Thursday, August 29, 2019

Original Company Captains

Drilling Troops
Famous Leaders and Battles Scenes of the Civil War,  Frank Leslie, 1896
One of ten original captains of the 85th Pennsylvania, just one, Isaac Abraham of Company, completed his original three-year enlistment. One, Henry Purviance of Company E, was killed
in the line of duty. The remainder left the war on medical leave in the first two years of the war.
John Morris of Company F had the distinction of being the first man in the regiment to be wounded He suffered a facial wound at Williamsburg, VA in May of 1862 which caused a hearing loss for the rest of his life. Morris, from Greene County, PA,  was also the longest living captain, surviving until 1922. Morris was 89 at the time of his death.


Harvey J. Vankirk      (A)      resigned November 1862

Morgan W. Zollars     (B)       medical discharge May, 1862

John C. Wilkinson     (C )      medical discharge July 15, 1863

William H. Horn        (D)       medical discharge July 1862

Henry A. Purviance  (E)        wounded at Seven Pines; killed August, 1863 in South Carolina

John Morris               (F)        wounded at Williamsburg; medical discharge June, 1862  

Isaac M. Abraham    (G)        mustered out December, 1864

James B. Tredwell    (H)       medical discharge September, 1862

John R. Weltner        (I)        resigned July, 1862

Hagan Z. Ludington  (K)       resigned February, 1863; died 1865