Reuben Moyer Schaffer

Recruiting Poster in MEDIA from: http://47thpennsylvania.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/47th-pennsylvania-...

Name: Reuben Shaffer Enlistment Date: 20 Oct 1862 Rank at enlistment: Private State Served: Pennsylvania Survived the War?: No Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Pennsylvania 47th Infantry Regiment on 20 Oct 1862. Mustered out on 22 Apr 1864 at Grand Ecore, LA. Sources: History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865

On the 15th of November, the regiment was ordered to Key West, Florida, and arrived at that post on the 18th. Here a detachment of five companies, under command of Colonel Good, was ordered to garrison Fort Taylor, and the remaining five, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander, to garrison Fort Jefferson. The military importance of these positions was at this time very great. A strenuous effort to secure foreign intervention was being made by the rebel government with some probability of success.

In his instructions to Colonel Good the General commanding says:

"It is hardly necessary to point out to you the extreme military importance of the two works now entrusted to your command: suffice it to state, that they cannot pass out of our hands without the greatest possible disgrace to whoever may conduct their defence, and to the nation at large. In view of difficulties that may soon culminate in war with foreign powers, it is eminently necessary that these works should immediately be placed beyond any possibility of seizure by any naval or military force that may be thrown upon them from neighboring ports. * * * * Seizure of these forts by coup-ae-main may be the first act of hostilities instituted by foreign powers, and the comparative isolation of their position, and their distance from reinforcements, point them out (independent of their national importance) as peculiarly the object of such an effort to possess them." Recognizing the imminent peril to which they were exposed, without a moment's delay, the entire available force was employed to place the forts in the highest possible condition of defence, and the efforts were unremitting until every means at command were brought into requisition to render them impregnable. In these positions, with Colonel Good in command, the regiment remained until the 25th of February, 1864. In the meantime five hundred men of the regiment had re-enlisted, and received a veteran furlough. It was highly complimented at various times during its occupation of Key West for its efficiency, and continually enjoyed the confidence of the commander of the Department. On the 25th of February orders were received to proceed to Louisiana. Embarking upon the steamer Charles Thomas it arrived at Algiers on the 28th, and moving by rail to Brashear City was conveyed by steamer up the Bayou Teche to Franklin, its destination. It was here assigned to the Second Brigade2 of the First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps. An expedition was here fitting out, under command General Banks, to proceed up the Red River, and on the 15th of March it moved, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, via New Iberia, Vermillionville, Opelousas, and Washington, to Alexandria, at which place it was joined by the command of General A. J. Smith, and a fleet of gunboats under Commodore Porter.

After a few days rest it again moved forward, following, in the main, the course of the Red River to Natchitoches. The point of attack was Shreveport. The line of march from Natchitoches was through a barren, sandy country, with little water and no forage. On the night of the 7th of April, the regiment encamped at Pleasant Hill, and on the following day marched until three P. M., when the column halted. Firing in front had been, for some time, heard in the direction of Sabine Cross Roads. The Forty-seventh was hurriedly formed and advanced at double-quick, passing the Second Division of the Nineteenth Corps. As it approached the front, cavalry, infantry, and artillery were met in confusion seeking the rear. The brigade was brought into position on a small elevation. Scarcely had the line been formed, when the pursuing and victorious enemy came pressing on. A well directed volley suddenly checked his course, and he was driven back in dismay. Again he attempted to break the line, and again was repulsed. Darkness intervened, and the men lay down in line of battle.3 Shortly after midnight the command was withdrawn. The wounded of both armies had, during the night, lain between the lines, and their groans and cries for water were heart-rending. The command, wearied and worn, returned to Pleasant Hill on the 9th. The loss was near sixty men killed and wounded; among the former was Lieutenant Swoyer, of company K.

At Pleasant Hill the regiment was posted on the right of the line, with its right resting on a high bluff. The enemy, under command of Dick Taylor, attacked at midday, and the battle raged with great fury until five P. M. At three o'clock the Forty-seventh was ordered from the right to the left of the line. While passing by the flank in the rear of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York, an impetuous charge was made by the enemyg causing that regiment to retire before him. The Forty-seventh repelled the charge and delivered a counter-charge in force. A desperate encounter ensued, in which the rebels were driven and several pieces of artillery captured. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander was severely wounded. Color Sergeant Walls,4 the oldest member of the command, was wounded, when Sergeant Pyers, of company C, immediately took the colors and was also soon after wounded.

Notwithstanding the victory at Pleasant Hill, Banks, from the want of supplies, was obliged to retreat to Grand Ecore. The place was immediately put in condition for defence and was strongly fortified. Here the army remained until the 22d, when the retreat to Alexandria was commenced. At Cane Hill the enemy was encountered and routed, with but small loss to the Union forces. After long and wearisome marches they arrived at Alexandria on the 25th. During the progress of this memorable expedition, the regiment marched eight hundred miles, and lost by sickness, killed, wounded and missing, two hundred men. It remained some time at Alexandria, assisting in the construction of a dam across the channel of the Red River, for the purpose of passing the fleet over the falls. This work was under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bailey, an eminent engineer belonging to the Nineteenth Corps.

Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.

Source: A Civil War History of the 47th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lewis G. Schmidt, Allentown, PA, 1986;

Chapter 8 February 25 thru July 7, 1864 p. 534 Cpl. Nichols describes Friday's march [Friday, April 22, 1864] as he wrote, "We left camp at two o'clock AM and Marched Six Miles until daylight. this is what I call one of General Banks Retreats we Marched 25 Miles till Eleven oclock and then Rested untill four o'clock PM, and Marched untill ten PM. we Got in camp after Marching 45 Miles this day." [sic]

The long march resulted in the death of Pvt. Reuben Shaffer of Company H. Although his death is listed as having occurred at Grand Ecore, Capt. Kacy in his letter to Lt. Geety from Morganzia Bend on May 29 wrote "one Schaeffer died on the march of excessive fatigue. We marched in retreat from 1 AM to 11 PM 49 miles, and several died of it". Pvt. Schaffer had previous bouts of sickness when he was hospitalized for five days with dysentery at Fort Jefferson on January 25, 1863; and again on February 18 with "Debiletas" (rheumatism) for almost two weeks, as he was returned to duty on March 2. Another Shaffer of the same company, possibly a relative or brother, died in the Confederate prison at Salisbury in 1865.

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Living in Upper Milford when married to Elisabeth Ohl of Upper Saucon. Married by Rev. Brobst.

Sources: Der Friedens Bote published 10/5/1848

Unhbhaengiger Republikaner published 10/5/1848

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1850 census: living in Milford, Bucks, PA

1860 census: Upper Salford, Montgomery Co. (Shaffer). Wife Eliz. Children Milton (10), Edwin (8), Emma (6). Cordwainer.

Enos Gerhart living near.