Shortly before the War, William and Wesley worked for noted Gettysburg carriage maker, Charles William Hoffman. When Hoffman left Gettysburg around 1856, Wesley went with him but William remained behind and immediately upon the War beginning first enlisted April 20, 1861 as a corporal in Co. E, 2nd PA Inf. but, this being only a 3-month regiment, was mustered out July 26, 1861. On September 23, 1861 in Gettysburg he enlisted with the Co. F., 87th Pennsylvania Volunteers as a 1st Sgt.
William's younger brother, Wesley, was the only man from his unit killed in the 3-day battle of Gettysburg, most likely on July 2nd during a skirmish on the Christian Benner farm near Culp's Hill, then part of their first cousin's farm.
On March 1, 1864, William was promoted to Sgt. Major and rose to the rank of 1st Lt. by the time he was mustered out of service in 1865.
Shortly before the War, William and Wesley worked for noted Gettysburg carriage maker, Charles William Hoffman. When Hoffman left Gettysburg around 1856, Wesley went with him but William remained behind and immediately upon the War beginning first enlisted April 20, 1861 as a corporal in Co. E, 2nd PA Inf. but, this being only a 3-month regiment, was mustered out July 26, 1861. On September 23, 1861 in Gettysburg he enlisted with the Co. F., 87th Pennsylvania Volunteers as a 1st Sgt.
William's younger brother, Wesley, was the only man from his unit killed in the 3-day battle of Gettysburg, most likely on July 2nd during a skirmish on the Christian Benner farm near Culp's Hill, then part of their first cousin's farm.
On March 1, 1864, William was promoted to Sgt. Major and rose to the rank of 1st Lt. by the time he was mustered out of service in 1865.