Colorized Photo of Private William J. Wray of Company F, 23rd PVI, Birneys Zouaves. Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (nicknamed "Birney's Zouaves" after Colonel David B. Birney) after the outbreak of the Civil War, being mustered into service on August 2, 1861. He served in Company F, and stayed with the unit until his transfer on February 14,1864. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg, getting shot through the eye on December 13, 1862. He spent the 1862 Christmas holiday recovering but soon was back defending the Union in Company K of the 1st Veterans Reserve Corps, which was designated for wounded or invalid soldiers who wanted to fight. During the July 12, 1864 Confederate strike at Washington, DC, he was stationed at Fort Stevens, and was awarded the CMOH for his bravery there that day, with his citation reading "Rallied the company at a critical moment during a change of position under fire". His Medal was awarded to him on December 15, 1892. Wray was discharged as a Sergeant on November 23, 1865. He died in 1919 in Philadelphia, and was buried in American Mechanics Cemetery. In 1951 the area was developed and the bodies removed. His body was disinterred on September 11, 1951 and re-interred on September 13, 1951, along with several other Wray family members, in Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazier Pennsylvania. He died on June 1st 1919 at the home of his brother Albert Wray.He is buried at Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazer ,PA You can see a photo of William J. Wray's Gravesite at his Memorial on The Virtual Cemetery Page 8.
Private Benjamin Wagner of Company B, 23rd Pennsylvania. Mustered in on September 1st 1861. Sometime during his service he was transfered to the signal corps and promoted as seen in the photo to the left. We are looking for additional information on Benjamin. If anyone has more information, please e-mail it to us.
Private Alexander Turner, Company A, 23rd Pennsylvania. Mustered in August 8th 1861. Discharged on a Surgeons Certificate on April 1st 1863. While in Hospital he became a helper ans was reassigned to The Hospital Corps as an Officer.He died in 1900. Burial Information is being seeked.
This is a Photo of Private Joseph J. Bateman Company A , 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, also known by their nickname, “Birney’s Zouaves”. He was born in Philadelphia in May 1836. Before the Civil War he was a schoolteacher. He enlisted into the 23rd Pennsylvania at the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia on September 1st 1861. On September 8th 1861, 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 . He was wounded and Captured at the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1st 1862. He was released from Prison and back to the 23rd. He was wounded again at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3rd 1863. He fullfilled his enlistment and mustered out on September 8th 1864 in Philadelphia. He returned to his schoolteacher job and later in life would get a job at the Frankford Arsenal as a Machinist. He lived at 4256 Franklin St. in Philadelphia near the Hunting Park Section. He married Mary J Clayton on une 23rd 1872 at the Ebenezer Baptist-Meth. Church (1872-1946), in Boyerstown,PA, by the Rev. E.J.D. Pepper. Bateman died on January 2nd 1906 while working at the Arsenal as he suffered a heart attack. The Funeral was from His residence on January 7th 1906 at 1 P.M. He was a member of...
Jerusalem Lodge #506
Col. James Ashworth Post 234 G.A.R.
Wingobacking Tribe #33
Imperial ORM Sparticus Lodge #31
Knights of Pythias Mutial Friend
International Order of Odd Fellows
Employee of Frankford Arsenal
23rd PA Survivors Assn.
He is buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery (Section 204, Lot254, Grave 1) in Philadelphia. You can view a photo of his grave on the Virtual Cemetery Page 14 .
You can view his Census Records at Page 4 of the Census Records.
Private Lawrence Corn, Company E, 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Mustered in at the Skuykill Arsenal on August 14th 1861. He was wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1st 1862. After his wounding, he was unable to continue in service and was discharged on a surgeons certificate on August 22nd 1862. We are looking for this soldiers date of death and burial information. If you know it, please e-mail us.
Colorized Photo of Private William J. Wray of Company F, 23rd PVI, Birneys Zouaves. Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (nicknamed "Birney's Zouaves" after Colonel David B. Birney) after the outbreak of the Civil War, being mustered into service on August 2, 1861. He served in Company F, and stayed with the unit until his transfer on February 14,1864. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg, getting shot through the eye on December 13, 1862. He spent the 1862 Christmas holiday recovering but soon was back defending the Union in Company K of the 1st Veterans Reserve Corps, which was designated for wounded or invalid soldiers who wanted to fight. During the July 12, 1864 Confederate strike at Washington, DC, he was stationed at Fort Stevens, and was awarded the CMOH for his bravery there that day, with his citation reading "Rallied the company at a critical moment during a change of position under fire". His Medal was awarded to him on December 15, 1892. Wray was discharged as a Sergeant on November 23, 1865. He died in 1919 in Philadelphia, and was buried in American Mechanics Cemetery. In 1951 the area was developed and the bodies removed. His body was disinterred on September 11, 1951 and re-interred on September 13, 1951, along with several other Wray family members, in Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazier Pennsylvania. He died on June 1st 1919 at the home of his brother Albert Wray.He is buried at Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazer ,PA You can see a photo of William J. Wray's Gravesite at his Memorial on The Virtual Cemetery Page 8.
