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History of Cambria County, V.2

334 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
    Maj. Veil's military record in the War Department is:
    A private of Company G. Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, from July 29, 1861, to December 31, 1863: private of the General Mounted Service from January 1st to April 22, 1864; second lieutenant, First Cavalry, April 7, 1864; first lieutenant, First Cavalry, July 1, 1864; honorably mustered out January 1, 1871; brevetted first lieutenant, May 6, 1864, for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Todd's Tavern, Va., and captain and major, United States Army, April 1, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Five Forks, Va.



    Col. S. M. Jackson, commanding 11th Pennsylvania Reserves at Gettysburg:
    The Pennsylvania Reserve Division having been recalled from the Army of the Potomac early in 1863 to the defenses of Washington, was located at different points.
    The 11th Pennsylvania Reserves was stationed at Vienna, Va., a small village, 25 miles south of Washington, on the Leesburg and Alexandria railroad.
    Under the command of Brig.-Gen. S. W. Crawford, the division broke camp on June 25, 1863 (Thursday), and started to join the Army of the Potomac. We moved by the way of Drainesville, Va., and crossing the Potomac at Edward's Ferry, reached the army on the evening of June 28 (Sunday), the day Gen. Hooker was relieved of the command and Gen. Geo. G. Meade had been designated by the President as his successor. After reaching our camp that evening, a number of the officers rode over to army headquarters to pay our respects to our old commander, and to congratulate him on his distinguished promotion. We found him in close conference with Gens. Reynolds, Hancock, Sedgwick and others. He seemed delighted to see us back to the army. He thanked us for our congratulations, but said that he did not know whether he was a subject of congratulation or commiseration. He appeared anxious and showed that he fully realized the responsibility of his position.
    That doubtless was a sleepless night to the new commander, for before the sun rose the next morning the order directing the movements which culminated at Gettysburg had been prepared and sent out to all commanders.
    Our division was designated as the 3d of the 5th army corps, then under Maj. Gen. George Sykes. The orders directing the movement from Frederick City were for three columns. The left column under Gen. Reynolds, consisting of the 1st, 3d and 11th corps, was to move by the way of Emmittsburg direct to Gettysburg. The center column, of 2d, 5th and 12th corps, was to


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Created: 24 Mar 2003, Last Updated:
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