91st PA: Benjamin S Redheffer

Benjamin S Redheffer

Headstone ceremony

headstone for Benjamin Redheffer
headstone


Bill had a lovely and moving ceremony commemorating Benjamin on 31 October 2015.

Description

When he enlisted, he was 6 feet tall, and had a dark complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair. [sources: 12, 13]

During the war

He enlisted and was mustered into service as a private, for three years, on 22 August 1861, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Reiff. He was a private, in company A. He was next mustered in on 31 October 1861, as a corporal, probably effective 20 August 1861. [sources: 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 20-26)]

At some point, he was promoted to the Color Guard. At some point, he was reduced to the ranks. [source: 11]

He was promoted to Sergeant on 10 April 1862. [source: 2]

He was assigned as Provost Guard to General Portor's Headquarters in September and October 1862. He was assigned as Provost Guard to General Meade's Headquarters from November 1862 to 10 May 1863. He was assigned as Provost Guard at Corps Headquarters from 11 May 1863 to 3 June 1863. [source: 2]

He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. [source: 15]

A medical record shows that he was in the regimental hospital due to being drunk from 20 August 1863 to 26 August 1863. [source: 5]

On 23 August 1863, he returned to duty from corps headquarters. On 26 August 1863, Sinex reported that he had been on duty as Provost Guard at Corps Headquarters, and had returned. [sources: 6, 10]

He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer, for three years, on 26 December 1863, at Bealton, Virginia. [sources: 1, 2, 13]

On 1 March 1864, Colonel Gregory assigned him to detached service at Camp Cadwalader, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to collect conscripts. In March and April he was assigned as Provost Guard to General Gibbon's Headquarters. On 27 April 1864, Sinex reported that he had been relieved from Camp Cadwalader, but had not yet reported to the regiment. [sources: 2, 7, 8]

He was killed accidentally on 2 May 1864, at the Delaware Junction of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. While riding the train lying down, with his feet out the window, his feet were caught by a bridge and he was dragged out of the train. He was a private, in company A. He was buried in the Wilmington & Brandy Wine Cemetery, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14 ("died in action or of wounds received there"), 18, 20-26]

After the war

On 1 September 1864, his widow, Ella Redifer, applied unsuccessfully for a pension. [sources: 16, 17]

Researcher

Bill Redheffer is studying Benjamin; contact him at [email protected].

Sources

1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster.)

2 Bill Redheffer

3 'A soldier killed by the cars', Journal + Statesman 6 May 1864. [supplied by Bill Redheffer]

4 'Fatal accident'. Delaware Gazette 13 May 1864. [supplied by Bill Redheffer]

5 Medical records, from the National Archives, supplied by Bill Redheffer.

6 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 26 August 1863

7 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864

8 letter, Sinex to Fowler, 27 April 1864

9 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864

10 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 23 August 1863 (Private Redheffer)

11 register of non-commissioned officers, company A (Benjamin Redheffer)

12 company A descriptive roll, entry 89 (Benjamin Redheffer)

13 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 5 May 2004 (Benjamin Redifer, rolls also have 'Redheffer')

14 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 9 June 1864 (Pri Redifer)

15 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (B Redheffer)

16 pension index, by name (Benjamin Redifer)

17 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (Benjamin Redifer)

18 death notice, Public Ledger, 28 June 1864, page 2 (Benjamin S Redifer)

19 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Spring Garden, ward 3, precinct 1, microfilm series M432, film 818, page 512 verso = 1026 handwritten (Benjn Redheffer)

20 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Readheffer)

21 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Redheffer)

22 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Readheffir)

23 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Redheiffer)

24 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Rediffer)

25 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Readhiffer)

26 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Redifer)

Sources checked unsuccessfully

1890 US census, veterans schedules
Ancestry index (accessed November 2005)

Display



Benjamin S Redheffer in the 91st PA database

1850 census

[1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Spring Garden, ward 3, precinct 1, microfilm series M432, film 818, page 512 verso = 1026 handwritten]
line89101112
Dwellings visited883    
Families visited9612345
NameBenjamin RedhefferHannah RedhefferBenjn RedhefferHannah RedhefferJ [??] Redheffer
Age363573[illegible]/12
SexMFF [?]FF
Color     
Occupation of males over 15 yearsMachinist    
Real estate owned     
Birthplace" " [sc. Pennsylvania]" "" "" "" "
Married within year     
Attended school within year  1  
Over 20 & can't read/write     
Deaf, dumb, blind, etc.     

index to compiled service records

[index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania]
[transcribed 28 February 2015, from Fold3]


Readheffer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 2, transcribed 28 Feb 15]

Redheffer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 3, transcribed 1 Mar 15]

Readheffir, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 4, transcribed 1 Mar 15]

Redheiffer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
See also [blank]

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 5, transcribed 1 Mar 15]

Rediffer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 6, transcribed 1 Mar 15]

Readhiffer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.


[card 7, transcribed 1 Mar 15]

Redifer, Benjamin
Co. A, 91 Pennsylvania Inf.
Corpl. | Pvt.
REFERENCE CARD.
Original filed under
Redheiffer, Benjamin

GENERAL INDEX CARD.

death notice

[death notice, Public Ledger, 28 June 1864, page 2, Benjamin S Redifer]
[many characters were illegibly light or so broken they were hard to read]

REDIFER--Killed on the 2d of May, BENJAMIN S REDIFER of Co. A 91st Reg't P V V, son of the late Benjamin and Hannah Redifer, in the [illegible] year of his age.

Oh desolate and [illegible word] our hearts are to day,
For the loss of the gallant and the brave,
Who flies [?] forth [illegible word] of life pass away
To rest in a patriot's grave.

Little thought we, when we parted,
That we ne'er would meet again,
But he has left us broken hearted,
And our tears avail [?] in vain

He was found at the junction of the Delaware and Baltimore Railroads. [The last sentence is mostly illegible.]


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revised 28 Nov 15
contact Harry Ide at [email protected] with comments or questions