Veterans of Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Contributed by Bonnie Moore

This is a view of a group of Spanish American War veterans at Ellis Woods Cemetery in Amityville, PA. The gent holding the American flag at left is JohnLeffel, a private in Company M, 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Leffel was from Pine Iron Works, PA. He enrolled in the unit of July 5, 1898, and was mustered in the next day. he was mustered out with his company on November 16, 1898.

Company M was one of the companies that were formed after the second call for volunteers. Generally the company came from Montgomery County. Amityville is just across the border, in Berks County. Since there were no companies formed in Berks County after the second call for volunteers, it is entirely feasible that men from Berks County crossed into Montgomery County to sign up at that time. More of these men may also be part of the same company, or another local company.

The photograph appears to have been taken in to the 1920's, based on the clothing of the people in the background. The veterans are all wearing the medal of the United Spanish War Veterans (USWV) organization. The stars in the foreground are the backs of the flagholder markers issued for Civil War veterans.


Bibliography:

(As a service to our readers, clicking on title in red will take you to that book on Amazon.com)

Moore, Bonnie

Sauers, Richard A., Pennsylvania in the Spanish-American War. (Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, 1998) 91-94.

Stewart, Adj. Gen. Thomas J., Record of the Pennsylvania Vounteers. (Harrisburg:
William Stanley Ray, 1901). 185.

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