An Unknown Birney's Zouaves. More information is being sought on the identity of this Soldier. If you have any information on this soldier, please e-mail us.
Photo of Corp. Richard Roberts Lippincott Company R , 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was born in Rancocas New Jersey in 1840. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Lippincott. “Come 1860 and the Civil War. R.R. Lippincott and Ella Hansell were sweethearts, too
young for marriage but much in love.” He enlisted into the 23rd Pennsylvania at the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia on September 4th 1861. On September 8th 1861,with the rank of Corporal, he moved with the Regiment to Washington D.C, where he was encamped just three miles north of the Capitol on “The Queen’s Farm” at Camp Graham . He was there with the Regiment during the cold winter months and in December of 1861; Typhoid Fever broke out within the Camp which resulted in the Death of Fifty-One men of the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. It was decided on March 12th 1862 to move the camp to higher ground in Bladensburg, Maryland to rid the epidemic and ready the Soldiers for campaign. The 23rd Pennsylvania moved to Bladensburg and were encamped at Camp Clark . On March 14th 1862, an order was given that Four Companies of the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, L,O,P, and R, were to be transferred to the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers. This order was met with much protest since the men enlisted as the 23rd PA Regiment and did not enlist to fight with the 61st PA. After a time the men obeyed the order. Richard Roberts Lippincott of Company R , now was transferred to Company I of the 61st PA Volunteers. He was Promoted to Sgt Major shorly afterward and then again to 1st Lt on September 12th 1863. He was seriously wounded at The battle of Spotsylvania on May 10th 1864 being shot in the leg and left abdomen. The two Hansell boys searched the battlefield and
found him almost dead. They brought him to the
‘field hospital,’ a surgeon refused to attend him—
said he would be wasting his time. George said,
‘This man is an officer, he gets preference and you
know it. You do everything you can and do it now.
This gun’s loaded and one false move from you and you’ll have a minnie ball through your head.’He was sent to General Hospital in Annapolis ,MD to recover.At Annapolis, he was
treated for a shell wound of his back and left side until he could be sent home to Rancocas and
placed under the care of Dr. Granville S. Woolman. He was mustered out of Service on September 3rd 1864. After the War, He returned to Rancocas, bought the Rancocas Country Store, made it prosper, married his sweetheart,
Ella Hansell.1870 Census
Richard (age 30) and Ella (age 26) are living in Willingboro Township. His occupation is
dry goods and groceries.
In 1870, Richard served as the Willingborough Township Clerk. Aunt Ella writes in her
remembrances that Richard and Ella were active members of the Lyceum Literary Society. Ella
acted as Mrs. Jarley in the Waxworks (a combination of monologue and tableaux production
piece for benefit purposes.)
1872 - Richard – Postmaster of Rancocas for $160/Year.“In the 1880’s Richard and Ella built the stone house where I was born. The stone came
from a quarry in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Albert Hansell bought carloads of apples from
the Pennsylvania Dutchmen and he
got the stone cheap. The only stone
house in the village. The stone was
hauled three miles from the railroad
at Masonville across the river to
Rancocas.1880 - Richard Granted Civil War Pension
Richard was awarded a pension of $8.50 per month.
1880 Census – June 15, 1880
RR and Ella and their three children, Hansell (9), Jessie H. (6) and Ella H. (5) are living in
Willingboro with Ella’s parents, James S. Hansell (69), his wife Hannah (69) and son Richard
(27).1888 - Richard Attends a Civil War Reunion
History of the Twenty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Birney’s Zouaves, 1903-
1904, has a long article on the June 1888 Reunion of Shaler’s Brigade. A three day reunion was
held in Gettysburg, hosted by the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Association; thousands attended.
The Fayetteville Recorder newspaper of New York reported:
“Captain Dick Lippincott marshalled the Rancocas contingent of fourteen. They roomed
together, a most social crowd. We found the squad wherever we went, enjoying the occasion.
Dick says he will have to kill some of them off, or they will soon outnumber the
survivors.”
The contingent included the following: Wilmot Hansell and George Hansell came from
Philadelphia. Men from Rancocas are: Richard R. Lippincott, Jos. Lundy, M.B. Friant, Charles
Funk, Joseph Wills, J.B. Wilson, John Wells and Emlin Martin.1900 Census – June 15, 1900
RR (61) and Ella (58) are living Westhampton Township. His occupation is listed as
salesman. Included in the household are J. Hansell (29, farmer) and his wife of one year, Lida
(26).
