Wesley Wolfe Bierly (abt. 1838 - 1864)

Born about 1838 in Miles Township, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 Sep 1864 at about age 26 in Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Wesley was born about 1838. He was the son of Bierly. He passed away in 1864 from a battle wound inflicted outside Petersburg, VA.

SIBLINGS

Rebecca Joanna, b. 1 May 1832; d. 8 Sept 18, 1835; age 3.

Elvina, b. 13 Apr 1834; m. 19 Jan856, Emanuel Harter, Millheim, Centre Co., PA; d. 31 Dec 1907; Union Cemetery, Miles Township, Centre Co., PA.

Wesley Wolfe, b. 1836; d. 2 Sept 1864, Petersburg, Dinwiddle Co, VA; buried at St. Peter's Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre Co, PA.

Mary Ann, b. 2 June 1839; m. 1865 John Benjamin Crawford; d. 8 Nov. 1912, Walker, Centre, PA; buried Hublersburg Cemetery, Hublersburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Ellen B., b. 18 Aug 1842; m. John Mizener; d. 27 May 1916, Loganton, Clinton Twp., PA.

Lucetta "Sadie", b. Aug 1845; m. 1869, Dr. Thomas P. Meyer, dentist; d. 27 Apr 1928, long Branch, Monmouth County, NJ; buried First Presbyterian Churchyard there. She had been living with her daughter at the time of her death.[1]

Eliza Jane, b. 19 Dec 1848; m. 8 Dec 1869 John S. Ruhl; d. 1 July 1929, Tylersville, Clinton County, Pennsylvania.

Amanda J., b. Mar 1851; m. 1877, Arthur Evans; d. 25 Sept 1925; Miles Twp., Centre Co., PA.

Calvin F., b. 1 Oct 1853; d. 8 June 1861, age 7.

He was a local schoolmaster in the Rebersburg, PA area at the onset of the Civil War, the son of a local farmer. The enlisted men elected him First Sergeant of A Company of the 148 PA Infantry Volunteer Regiment, August 25, 1862, at Camp Curtain, outside of Harrisburg, PA.

He fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, in the Wheatfield action, during which he was injured by and exploding artillery ordinance, and taken from the field.

During the ensuing years he rose in rank to First Lieutenant (11 Nov. 1863), and was in action during the drive to Richmond, VA as the Acting Regimental Adjutant Officer on the day he was wounded and taken prisoner.

The attached images are of letters from Wesley to his sister Ellen (Bierly) Mizener. Letter dated 8 August, is a letter from the company First Sergeant giving detail of the action in which Lt. Beirly was wounded and captured. He apparently died as a POW, 2 September 1864.

See also image of an intact Civil War hardtack which Wesley sent, inscribed to his sister Ellen Beirly with some artistic embellishment. The years have taken its toll on the intact, 3 by 3 inch hard tack, but it is inscribed, upper right corner, "Sept 9, 1862," then diagonally from upper left to lower right, partially obscured, "Sister Ellen," and directly underneath - in center - a Union Army insignia image, partially chipped / obliterated; across the bottom " Wesley (obscured - Bier) ly, O.S. (probably 'Operating as Sergeant')" and underneath that around the curve of the bottom edge, "Co. A, 148th Reg't Voltrs, Camp Curtain."

Inasmuch as he was Acting Regimental adjutant at the time of his being wounded, he was apparently not carrying some of his regular field kit. That Civil War kit was returned to the family by surviving members of the company after the war, and has been passed down as an honored family heirloom collection; kit, belt, buckle, cartridge case, bayonet and scabbard. See the photo of a display case with his Army kit. Springfield rifle is a reproduction to complete the set.

Sources

• History of the 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Regiment: [1]

• The Story of Our Regiment, A History of the 148th Pennsylvania Vols., Written by the Comrades; open source book, details of Co. "A", p. 493, ff.

• Cover photo of First Lieutenant Wesley Bierly, from "The Story of Our Regiment," op.cit., p. 497.