Jan 07, 1855
Abigail..........born Dec 02, 1856
Ida Amanda.......born Jun 23, 1859...died Dec 23, 1887
..........Father died Feb 10, 1881
..........Mother died Jan 04, 1890
A handwritten note on this same paper states:
David Reese Sr. died Feb. 24, 1899, (illegible word) Feb 27, 1899, aged
79yrs, 11mo, 26days.
Samuel POWELL's pension was granted June 3, 1914. He was to receive $20.00 per month from April 29, 1914, and $24.00 per month from April 29, 1919.
______________________DECLARATION FOR WIDOW'S PENSION:
Catherine POWELL's application is dated March 15, 1917. She gives her current
address as "20 So. Harrisburg St., Steelton, Dauphin Co., Pa. Her son James has
also signed the application (as Jas. S. POWELL) and gives his current address as
632 Olive St., Coatesville. The lawyer is E.Ross Feehrer, 131 S. 2nd. St.,
Steelton, Pa.
EVIDENCE for claim #1,096,228 of Catherine POWELL and Samuel POWELL, Co. "A" 4 Pa. Cav. Affidavit of Mary E. Richards and Mary Ronemus. Filed by Thomas M. Sykes, pension attorney, Harrisburg, Pa.
The following GENERAL AFFIDAVIT was given March 23, 1917, by Mary E.
RICHARDS, aged 74, and Mary RONEMUS, aged 77, both of Nesquehoning, Carbon Co.,
Pa.
"We are personally acquainted with the claimant in the above cited case and we
knew her before she became of marriageable age. Her maiden name was Catherine
Reese, and we know that she was never married prior to the date of her marraige
to Samuel Powell, and had she been previously married we would have known it.
We know that the claimant lived with the soldier from the date of their marraige
to the date of his death and was not divorced. We know that the claimant has
not remarried since the death of the soldier. We gain the knowledge to which
we testify from personal acquaintance and association."
The following GENERAL AFFIDAVIT was given by Catherine POWELL on July
20, 1917.
"I am now 71 years of age having been born on March 14, 1846, in Wales: There is no Public record of the date of my birth: There is no family Bible record of the date of my birth: There is no Baptismal record of the date of my birth: My father's name was David Reese: My mother's name was Jane Reese: They came to America when I was about 5 years of age and resided in Beaver Meadows, Carbon Co., Pa. During the year 1860 I resided with my father and mother in Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa. There is no public record of the date of my marraige to the soldier, but there is a Private record that had been kept by Leyshorn R. Thomas, J.P., now in possession of his son: This Memorandum Book contains the original entry of the record of my marraige to the soldier as that of August 5, 1865. I have a marraige certificate. The soldier's correct name is that of Samuel Evan Powell, but when he enlisted he gave his name as 'Samuel Powell'. He was generally known as Samuel Powell: When my son Samuel R. Powell gave the information for Public record of the date of death of the soldier, he gave his name as 'Samuel Evan Powell', hence the name appears as such on the Public record, a copy of which is filed as evidence in the case."
The following GENERAL AFFIDAVIT was given by Richard L. Thomas, aged 70 and living in Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa., on July 20, 1917.
"I am a son of Leyshon (sic) R. Thomas, formerly a Justice of the Peace, located at Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa., and he held said Office during the year 1865: I have in my possession his old Memorandum Book, wherein there is recorded record of marriages performed by him during the year 1863: 1864: and 1865: There appears of record in said book the following entry:
'Married August 5, 1865:
Mr. Samuel Powell of Sumet Hill, Carbon County, Pa.,
to Catherine Reese, of Nesquehoning, Carbon County - by
me-Leyshorn R. Thomas, J.P. August 5, 1865.'
I further certify that said entry of marriage is in the hand writing of my father - Leyshorn R. Thomas, now deceased, and that from the appearance of the writing I believe that entry to have been made many years ago. The entry does not bear any marks of erasure or alteration, and I have every reason to believe the entry to be original and to bear the correct date of said marriage."