Because of his poor health, Richard gave up the store and was a traveling salesman. His death occurred on May 31st 1901. He is buried at The Friends Quaker Cemetery in Rancocas, NJ. His stone, U.S. Government issue to Civil War veterans, is one of two
which proudly rise above the modest Quaker stones. Almost every family in the village and in
surrounding farms was represented at his funeral
and the line of wagons extended from the cemetery
back through the village, almost a mile. Papa
told me this as a little boy. No other person in the
area, before or since, has been so honored.”
You can view a Photo of the Grave of Richard Roberts Lippencott on Page 13 of the 23rd Pennsylvania, Virtual Cemetery pages.
Lt. Richard R. Lippencott, Company R, 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers.Richard was mustered in at the Skyukill Arsenal on September 4th 1861 and placed in Company R. He was sent to Washington D.C. for the Defenses of Washington on September 8th 1861. He was camped at Camps Graham and Clark until March of 1862 when his Company was transfered to The 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company I. He was later promoted to Sgt Major and then on September 12th 1863 to 1st Lt. On May 10th 1864 he was wounded at Spottsylvania Court House and was mustered out of service on September 3rd 1864. He is buried at Rancocas Quaker Cemetery in Rancocas, NJ.
Photo of Captain Louis Hillebrand, 1st Sgt. William R. Peddle and Personal Cook of Company B, 23rd PA. Captain Hillebrand was a successful Philadelphia Buisness man owning a Lock Making Shop and Gymnasium in Philadelphia. You can view his Grave on Page 45 of the Virtual Cemetery. Louis was born in Manheim Germany on March 4th 1834. He moved to Philadelphia and had a Gymnasium on Ninth and Arch Streets. He mustered into Service at The Skukill Arsenal on August 2nd 1861, one year Later he Resigned on August 1st 1862.
Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), April 10, 1912, p. 5:
Various local German-American organizations, especially the Philadelphia Turnegeminde, are beneficiaries of the will of the late Louis Hillebrand, who died on April 2, at his late residence, 257 North Sixth street, leaving an estate valued at more than $200,000. The will was admitted to probate yesterday.
A large part of the estate will revert to the Turnegemeinde, of which Mr. Hillebrand had been a member since 1851 [?]. The amount to be given the organization will be determined by the executors of the estate F. Herman Voigt, Henry Schimpf and Henry Schwemmer, all of whom are members of it.
The will also provides for the appointment of a committee of five men, all members of the Turnegeminde, to watch and guard the body during the time prescribed by the laws and customs of the State, and "to take special care not to allow doctor or physician to perform any autopsy or port-mortem examination of my body or to make any experiments with it of any kind under any circumstances whatever."
Workmen Remembered
According to the petition filed, the will was executed March 18, 1909. Several bequests, amounting to $10,500, are made to a sister-in-law, nephews and nieces, and then the following to different organizations:
German Society of Philadelphia, $2000.
German Hospital of Philadelphia $1000.
Pennsylvania Hospital, $1000.
Philadelphia Maennerchor Society $1000.
Junger Maennerchor Society of Philadelphia $1000.
Philadelphia Rifle Club (Schuetzen Verein), $1000.
The four sections of the Philadelphia Turngeminde, the Pioneer, the Saenger, the Bowling and the Alters Riege, $500 each.
Workmen and employes of the Star Lock Works, employed by the former firm of Hillebrand & Wolf; and who are employed by the present firm at the time of Mr. Hillebrand's death, $2000, to be divided in equal parts among them. Louis V. Wolf is president of the company.
Note. The estate was challenged by a nephew who felt his uncle had been unduly influenced to leave his estate to these organizations.
Note. According to the abstract of his death certificate, he was born in Manheim, Germany, son of Johann Hillebrand. He was a retired Lock Manufacturer. Crematory ashes went to Mount Vernon Cemetery.
Louis Hillebrand died on April 2nd 1912 in Philadelphia. You can view a photo of his Grave on Page 22 of The Virtual Cemetery Page.
Photo of Gymnast Zouave E.F. Taylor of Company B, 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers in his Gymnast Unifom. For more information visit the Gymnast Zouaves page.
