MY
ANCESTORS IN THE WAR
The Civil
War, or more aptly The Great Rebellion, is firmly and deeply etched in
our family's history. There are at least ten known ancestors who fought
on the side of the Union, and probably many others that have not been documented.
One family supplied three brothers, two others gave two brothers each,
and the last family sent two brothers and a cousin. It is only fitting
and proper that these valiant men be recognized for the sacrifices they
made for their country. Some of them never returned to the families they
fought for and those who did were never the same.
Pruyne
The John Pruyne
family of Bradford County Pennsylvania sent three sons off to war.
Pvt. John Pruyne Jr, fought in the 52nd Pennsylvania Volunteer, Company F. He was 19 years. He is recorded as the first man from Bradford County to lose his life at the hands of the enemy. He died May 4, 1862, by the explosion of a torpedo that the Rebels had planted in the road near Lee's Mills, VA.
Pvt. Henry J. Pruyne, died within 24 hours of his brother John. He was a member of Company C of the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He was shot off his horse in a sabre charge at Lebanon, TN, May 5, 1862. He was 39 years old and left a wife and children.
Pvt. Riley
Pruyne, born about 1823, served in Company E of the 141st Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry. He served valiantly and lived to return to his grieving family.
Riley mustered out with his company on May 28, 1865.
Hiney
The Jacob
Hiney family sent two sons to war.
Pvt. John Henry "Dutch" Hiney, born 1836, mustered into the 141st Penna. Volunteers, Company H from Sesquehana county. He served well, but not much is known about his service. He mustered out with the regiment on may 28th, 1865.
Pvt. Daniel
Hiney, age 18, mustered in to Company E of the 141st Penna. Vol. Infantry
on August 25,
1862. He saw action in 32 battles with the 141st and received a leg wound, which troubled him for the rest of his life, at Cold Harbor, VA on June 3, 1864. Daniel mustered out with the company on May 28, 1865.
Wiles
Jacob Wiles,
of Burlington Township, Bradford County Pennsylvania, mustered in with
Company E of the 141st Pennsylvania Vol. Infantry. He transferred to Company
H of the 57th Pennsylvania Vol. Infantry. He mustered out with that regiment
on June 29, 1865. He is believed to be a cousin to the Hineys. If anyone
has more information on Jacob or his family please e-mail us.
Heess
The Christian
Heess family of Fox Township, Sullivan County Pennsylvania, gave two sons
for the
war effort.
Neither returned home.
Albert Heess, about 20 years old, fought in the ??? Regiment. He was killed in 1862, just prior to the Second Battle of Bull Run, probably by a sniper.
Ferdinand
Heess was a member of Company K of the 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
He was taken ill and died of a disease in an Army Hospital in the south.
Fithian
The Jonathan Fithian family of Missouri loaned two sons to the service of their country.
Peter Mason Fithian, served in the Missouri "Militia" as a captain, in 1861, took ill and was discharged in 1862.
William Mason Fithian also served in Missouri early in the war. He was captured by Quantrill's Raiders, escaped, and later returned home.