I, "Samuel Powell" born in "Schuylkill Co." in the State of "Penna." aged "twenty" years, and by occupation a "labourer" DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE to have volunteered this "sixteenth" day of "February" 186"4" to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of THREE YEARS, unless sooner discharged by proper authority: Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law for volunteers. And I, "Samuel Powell" do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
Sworn and subscribed to, at "Phila. Pa." this "16"" day of "January" 186"4"
Samuel Powell's signature
I CERTIFY ON HONOR, That I have carefully examined the above named Volunteer, agreeably to the General Regulations of the Army, and that in my opinion he is free from all bodily defects and mental infirmity, which would, in any way, disqualify him from performing the duties of a soldier.
EXAMINING SURGEON |
I CERTIFY ON HONOR, That I have minutely inspected the Volunteer "Samuel Powell" previously to his enlistment and that he was entirely sober when enlisted; that, to the best of my judgement and belief, he is of lawful age; and that, in accepting him as duly qualified to perform the duties of an able-bodied soldier, I have strictly observed the Regulations which govern the recruiting service. This soldier has "Brown" eyes, "Dark" hair, "Dark" complexion, is "five" feet "six" inches.
Recruiting Officer |
I, "Samuel Powell" desiring to VOLUNTEER as a Soldier in the Army of the United States, for the term of THREE YEARS, Do declare, Taht I am "twenty" years and "~" months of age; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court-martial, or by order before the expiration of a term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years.
The following is a copy of a large framed decorative discharge record with colored and patriotic Civil War illustrations. On the original, the text all runs together, line after line. For ease of reading on this page, I made breaks every few lines and have underlined the place names/ assignments and altered the text fonts. You're welcome.
was assigned to the 2nd Brigade and Division
Cavalry Corps Army of the Potomac. Comrade Powell participated in the following
engagements: Sumners Bridge May 3 Todd's Tavern May 5 to 8.64
Sheridans Raid to Richmond North Anna River May 9.10.64 Yellow Tavern
May 11 Richmond Fortification May 12.64 Pamunkey River May 26.28.64
Hawes
Shop May 28 Tolopatomay May 28-31. 1864 Cold Harbor
May 31 June 1.64 Trevillion Raid. Trevillion Station June 11.12.64
St. Peters Church June 21.64 Siege of Petersburg June 1864 to
April 2.65 Charles City Cross Roads June 29 Warwick Swamp
July 12.64 Malvern HillJuly 28 Warwick Swamp July 30 Deep
Bottom Aug 13-20. Gravel Hill Aug 14
Strawberry Plains
Aug 16.1864 White Oak Swamp Aug 18 Weldon Railroad Aug 18 to 21
Dinwiddie Road near Reams Sta Aug 23 Reams Sta Aug 25
Reconissance to Poplar Springs Church Sept 13.64 Reconissance to
Dinwiddie CH September 15.1864 Belchers Mills Sept 17 Reams Sta
Sept 29 Poplar Springs Church Sept 29 to Oct 2 Arthurs Swamp
Sept 30 to Oct 1.64 Boydton Plank Road Hatchers Run Va
Oct 27.28 Reconissance to Stony Creek Nov 7 Stony Creek Sta.
Dec 1.1864 Hicksfords Expedition Dec 7 to 12.1864 PROMOTED
TO BUGLER Bellefield Raid Dec 8.1864 Engaged at High
Hill December 10.1864 Rawanty Creek Feby 5.1865 Dabneys Mills
Hatchers Run Va Feby 5.7.65
Appomattox Campaign Mar 28 to
Apl 1865 Engaged at Lewis farm near Gravelly Run Mar 29.65 Dinwiddie
Court House Mar 30 and 31.1865 White Oak road Mar 31.1865 Five
Forks Va Apl 1.65 Baines Cross Roads and Amelia Springs
April 5.1865 Sailors Creek Va Apl 6.1865 Farmville April 7
Appomattox Sta Apl 8.1865 Appomattox Court House
LEES SURRENDER Apr. 9.65 Expedition to Danville Apl 23 to 29.65 Expedition after
extra Billy Smith May 20 to 28.65 at Lynchburg till July.