7 3/4 x 6 1/4, imprinted form, filled out in ink.
Head Quarters Rendezvous of Distribution, Va. January 31st, 1865
Adjutant: Batt. F, 1st Pa. Lt. Art. Enclosed you will find account of Clothing issued to men of your Regiment at this Camp during the month of January the receipt of which you will please acknowledge and charge to Clothing Account.
Yours, Respectfully, J.F. Wilson 2nd Lieut. & A.A.Q.M.
We the Undersigned Non Commissioned officers, Musicians and Privates of Rendezvous of Distribution, Va., do hereby acknowledge to have received of J.F. Wilson, 2nd Lieut. & A.A.Q.M., the several articles of Clothing set opposite our respective names. Batt F, 1st Pa. Lt. Art.
Jan. 28, H.C. Semler has received blouse, mounted trowsers, shirt, drawers, boots, and stockings. Signed Henry C. Semler, and signed by the witness, Jonas Cheshire, Sergt.
Light age toning and wear.
The 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery saw action at 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg, to name but a few places.
Gettysburg: Batteries F & G, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, were commanded by Captain R. Bruce Ricketts during the battle of Gettysburg. They were very heavily engaged on July 2, 1863, being posted on Cemetery Hill. After fighting in the afternoon on the 2nd, a heavy column of Confederates charged their batteries at about 8 p.m. and succeeded in capturing and spiking their left piece. In his Gettysburg report in the Official Records, Rickett's writes, "the cannoneers fought them hand to hand with handspikes, rammers, and pistols, and succeeded in checking them for a moment, when a part of the 2nd Corps charged in and drove them back. During the charge I expended every round of canister in the battery, and then fired case shot without the fuses. The enemy suffered severely." His report goes on to state that he lost 6 killed, 14 wounded, 3 missing, 20 horses killed and 1,200 rounds of ammunition spent.
Jonas Cheshire, who signed this document as a witness, served in the 131st New York Infantry. He enlisted as a corporal on August 25, 1862, at Brooklyn, N.Y., and mustered into Co. C, 131st New York Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant on August 13, 1863, and wounded in action on September 19, 1864, in the battle of Opequon, Va. He was mustered out of service on July 26, 1865, at Savannah, Ga. |