York Town Square

Charles Peter Kibler donned his Civil War uniform and traveled to Washington, D.C., in pursuit of his war pension. He achieved his goal. His story will be part of ‘Echoing Still: More Civil War Voices from York County, Pa.’ Also of interest: Researchers seek to give voice to York County families about Civil War.

Tom Miller of York has an interesting ancestor – one who fought in the Civil War.

So he provided Scott Mingus and I with Charles Peter Kibler’s story, complete with War Department records, the photograph above and a family history: “Family Lineage of Susan Elizabeth Kibler Snyder and Laura Orvilla Kibler Brenneman.”

This is an example of the stories that will be included in our second volume of ‘Civil War Voices,’ set to arrive in April or May – time for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. That anniversary has immense York County implications, of course. Among other things, 1 out of 6 Confederate soldiers fighting in the battle tramped through York County, according to Scott’s figures.

So enjoy this sneak preview of ‘Voices,’ courtesy of Tom Miller:

Charles Peter Kibler joined the 1 Battalion Pennsylvania Infantry in Chambersburg in late 1863, but the way he left the Army is a little muddy.

Family tradition is that he deserted in 1865, and some years later, he arrived in York County and took over a farm near Winterstown, in southeastern York County.

For many years, the government denied him a pension because of his reported desertion.

Denied it, that is, until 1921.

That year, he dressed in his original uniform and traveled to Washington, D.C., to appeal his case in person.

Pappy Kibler convinced the War Department that he deserved the pension.

But two weeks after receiving his first check, he died and was buried in a Winterstown Cemetery with his loving mate, the former Lydia Ann Snyder.

But there’s more to Kibler’s story courtesy of Dennis Brandt’s database of area Civil War vets:

“Enlisted in York; Battery B,. 1st Pa. Artillery. Pre-war tanner in York County.

“Also served at the ranks of corporal and sergeant with Co. L, 1st Md PHB Cav, enlisting March 31, 1864, in Frederick, Maryland; captured at Charles Town, West Virginia, August 22, 1864, and sent to Richmond, Danville, and finally Salisbury Prison; on December 20, 1864, he was among a group that agreed to perform fatigue duty for the Confederate Army; several in the group tried to escape but were shot; captured by Federal forces at Salisbury and imprisoned until July 6, 1865, when he took the oath of allegiance; although he received an honorable discharge certificate from the 1st Md PHB Cav to date June 28, 1865, the army considered his discharge as dishonorable but apparently never told him until he applied for a pension; his application for reversal was successful.

“Born in Baltimore, Maryland; married Lydia Ann ?; children: Annie Elizabeth (b. 08/??/66); in 1872, moved back to York County; in 1890, lived in North Hopewell Township, York County.”

 

Also of interest

– All yorktownsquare.com Civil War posts from start.

– Check out Scott Mingus’ Cannonball blog, part of the Yorkblog.com network of community blogs.

– Become a Facebook fan of ‘Civil War Voices.’