Comments on: Command of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry at Antietam

By: Audrey Cole

Audrey Cole — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:32:16 +0000

Yes, Michael, have read those books. Also have some of the drafts. My father knew most of the family history and kept many records. His mother was very close to her father W.E. Doster.

By: Michael Lawler

Michael Lawler — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:55:58 +0000

Audrey, do you have the book on the 4th PA cavalry? Good info on W.E. Doster there–he also wrote a book or two himself and was the military lawyer assigned to defend a couple of the Lincoln assassination conspirators. He was my great grand uncle or something like that.

By: Audrey Cole

Audrey Cole — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:12:38 +0000

William Emile Doster is my great grandfather, and I’ve always thought the Westover Landing photograph (he’s reclining) was him, though with little evidence other than resemblance, attire, and that he could easily have visited from Washington, which was not uncommon.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:47:20 +0000

Thank you Alfonso! Here’s that photo:

I’m not sure, but he doesn’t look like the person above who I thought to be Kerr. So the mystery deepens a little for me.

By: alfonso r. laporte

alfonso r. laporte — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:40:22 +0000

see online photo colonel Kerr, MILITARY HISTORY INSTITUTE.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:39:11 +0000

Hi Joseph - that's one illustrious ancestor you have! You probably know this already, but here's what Bates says of the Regiment in action on 1 December 1864:

At Hatcher's Run, on the 1st of December, Gregg's Cavalry and a battery were engaged, in which the Fourth performed signal service. It was led by Major Mays. A fort near the point where the railroad crosses the run, stood in the way of further advance, and it was necessary to capture it. This duty was assigned to the Fourth. Plunging into the stream. it crossed above, and making a detour, came in upon and attacked the rear of the work, while the front facing the river was held by the Sixteenth Cavalry dismounted. Assailed thus in front and rear, the garrison was soon compelled to surrender.

Two hundred prisoners, three cannon, with arms, equipments, and stores were captured. The loss was considerable. Captain Francis M. Ervay was among the wounded.

By: Joseph Sowers

Joseph Sowers — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:18:26 +0000

I recently discovered that my one of my uncles was Pvt. Michael Sowers. He was a medal of honor recipient during the Wilson-Kautz raid at Stony Creek Station, Va. Date of Citation was 1 Dec. 1864. If you have any more information on Stony Creek Station or the 64th during the raid, i would like to know more. Great site. Thank you.

By: Christopher J. Small

Christopher J. Small — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:35:07 +0000

Good afternoon. I have another candidate for the Lieutenant on the right. Lt. Henry King, a fellow townsman and perosnal friend. He was the RQM of the 4th. Childs asked for him as he lay mortally wounded, and gave him personal effects to be taken to Child’s family. He was 43 at the time. I have a picture of his older brother and they compare favorably. I will post again on this possibility soon.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:58:50 +0000

Hi Sean,

thanks for coming by! We’re busy and slow, but still here. Please post more about your ancestor if you have the chance …

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:12:15 +0000

Hi there. Thank you for the information. I don’t know if anyone is viewing this page anymore or not, but I happened across it. I just wanted to mention that my grandfather was in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry as a Captain during the war. Neat bit of info. Thanks again!