The Fighting Minier Brothers
The Fighting Minier BrothersI once read that 20% of the men in Bradford county went off to fight in the Civil War. Of course now when I want to quote that source, I can not find it. Nevertheless, here is evidence that these three brothers from Bradford county not only fought in the war, but they all fought in the same company.
Samuel Minier
Samuel G. Minier, (Co. G), private; enlisted Sept. 5, ' 64; discharged by G.O. June, ' 65.
Enlisted on Sept. 5, 1864 and served with Company G, 185th NY Volunteers, in same company with his brother, Daniel. His father gave him land in 1851. He is listed as gardener on a later census.
Daniel Minier
Daniel Minier, 1st lieutenant; enlisted Sept. 4, ' 61; discharged for disability May 19, ' 62; re-enlisted in Co. G. 185th NY Inf..: killed at Gravelly Run, Va., March 29, ' 65.
Early in the war Daniel served with a PA regiment and was engaged at Chichahominy. After a protracted illness, he resigned, but re-inlisted at Syracuse, NY in the 185th Regiment. He was made Capt. of Company G, 185th Regiment NY, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corp, and was killed in battle at Gravelly Run, VA March 29, 1865.
He was about 31 years old. In his will he left his estate to his wife.
Lorenzo Minier
Lorenzo D. Minier, corporal; enlisted in 171st PA Inf. Nov. 2, ' 62; mustered out with company Aug. 7, ' 63; also member of Co. G, 185th NY Inf.
In November, 1862, Lorenzo enlisted in Company B, 171st PA Inf. and served until August, 1863. In September of 1864, he joined Company G, 185st NY Volunteers and served until May 1865; he was there when his brother Samuel was killed at Gravely Run, VA.
185th New York
Volunteer
Infantry
"Sixth Onondaga County Regiment; Onondaga and Cortland Regiment; Otsego Regiment"
History and Campaigns
This regiment, Col. Edwin S. Jenney, was organized under State orders, dated August 26, 1864, at Syracuse, and there mustered in the service of the United States for one year; Companies A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I September 19, 1864; Company F September 25, 1864; and K September 21, 1864. The few three years' men in the regiment were, May 30, 1865, transferred to the 5th Veteran Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Lysander and Syracuse; B at Syracuse and Salina; C at Syracuse; D at Syracuse, Salina, Otisco, Clay and Geddes; E at Homer, Cortlandville, Syracuse, Truxton and Taylor; F at Cortland, Syracuse, Virgil and Taylor; G at Marathon, Freetown, Willet and Cincinnatus; H at Syracuse, Spafford and Baldwinsville; I at Fabius, Syracuse and Baldwinsville; and K at Skaneateles and Syracuse.
The regiment left the State September 27, 1864; it served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, and, commanded by Col. Gustavus Sniper, it was honorably discharged and mustered out May 30, 1865, near Washington, D.C.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 36 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 23 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 3 officers, 33 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 92 enlisted men; aggregate, 98; and it took part in the following engagements, etc.:
Before Petersburg, Va. October 1, 1864 - April 2, 1865--1 enlisted man killed; 1 enlisted man wounded but recovered.
Burgess Farm, Va. October 27-28, 1864--5 enlisted men wounded but recovered; 1 enlisted man missing.
Hicksford Raid, Va. December 6-11, 1864--6 enlisted men missing.
Hatcher's Run, Va. February 5-7, 1865--2 enlisted men killed; 1 officer and 9 enlisted men wounded but recovered; 1 officer and 3 enlisted men missing.
Watkin's Farm, Va. March 25, 1865--no loss.
Appomattox Campaign, Va. March 28 - April 9, 1865
Quaker Road, March 29, 1865--1 officer and 31 enlisted men killed; 1 officer and 22 enlisted men mortally wounded; 8 officers and 140 enlisted men wounded but recovered.
Gravelly Run, March 31, 1865--6 enlisted men wounded but recovered.
Five Forks, April 1, 1865--2 enlisted men killed; 1 enlisted man mortally wounded; 1 officer and 14 enlisted men wounded but recovered.
Fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865--1 enlisted man wounded but recovered.
Appomatox Court House, April 9, 1865--1 officer killed.
