Cpl. John Yoder’s 9th Corps Badge- 50th PA Co.E

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50th Pennsylvania, 50th PV, 9th Corps, Antietam, Berks County, Civil War, gettysburg pa, Leesport, Maiden Creek, PA, PA Dutch, Reading Rifles, Soldier, St. John's Gernants Church, Yoder

On the 4th of July 2012, I was at one of my favorite flea markets in Pennsylvania, in the steaming summer heat, trying to find that piece to make the day worth while. Little did I know, I would have one of my best finds at a flea market ever. Going through a pile of riker cases, packed full of pin and buttons, and glanced down to see something that almost gave me a heart attack. A sharp silver Civil War 9th Army Corps badge was staring back at me to my surprise. I did a double take, and tried to keep my composure, as I picked it up and saw that it was also inscribed with a name and regiment! John P. Yoder, Co.E 50th PVV. I knew instantly I found and gem and because it was thrown in a case of junk I was going to get it for a steal, which I did, and still can’t believe how cheap it was 🙂  Through my years of researching PA Civil War regiments, I knew there was at least one company from the 50th PA Inf., from Berks, County. So the research begins….

A design that was used by Union Soldiers, this corps badge is a thin silver and seemed to be a popular design starting in 1864. I have seen these examples published in newspapers of period, advertising them for sale to soldiers.

He replaced the clasp at some point with a more solid and gold closure

I looked him up that day and found him immediately as serving in this unit, mustering into Co.E “Reading Rifles” of the 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in 1861 and mustering out in 1864. Then re-enlisting when the unit became a Veteran Volunteer Regiment. As if the unit hadn’t fought in enough battles for 3 years, they fought more for another year.  I starting digging some more on John and to my pleasant surprise, I was able to locate a picture of his grave pretty quick! Now this is where it gets pretty crazy…. He was buried on the same road as the flea market in which I found the badge!! Couldn’t believe it! The next week I went to the church graveyard and found it and took these pictures.

St. John’s Gernant’s Church – Leesport, PA

 

Doing a little more research on Cpl. Yoder, according to the 1860 US Census, he was a carpenter residing in Maiden Creek Township, which is right next to Leesport.

At the Battle of Antietam, an account from a Private in the 50th PVI follows: ““Returning to the brigade during the morning we crossed the stone bridge and filed to the right, marching to the crest of a hill, where we formed ready for action.
Prostrated on the ground, at the crest of the hill we endured a sever fire from the enemy’s artillery; in a bout an hour after forming the command “Forward” was given. Though tired and exhausted having been on picket duty all night, we entered the battle with the greatest enthusiasm charging upon the enemy and driving them from their position.”

The 50th PA monument at Antietam Battlefield

50th PV taken on July 4, 1865 by Alexander Gardner in Gettysburg.

General Grant chose the 50th PA to be the Army representative at the laying of the cornerstone of the National Monument at Gettysburg, July 4, 1865!

50th PA Regiment Organization, Service & Battles

Organization

• Organized at Harrisburg October 1, 1861.
• Left State for Washington, D.C., October 2, 1861, thence moved to Annapolis, Md., October 9.
• Attached to Stevens’ Brigade, W. T. Sherman’s South Carolina Expedition, to April, 1862.
• District of Beaufort, S. C, Dept. South, to July, 1862.
• 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1862.
• 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863,
• And Army of the Ohio to June, 1863.
• 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1863.
• 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Ohio, to April, 1864.
• 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to September, 1864.
• 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army Potomac, to July, 1865.
  

  Service & Battles – 1861

• Sherman’s Expedition to Port Royal, S. C, October 21-November 7, 1861.
• Sailed on Steamer “Winfield Scott” and shipwrecked off coast of North Carolina.
  

  Service & Battles – 1862

• Occupation of Beaufort, S.C., December 6. Port Royal Ferry, Coosaw River, January 1, 1862.
• Duty at Port Royal Island, S.C., till July, 1862.
• Barnwell’s Island, S.C., February 10 (Co. “D”).
• Pocotaligo May 29.
• Camp Stevens June 7.
• Moved to Hilton Head, S.C.,
• Thence to Newport News, Va., July 14-18,
• Thence to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg, Va., August 3-6.
• Operations in support of Pope August 6-16.
• Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2.
• Sulphur Springs August 24.
• Battles of Groveton August 29;
• Bull Run August 30;
• Chantilly September 1.
• Maryland Campaign September 6-24.
• Battles of South Mountain, Md., September 14;
• Antietam September 16-17.
• March to Pleasant Valley September 19-October 2,
• And duty there till October 25.
• Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 25-November 19.
• Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15.
  

  Service & Battles – 1863

• Burnside’s 2nd Campaign January 20-24, 1863.
• At Falmouth till February 12.
• Moved to Newport News February 12-14,
• Thence to Kentucky March 21-26.
• Duty at Paris, Ky., till April 27.
• Moved to Nicholasville, Lancaster and Stanford April 27-29,
• Thence to Somerset May 6-8,
• Thence through Kentucky to Cairo, Ill., June 4-10,
• And to Vicksburg, Miss., June 14-17.
• Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 17-July 4.
• Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10.
• Siege of Jackson July 10-17.
• At Milldale till August 12.
• Moved to Covington, Ky., August 12-23.
• Burnside’s Campaign in East Tennessee August to October.
• Action at Blue Springs, Tenn., October 10.
• Clinch Mountain October 27.
• Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23.
• Campbell’s Station November 16.
• Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5.
• Pursuit of Longstreet’s army to Blain’s Cross Roads December 5-26.
  

  Service & Battles – 1864

• Reenlisted at Blain’s Cross Roads January 1, 1864.
• Moved to Annapolis, Md., April, 1864.
• Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12.
• Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7;
• Spottsylvania May 8-12;
• Ny River May 9;
• Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21.
• Assault on the Salient May 12.
• North Anna River May 23-26.
• Ox Ford May 24.
• Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
• Totopotomoy May 28-31.
• Cold Harbor June 1-12.
• Bethesda Church June 1-3.
• Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  

  Service & Battles – 1865

• Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
• Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
• Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
• Poplar Springs Church or Peeble’s Farm September 29-October 2.
• Reconnoissance on Vaughan or Squirrel Level Road October 8.
• Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
• Fort Stedman March 25, 1865.
• Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
• Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
• Pursuit of Lee to Burkesville April 3-9.
• Moved to City Point,
• Thence to Washington, D.C., April 21-28.
• Grand Review May 23.
• Present at the laying of corner stone at Gettysburg July 4.
• Mustered out July 30, 1865.

 The next step in the journey of piecing this history back together is to find an original photo of John…. more to come…..