Friday, September 14, 2012

Jesse Critchfield Narrative



Narrative History of Jesse Critchfield and his family

Jesse Critchfield enlisted[1] in Co. F, 142nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on 25 Aug 1862. He served his country for about 3 years spending over 8 months[2] as a prisoner of war in Andersonville, Georgia, mustering out on 29 May 1865[3] with the rest of his regiment in Washington D.C. This period was one of the defining moments of Jesse’s life. His service affected the rest of his life, his wife and his children’s lives.

The 142nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was formed with 10 companies from across Pennsylvania in Aug of 1862.[4] They gathered at Fort Curtin, Harrisburg, PA throughout the month of August, each company mustering as they arrived. There were three companies from Somerset County; C, D and F.[5] According to Bates[6] the 142nd saw action in many of the great battles of the Civil War; Fredericksberg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and The Wilderness campaign among others. Jesse was at each of them. Though we have no record of his personal thoughts there are many diaries and reminiscences from veterans of each of these battles.

The Wilderness Campaign began in May of 1864. According to Jesse’s muster roll records[7] he fought in this campaign and went missing in action during the battle of Cold Harbor in May 1864. (Later research has shown that Jesse was captured at Laurel Ridge in June of 1864.)[7a] Walter Dull relates in an affidavit in Jesse’s pension file[8] that he was “intimate with Jesse H. Critchfield … being in the same prison attachment and mess” in Andersonville Prison in Andersonville Georgia after Walter had arrived on 1 June 1864.

According to Kevin Frye, an Andersonville historian,

“Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, was one of the largest of many established prison camps during the American Civil War. It was built early in 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Federal prisoners kept in and around Richmond, Virginia, to a place of greater security and a more abundant food supply. During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union Solders were confined here. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. “[9]

We do not know the exact release date for Jesse but his muster roll shows that he was collecting his pay and his back pay in Nov and Dec 1864.[10] He was granted a leave of absence[11] from 24 Dec 1864 to 24 Jan 1865 to visit his family after which he reported back to Camp Parole in Washington D.C. to finish his military service.

He went back to Andersonville once that we can find. The State of Pennsylvania began raising money to erect a state monument at Andersonville Prison in 1901. In a ceremony on 5 December 1905 they dedicated the Pennsylvania State Monument at Andersonville, located in the Andersonville National Cemetery.  In the program book for this 1905 reunion for Andersonville survivors his name is listed in the program as an attendee. The book[12] was printed in 1909. The book describes the ceremony with speakers telling their experiences here as prisoners, with photos, and with a list of those who made the journey here for the event as well as noting who was here for the ceremony. Jesse is listed among those who were here for the ceremony on page 78.  (Image at the end of the paper.)

In many of the affidavits in Jesse’s Civil War Pension application, mention is made not only of his military service but also of the injuries and continued pain and suffering caused by his time in Andersonville. Though he tried to continue his farming he was no longer able to farm after 1871 [13]due to these injuries. He was a school teacher in Somerset County, PA from 1860 to 1881[14] and then moved into the mercantile profession. He had moved to Ellerslie, MD by 1890 and   was a schoolteacher[15] there as well. He was elected a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from Allegany County for the 1901-1902 session[16],[17] and finally was an assistant postmaster by 1910[18] assisting his daughter, Clara, who was the Postmistress for Ellerslie.

Jesse was born in July of 1841[19] in Somerset County, Pa, and married Rebecca Gessner on 3 Dec 1861 in Somerset County, Pa by Rev. Crossman.[20] She was the daughter of Ludwig Gessner[21] and Catherine (last name unknown)[22] of Berlin, Somerset County, Pa. both of whom were born in Germany.[23] Rebecca had been a servant in the home of Jesse’s father, William Critchfield[24] before their marriage. A year and half later Jesse enlisted and left for Fort Curtin. We do not know where Rebecca lived during Jesse’s war years. Her parents lived nearby in Berlin Twp, Somerset County, PA[25] so she may have gone home or she may have stayed with William and Susannah, Jesse’s parents.[26] No matter where Rebecca lived her life would have gone on much the same as before with the added worry for the safety of her husband. She would have cooked and cleaned and cared for members of the household. Life in Southampton or Berlin, Somerset County, PA in the 1860’s was rural. Jesse’s father, William[27] and Rebecca’s father, Ludwig[28], were both farmers. She would have been very familiar with an agrarian way of life.

In addition to daily chores many women during this time period became involved with creating care packages for the soldiers. They would make quilts, knit socks, preserve fruit and send many other little delicacies to show the men at the front that they were not forgotten and that they were loved and missed. In several interviews[29] with her great granddaughter, Clara Jean Imler, covering 1985-1995, Donna Critchfield Micheals heard many of the stories that Rebecca had passed to her children and grandchildren about her life.

