Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Andrew Wissinger

135^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered In: 8/12/1862 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out: 5/24/1863 Harrisburg, PA

14^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY:
Organized: 8/1862 Camp Howe/Montgomery Pittsburg, PA
Mustered In: 8/21 – 11/4/1863
Mustered Out: 8/24/1865 Ft. Leavenworth, KS

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (135^th)

The 135^th was a nine (9) month infantry regiment. Recruited from the Pennsylvania counties of Lancaster, Indiana, Westmoreland and Jefferson, during the American Civil War (ACW), its period of service was within the western theater of operations.

On 8/19/1863 the unit moved from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. There, it performed provost (military police) duty around the capital and in Georgetown until 2/16/1863 when it moved southward into Virginia.

At the opening of the Chancellorsville campaign in 5/1863 the 135^th moved to Pollock’s Mills below Fredericksburg. At that place it supported Union artillery batteries stationed along the Rappahannock River. During this period the regiment suffered three (3) men wounded. It was present during the battle of Chancellorsville, (4/30- 5/6) but not actively engaged. In August it returned to Harrisonburg for final muster.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 0; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 0; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:37.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (14^th)

The 14^th – also known as the 150^th Infantry – was a three year cavalry regiment.  During the American Civil War (ACW) it served in the eastern theater of operations.

On 11/4/1862 the newly Federalized regiment moved to Hagerstown, MD where it was mounted, equipped and drilled. By year’s end it had marched to Harper’s Ferry, VA where it was engaged in picket and scouting duties for several months.

From early to mid-1863 the 14^th was active at various locations within the newly created state of West Virginia. On 8/4/1863 at White Sulphur Springs, WVA it lost eighty (80) men killed, wounded and missing. It concluded the year participating in a raid into southwestern Virginia.

In the spring of 1864 the 14^th, again, marched southward into Virginia, proceeding along the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad with an eye toward destroying the Rebel salt works at Saltville. That movement having failed, in May the regiment lost heavily at Cove Mountain. Next came the Lynchburg Campaign.

7/1864 found the 14^th   in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. During the latter part of the year, serving with Union Gen. Phil Sheridan, it lost heavily at Opequon (9/14/1864) and was active at Fisher’s Hill (9/21-22).

In the winter of 1864/’65 the unit suffered severely in expeditions to Millwood and Ashby’s Gap, VA. After the surrender of Confed. Gen. R.E. Lee (4/9/1865) the 14^th was ordered to Ft. Leavenworth, KS where it was consolidated into a six company battalion before being mustered out of the service and into the history books.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 2; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 97; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:296.

SOLDIER: (135^th)
Residence: Indiana County, PA   Age: 19.11 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled:  8/14/1862   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 8/14/1862
Mustered Out: 5/24/1863 Harrisburg, PA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

SOLDIER: (14^th)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 21.5 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 2/23/1864   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 2/23/1864
Mustered Out: 8/24/1865 Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Andrew Wissinger was born 8/25/1842. The place of his birth was within Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County, PA.

Fathering Andrew was David Wissinger (b. 1797 Quemahoning Somerset County, PA – d. 4/29/1883 Washington Indiana County, PA). His mother was Mary Adam (nee Wertz b. 1797 or 1807 Conemaugh Somerset County, PA – d. 1886 Washington Indiana County, PA) Wissinger. The Wissingers were a farming family.

Drawing upon the 1850 U.S. Census for Washington Indiana County, PA it would appear that David and Mary produced at least seven children of which – as of that year – Andrew was the youngest.  His older siblings were: Margaret/Margret Wissinger (b. 1832 PA), Eliza Wissinger (b. 1834 PA), Stephen Wissinger (b. 1836 PA), John Wissinger (b. 1838 PA), Preston Wissinger (b. 1839 PA) and Lewis Wissinger (b. 1841 PA). As noted, all of the Wissinger children were Pennsylvania-born.

As best as can be determined, in 8/1862 Andrew left his parents’ farm and enlisted in the U.S. Army Fulfilling a nine-month period of service with an infantry regiment, he enlisted a second time in a cavalry unit. In both instances, without accessing Private Wissinger’s military records, about all we can say about his time in the military is that he survived the trials and tribulations of war and returned to life as a civilian.

Where Andrew initially resettled as a civilian is not known. We next hear from him in 1870 when The U.S. Census located him in or near the community of Redwood Calhoun County, IL. There, he was employed as a “farm hand” by John and Luna Nairin.

On 2/11/1872 in Calhoun County, IL Andrew married. His bride was Laura Ellen Dixon. Ellen had been born 10/17/1852 in Illinois. The couples’ first – and only – child, Lida/Lidia/Lydia Wissinger was born 10/21/1872 in Richwood, Calhoun County, IL.

In 1880 the Wissingers were still residing in Calhoun County, IL. Beyond that population tally, their community of residence continued to be Richwood. While there, Andrew noted his occupation as “laborer.”

Three short years later, as of 1883, the Wissingers had drastically changed their living location having removed from Illinois and resettled in King County, Washington Territory (WT). What had drawn them to the shores of Puget Sound and when, exactly, they had arrived here are unknowns. Here, Andrew noted that he was no longer a laborer, but a “carpenter.” Two years later, in 1885, carpenter Wissinger specifically announced that within King County, they were residents of Seattle’s Ward #1.

As of 1889 – the year Washington Territory became Washington State – the Wiissingers were still in the PNW, but then residing north of Seattle and King County in neighboring Snohomish County. Why the move had been made is not known.

Andrew died in Bothell (King or Snohomish County), WA on 6/4/1907. The cause of his death is not known. Burial was/is in the Bothell Pioneer Cemetery.

After Andrew’s passing Laura remained in the Puget Sound area. As of 1910 she was residing in the Bothell, Snohomish County voting district of Fernwood with her married daughter and family.

Laura died on 3/4/15 in Seattle’s Providence Hospital. Cause of death was listed as operation-shock connected to cancer of the thyroid gland. She was/is buried with Andrew in Bothell. 
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* In American Civil War Research Database 14^th PA surname appears as Wisinger.

Posted: 12/19/23
Updated: 

Buried at Bothell Pioneer Cemetery