Notes
Note for: Benjamin C. Speary, 12 JAN 1840 - 15 MAR 1927 Index
Burial:
Place: Cherry Grove Cemetery, Nordmont, Sullivan Co., Pa.
Individual note:
The 1900 census shows Benjamin In LaParte, Sullivan County, Pa as a Woods
foreman, had of household with 3 boarders residing with him. One is named
John N Pennington (age 34).
Served as a Private in the PA. Infantry with Company B of 84th Regiment
Pa. Volunteer Infantry during the civil war.
Mustered in 12-11-61 with his brother John.
On May 3rd, 1863 Benjamin was captured as a POW at the battle
Chancellorsville. He was mustered out with his company on January 13,
1865
Regimental History
PENNSYLVANIA
84TH INFANTRY
(Three Years)
Eighty-fourth Infantry.-Cols., William G. Murray, Samuel M. Bowman;
Lieut.-Cols., Thomas C. MacDowell, Walter Barrett, Thomas H. Craig,
Milton Opp, George Zinn; Majs,. Walter Barrett, Thomas H. Craig, Milton
Opp, George Zinn, Samuel Bryan. The 84th regiment, composed of men from
the counties of Blair, Lycoming, Clearfield, Dauphin, Columbia' Cameron
and Westmoreland, was recruited in the late summer and early fall of
1861. It rendezvoused first at Camp Crossman, Huntingdon, and afterwards
at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it was organized towards the close of
October, and before the end of
the year all the men were mustered into the U. S. service for three
years. On Dec. 31, 1861, it left for Hancock, Md., and on its arrival
there on Jan. 2, 1862, crossed the Potomac and moved to Bath. Here it was
confronted by the enemy under Stonewall Jackson and fell back to Hancock,
moving thence to
Cumberland. During the remainder of the winter the command was posted
along the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, but in March, it moved to
Winchester, where it was heavily engaged as a part of the forces
commanded by Gen. Shields. Its loss in the battle was 23 killed and 67
wounded out of 260 engaged. Col. Murray, Capt. Gallagher and Lieut. Reem
were among the killed.
It served on provost duty at Berryville until May 2; skirmished on the
31st at Front Royal; was again engaged at Port Republic in June; then
remained encamped at Alexandria until July, when under the commend of
Col. Bowman it joined Pope's army, and was assigned to Carroll's brigade,
Ricketts'
division, McDowell's corps. It was only slightly engaged at Cedar
mountain, but fought bravely throughout the day at the second battle of
Bull Run. Only a fragment of the regiment was fit for duty when it
reached Washington, and on account of its reduced condition it remained
at Arlington Heights during
the Antietam campaign. While here its ranks were filled by about 400
recruits and returning convalescents. At Fredericksburg it formed part of
Gen. Whipple's independent division and with its brigade rendered
conspicuous service during the battle. When Gen. Hooker took command of
the army,
the 84th was assigned to the 2nd brigade (Col. Bowman), 3rd division
(Gen. Whipple), 3rd corps (Gen. Sickles). Its losses were very heavy at
the battle of Chancellorsville, being 219 out of 391 engaged. Despite its
own heavy losses it succeeded in bringing off 33 prisoners. The 84th now
became a part of
Gen. Carr's brigade of the 2nd corps. In the Gettysburg campaign it was
detailed to guard the corps train and did not share in the great battle.
In the Virginia campaign which ensued it was active at Wapping heights,
Thoroughfare gap, Freeman's ford, Bristoe Station, Kelly's ford, Jacob's
ford, Locust Grove and Mine run, and then went into winter quarters at
Brandy Station. Many of the command reenlisted in Jan.,
1864, and were given a veteran furlough. It assisted in driving the enemy
at Morton's ford, Va., in February, and shared with the 2nd corps in the
almost constant fighting from the Wilderness to the James. Lieut-Col. Opp
was mortally wounded at the Wilderness while bravely leading a charge,
and
in a skirmish at Pleasant hill the gallant Lieut. Nixon, who saved the
command from capture at Bull Run, was severely wounded. It shared in the
siege of Petersburg until June 27, when it recrossed the James and took
part in the action at Deep Bottom. It then reengaged in the work of the
siege until
Aug. 14, when it was again in action at Deep Bottom and Strawberry
Plains. Once more it returned to the work of the siege, was engaged at
Yellow tavern, where Lieut.-Col. Zinn was severely wounded, and in
October the original members, except veterans and recruits, were mustered
out of service.
The others were organized as a battalion of four companies, which were
consolidated on Jan. 13, 1865, with the 57th Pa. and served with that
regiment until the end of the war. The battalion shared in the engagement
of the 2nd corps at Hatcher's run in October, and was again engaged on
the Weldon
railroad in December. The history of the battalion after its
consolidation is the same as that of the 57th (q. v.). It was finally
mustered out of service with that organization on June 29, 1865.
Sources:
The Union Army, vol. 1
History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865. (PARoster) Published in
1870
Battles Fought
Culpeper Court House, VA.
Petersburg, VA.
January 5, 1862 at Hancock,MD.
March 23, 1862 at Winchester, VA.
May 26, 1862.
May 29, 1862.
June 9, 1862 at Port Republic, VA.
August 9, 1862 at Cedar Mountain, VA.
August 28, 1862 at Thoroughfare Gap, VA.
August 30, 1862 at 2nd Bull Run, VA.
December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA.
May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, VA.
May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville, VA.