Jesse and Rebecca didn’t have children until 1867[30], when their oldest child, William C.A. Critchfield was born. Others quickly followed; Charles in 1869[31], John Milton in 1871[32], Norman B. in 1873[33], Jennie M. in 1878[34], Alfred Sylvester in 1879[35], Mary in 1880[36] and Clara in 1882.[37]

Jesse and Rebecca’s life after the war was one of joy and sorrow. Jesse had to deal with war injuries both physical and mental. He had to earn a living and support a growing family. Rebecca had to care for the family home and the children that filled it. With the birth of each child and later each grandchild their family grew and prospered. By the time Jesse died his children and grandchildren had scattered across the country; Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Minnesota.[38] His great grandchildren have covered even more of the US: North Carolina, Virginia, and California among other states.

Jesse passed away in Ellerslie, Allegany County, MD on 13 March 1917[39] and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Allegany County, MD[40]. Rebecca passed on 31 Dec 1934 in Ellerslie, Allegany County, MD[41] and was also buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Cumberland, Allegany County, MD on 3 Jan 1935.[42]

[1] Jesse H. Critchfield (Pvt., Co. F, 142nd PA Vol. Inf., Civil War) pension no. S.C. 230980, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[2] Jesse H. Critchfield Civil War Pension no. S.C. 230980, RG 15, NA-Washington.
[3] Warren, Col. Horatio N. Two Reunions of the 142nd Regiment, Pa. Vols. The Courier Company, Buffalo, NY, 1890. found online at http://archive.org/stream/tworeunionsof00warr#page/n0/mode/1up, 25 July 2012.
[4] Downey, James William. M.A thesis, A lethal tour of duty : a history of the 142nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1995, p. 1.
[5] Downey. p. 4.
[6] Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871. Found at http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/142nd/142ndorg.html, 25 July 2012.
[7] Muster Rolls of Co. F, 142nd PA Vol. Inf., 25-Aug 1862-29 May, 1865, Jesse Critchfield, Muster Rolls of the Regular Army Organizations, 1784-1912. Records of the Adjutant General’s office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[7a] Croner, Barbara M. A Sergeant's Story Civil War Diary of Jacob J. Zorn, Closson Press, Apollo, Pa. 2011.
[8] Jesse H. Critchfield Civil War Pension no. S.C. 230980, RG 15, NA-Washington.
[9] Frye, Kevin, found at http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/ and in personal emails with Mr. Frye in July of 2011.
[10] Muster Rolls of Co. F, 142nd PA Vol. Inf., 25-Aug 1862-29 May, 1865.
[11] Muster Rolls of Co. F, 142nd PA Vol. Inf., 25-Aug 1862-29 May, 1865.
[12] Pennsylvania in Andersonville, Georgia. Book in possession of Kevin Frye, Butler Georgia. Sent digital images to author on 3 July 2011.
[13] Jesse H. Critchfield Civil War pension no. S.C. 230980, RG 15, NA-Washington.
[15] Ancestry.com. Cumberland, Maryland Directories, 1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. found 25 July 2012.
[16] The Sun, Baltimore, MD, 15 March 1917, found online at GenealogyBank.com on 10 May 2012.
[18] Maryland. Allegeny County. Ellerslie. Sheet no. 125A. ED. 23. SD. 5. dwelling 1, family 1, Jesse H. Critchfield, 1910 U.S. Census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[19] Jesse’s Notebook in possession of author
[20] Jesse H. Critchfield (Pvt., Co. F, 142nd PA Vol. Inf., Civil War) pension no. S.C. 230980, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[21] State of Maryland, State Registrar of Vital Records, death certificate no. 12014, Rebecca Critchfield.
[22] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Berlin Twp. Stamped 165. dwelling 101, family 120, Ludwick Gessner, 1850 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[23] Maryland. Allegeny County. Ellerslie. Sheet no. 6B. ED. 1-55. SD. 1. dwelling 30, family 30, Rebecca Critchfield, 1930 U.S. Census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[24] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Northampton Twp. Stamped 340. dwelling 1168, family 1168, William Critchfield, 1860 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[25] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Northampton Twp. Stamped 340. dwelling 1168, family 1168, William Critchfield, 1860 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[26] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Northampton Twp. Stamped 340. dwelling 1168, family 1168, William Critchfield, 1860 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[27] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Northampton Twp. Stamped 340. dwelling 1168, family 1168, William Critchfield, 1860 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[28] Pennsylvania. Somerset County. Berlin Twp. Printed 268. dwelling 39, family 43, Ludwig Gessner, 1870 U.S.census, Ancestry.com, 2012.
[29] Interviews with Clara Jean Imler by Donna Ann Critchfield Micheals and Dorothy Jones Critchfield over several years 1985-1995.
[30] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author.
[31] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[32] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[33] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[34] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[35] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[36] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[37] Jesse’s notebook, in possession of author and Critchfield Family Bible
[38] The Sun, Baltimore, MD, 15 March 1917, found online at GenealogyBank.com on 10 May 2012
[39] The Sun, Baltimore, MD, 15 March 1917, found online at GenealogyBank.com on 10 May 2012.
[40] State of Maryland, State Registrar of Vital Records, death certificate no. 4978-154, Jesse H. Critchfield.
[41] State of Maryland, State Registrar of Vital Records, death certificate no. 12014, Rebecca Critchfield.
[42] State of Maryland, State Registrar of Vital Records, death certificate no. 12014, Rebecca Critchfield.
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