Franklin County: Samuel Reinhart to the Pennsylvania
Daily Telegraph, March 24, 1865
Summary:
Samuel Reinhart of Company I, 107th Pa., talks about the deaths and imprisonment
of soldiers in that regiment.
Editor, Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph
March 24, 1865.
HUMMELSTOWN
EDITOR TELEGRAPH--
I notice in your paper of this date a statement of the death of soldiers out of the 107th regiment P.V., who died at Salisbury, N.C., which is but a partial list of the dead, who came to an untimely death by starvation, and cold. I was one of the number, and the statement given below is correct:
On the 19th day of August last we were captured at the Weldon railroad, 23 in number, of which the following died: Serg. Jno. Ellinger, Samuel Ecker, John Still, William Reedy, David Sonnon, Jacob Clay, John Steley, Samuel Nagle, Sylvester Herman, John Sherwechte, George Black, William Miller, Jessie Breinard and William Bretz. Corporal James Kennedy died on the way home and was buried at Fort Monroe. Thomas Dunphee and William Huett enlisted in the rebel army. Every week the rebel enrolling officers would visit the quarter and promise plenty of ration and clothing to the famishing men if they would enlist in their service. This offer induced some to enlist to avoid starvation and with the hope of escaping into our lines at a future day. The following are the names of those returned: Serg. David Lesley, John Steckley, William M'Dennis, Jacob Ecker, Samuel Reinhart and William Maher. In your account you have William Maher reported dead, which is incorrect; he returned with us, but I have not seen him since he left the boat.
Of our bad treatment while in the hands of the rebels it is useless, for me to recapitulate. I have seen a number of accounts since my return and none of which is an exaggeration.
I am, very respectfully yours,
SAMUEL REINHART Co. I, 107th reg. P.V.
