Asking help in locating Alfred W S(c)hollenberger Civil War Records

Question

Alfred W. Shollenberger
Born July 20, 1839
Died Nov 26, 1915
A member of
Co G 19th Reg PA Inf

Attempting to find any information on Alfred W Shollenberger Shollenberger-36. His headstone at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamburg, Berks Co, Pennsylvania states he was a Sgt in Us Civil War having served 19th Regiment PA Infantry Co G.  

Attempting to locate any military records of Alfred W. I have complete Census records showing him living in Hamburg and moving to Pottsville. I have records such as birth, church records, death certificate of his and family to tie them together. I would assume he joined in Hamburg PA with other Shollenberger family & not traveled to Philadelphia.

What I cannot find are military records- I am coming to assumption he was incorrectly listed as Albert Shollenberger of same unit but no way to prove. Or possibly Alfred W and Albert ‘s unit information was switched on veteran’s burial cards.

I have tried searches with Schuylkill  Haven’s records since it is in such close proximity with not much luck.

So much more information hopefully will come out when University of Wilkes publishes transcription of his Civil War Diary. All information and tips will be forwarded to University of Wilkes staff to assist their research! Thank you!

Comments

I’ll see what I can find

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His civil war diary would be wonderful. Is it coming out soon?

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Maybe he used an alias?

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Found his obit not sure if you already have it but link on his profile

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I can’t find his 1860 census you might have it?

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Wikipedia lists the 19th but not much found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pennsylvania_Civil_War_units?wprov=sfti1

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Alfred’s diary picture sent to me by Suzanna Calev from Wilkes University Library is shown on his findagrave site. last email I received: Suzanna States:

HI all, 

I was wondering if any of you might have any answers to the question of confirming what infantry did Alfred W. Shollenberger belong to--his headstone indicates the 19th PA infantry, and yet when you search their rosters, his name doesn't show up at all. I was trying to look into Engineering battalion units because we know he worked more as an engineer during the civil war but I'm having a hard time finding his name on Army Corps roster lists of any kind as well. 
 

In one of his diary entries, he indicates that he was working with the 102nd Infantry but he may have been a volunteer/hired civilian maybe, since he also mentions in an entry dated October 30th:   Orders came at dinner for the gang to go to Harpers Ferry the 102 concluded to go home so I packed my things to start in the morning and the rest packed theirs on the cars bound for Harpers Ferry. If any of you have any ideas on this, please let me know! We're almost finished with the transcripts and will be uploading the digitized diary soon with the finding aid.
 

Thank you,

Suzanna

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There is a photo on the findagrave memorial of the outside of the diary. What a treasure! I wish we had a diary or letter of my civil war ancestors but I have the letters of others to know more of the events of their service. 

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Soon!! I’ve even supplied Wilkes Uni. staff with a map of Hamburg in 1870 with houses/businesses owned so they could possibly make sense of names mentioned!!

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Highly doubt-  all papers, directories, newspaper articles, Census, wills, he signed or was written as Alfred W, as if to distinguish himself from other Alfred/Alberts of his time.

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Maybe he wasn’t an enlisted man but he holds rank of Sergeant! So it’s interesting and I’ve gone thru rosters still no luck

Follow up…the gravestone says he was a member of the co. G 19th Pa but doesn’t have SGT inscribed or did I not see it?

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See new comment from me with emailed links! Happy searching!

Answer 1

You can order Civil War Service records from the National Archives online or by mail for a fee.

Order Online or by Mail: Start by downloading the form for "Military Service Records (NATF 86)," or fill out the "Pre-WWI" online form from... Forms for Ordering Copies of Records from the National Archives. Look for the "(Pre-WWI) Military Service Records" section there. If you are ordering by mail, fill out the form and mail it in with your order. You will find instructions on the form. There is a fee.

Answer 2

Here is the roster http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r19-65RegisterPaVolunteers/r19-65Regt019/r19-65Regt019%20pg%2027.pdf

See also: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r19-65RegisterPaVolunteers/r19-65%20Reg1-25Interface.htm

Answer 3

See https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/19th_Regiment,_Pennsylvania_Infantry_(3_months,_1861) 

Answer 4

Found this but odd his name isn’t listed on any of the 19th Pa Regt sources yet or I missed it

https://civilwarindex.com/armypa/Rosters/19th_pa_infantry_roster.pdf

Comments

It’s NOT!! Blows my mind bc he served clear as day in his diary and family ‘legend’!! Like I posted from Suzanne’s email~ she’s trying to search engineering units...  all of my searches come up empty in all unit rosters and books.

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My great great grandfather Joseph Simpier served in the civil war under aliases and took the place of a wealthy man for payment. It took a lot of family cousins etc to figure it out and the sources all became clear. So I know how challenging it can be ! 

Answer 5

The following is the email from Wilkes University showing links to Alfred W Shollenberger’s Civil War Diary. I can’t thank ya’ll enough for your help!! I will be working to fill in blanks and help link other “Hamburg Boys” Veterans  were I can! Best of luck in your continued searches!!

On Aug 13, 2021, at 12:31 PM, Calev, Suzanna <suzanna.calev@wilkes.edu> wrote:
 

Hi Laura, et. al, 
 

I wanted to share the exciting news that the diary has finally been digitized, and the original and edited transcripts can be found here:
 

https://archivepublic.wilkes.edu/repositories/2/resources/93

If you scroll all the way to "Digital Material" you'll see all links to download. 
 

My student also wrote a blog post on the diary in case any of you are interested: 

https://wuarchives.home.blog/2021/08/12/the-role-of-engineers-in-the-civil-war-a-closer-look-at-the-diary-of-alfred-w-shollenberger/
 

I hope this helps you all in figuring out more of your family history!
 

Kindest regards,

Suzanna