According to the regimental action and causalty record that I found above, it would be the engagement on March 29, 1865 at Quaker Road where Capt. Daniel Minier was actually killed. When I looked on a map, the area designated Gravelly Run was next to Quaker Road. In other records I found the combat on March 29 also called “Gravelly Run’. Not all that hard to call the area either name.
This was all part of the Appomatox Campaign. For example two days later the action on March 31 is also known as: Hatcher’s Run, Gravelly Run, Boydton Plank Road, or White Oak Ridge. The next day, history called it “Five Forksâ€.
Description of Overall Action at end of March 1865
Commanders:
Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren, USA
Lt. Gen. Richard H. Anderson, CSA
The Union had cavalry and an infantry corps; the Confederates had less of each.
Union losses were almost 1,900; Confederate losses a bit over 750.
On March 30, Lee shifted reinforcements to meet the Federal movement to turn his right flank, placing Maj. Gen. W.H. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry divisions at Five Forks and transferring Pickett’s division from the Bermuda Hundred front to the extreme right. Warren pushed the V Corps forward and entrenched a line to cover the Boydton Plank Road from its intersection with Dabney Mill Road south to Gravelly Run. Ayres’s division advanced northwest toward White Oak Road.
On March 31, in combination with Sheridan’s thrust via Dinwiddie Court House, Warren directed his corps against the Confederate entrenchments along White Oak Road, hoping to cut Lee’s communications with Pickett at Five Forks. The Union advance was stalled by a crushing counterattack directed by Maj. Gen. Bushrod Johnson, which surprised Ayres’ division, which fell back on Crawford’s division, disorganizing both.
Warren stabilized his position with an attack led by Joshua Chamberlain (Warren asked him “will you save the honor of the Fifth Corps?â€) and his soldiers closed on the road by day’s end. This fighting set up the Confederate defeat at Five Forks on April 1, but Warren could not move up to Dinwiddie Court House, where Sheridan wanted him.
A few days later the war was over.
SOLDIERS' COLUMN MUSTERED OUT --- [Short Obits]
Lorenzo D. MINIER died February 29, 1920, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles J. SMITH, in Excelsior, Minn, in his 81st year. He was a son of Elias and Judith H. (GORE) MINIER, and was born June 30, 1839, in Sheshequin, Bradford County. He went West more than 40 years ago. He married, November 20, 1866, Sarah O. SWAIN. His daughter and one son survive. Interment was at Brookings, South Dakota. 'The Bradford Star', Thursday March 11, 1920.
-----
We were pained to learn that in the late sanguinary battles before Petersburg, resulting the capture of Richmond, Capt. Daniel MINIER of Sheshequin, PA., was among the killed. Mr. MINIER had served in the early part of the war as Lieutenant in a Pennsylvania regiment, was in battles of Chichahominy, resigned after a protracted illness, re-enlisted at Syracuse in a N. Y. Regiment, was made Captain and died bravely in defense of his country's honor and unity. He was about 30 years of age. -- Waverly Advocate. *'Bradford Reporter', April 27, 1865.
-----
SAMUEL G. MINIER, a highly respected citizen of Sheshequin, died May 11, after an illness of several months of a general breaking down of the system, in his 78th year. Deceased was a son of Elias and Judith (GORE) MINIER, and had spent his life, since childhood, in Sheshequin. He was twice married, first to Amanda MORLEY, and second to Lodema VANCISE. Besides his second wife, two sons and three daughters by his former marriage survive him. Funeral services were held Wednesday forenoon, with interment in Sheshequin cemetery. 'Bradford Star', Thursday May 14, 1903.
MINIER.-- Samuel G. MINIER died at his home in Sheshequin on Sunday evening after a long illness which had been severe for the past six months. He was nearly 78 years of age and was a highly respected citizen of his community. Funeral services were held yesterday at 10 o'clock at the Sheshequin church. 'Reporter Journal', 14 May 1903 Towanda, Pa.
Sources as noted in body of text.
The Minier brothers were 2nd cousin 5X removed of the compiler of this text, L. L. Kimmel. Their mother was a Gore.
Web Posts
07-01-2012 9:02pm
Nice story here... Thanks! Lorenzo was my GG Grandfather... Lt. Daniel's saber made it's way through the generations to me... I cherish it. (It's inscribed with his name... and was a gift from the troops)