Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Elder enlisted in the United States Army in June 1853 and was assigned to Battery C, 2nd U.S. Artillery. During his five-year enlistment, he was promoted from the rank of private through first sergeant. His enlistment ended in 1858 and he returned to civilian life.[1]
By 1863, Elder's battery was assigned to the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade, where it served for most of the remainder of the war. He earned a permanent promotion to captain on August 1, 1863. Detached briefly in February 1864, Elder was cited for gallantry at the Battle of Olustee in Florida, and was awarded the brevet promotion to major. Returning to the Horse Artillery, he was again cited for actions at Drewry’s Bluff, May 5, 1864, and was brevetted lieutenant colonel. He remained with the Army after the war, and was promoted to major in the 2nd U.S. Artillery, June 30, 1882.[1]
Death
Elder died on April 6, 1885 while posted to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he had been an instructor of law at the Fortress Monroe Artillery School. His listed age at time of death was 58 years old. He was buried in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[2]
Sources
^ abcHeitman, Francis B. (1903). "Samuel Sherer Elder". Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 400.
^ ab"Major Samuel S. Elder Passes Away at Fortress Monroe". Harrisburg Telegraph. April 7, 1885.
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army. Volume 1. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1903.
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation ofthe Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1884.
February 22, 2023
samuel, sherer, elder, 1827, april, 1885, career, united, states, army, artillery, officer, battery, commander, famed, horse, artillery, brigade, during, american, civil, bornca, 1827, 28harrisburg, pennsylvania, usdiedapril, 1885, 1885, aged, fortress, monroe. Samuel Sherer Elder ca 1827 28 April 6 1885 was a career United States Army artillery officer and a battery commander in the famed U S Horse Artillery Brigade during the American Civil War Samuel Sherer ElderBornca 1827 28Harrisburg Pennsylvania USDiedApril 6 1885 1885 04 06 aged 57 58 Fortress Monroe Virginia USBuriedPaxton Presbyterian ChurchyardHarrisburg Pennsylvania USAllegiance United StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1853 1858 1861 1885RankMajor Brevet Lieutenant ColonelUnit2nd U S Artillery1st U S ArtilleryCommands heldBattery E 4th U S ArtilleryBattles warsAmerican Civil WarSpouse s Elizabeth M Garland m 1868 Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Death 4 Sources 5 Further readingEarly years EditBorn in Harrisburg Pennsylvania Elder enlisted in the United States Army in June 1853 and was assigned to Battery C 2nd U S Artillery During his five year enlistment he was promoted from the rank of private through first sergeant His enlistment ended in 1858 and he returned to civilian life 1 As a civilian Elder trained as a lawyer 2 Career EditUpon the outbreak of the American Civil War Elder received a commission as second lieutenant on March 23 1861 assigned to the 1st U S Artillery Promoted to first lieutenant in the 4th U S Artillery May 14 1861 Elder commanded Battery E 4th U S Artillery and served in the Eastern Theater with the Army of the Potomac He was cited for gallantry and awarded a promotion to brevet captain for actions at Antietam September 17 1862 1 By 1863 Elder s battery was assigned to the U S Horse Artillery Brigade where it served for most of the remainder of the war He earned a permanent promotion to captain on August 1 1863 Detached briefly in February 1864 Elder was cited for gallantry at the Battle of Olustee in Florida and was awarded the brevet promotion to major Returning to the Horse Artillery he was again cited for actions at Drewry s Bluff May 5 1864 and was brevetted lieutenant colonel He remained with the Army after the war and was promoted to major in the 2nd U S Artillery June 30 1882 1 Death EditElder died on April 6 1885 while posted to Fortress Monroe Virginia where he had been an instructor of law at the Fortress Monroe Artillery School His listed age at time of death was 58 years old He was buried in his hometown of Harrisburg Pennsylvania 2 Sources Edit a b c Heitman Francis B 1903 Samuel Sherer Elder Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army Vol 1 Washington D C Government Printing Office p 400 a b Major Samuel S Elder Passes Away at Fortress Monroe Harrisburg Telegraph April 7 1885 Further reading EditAmerican Memory Selected Civil War Photographs Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Internet http memory loc gov ammem cwphtml cwphome html Heitman Francis B Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army Volume 1 Washington D C Government Printing Office 1903 War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Washington D C G P O 1884 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Sherer Elder amp oldid 1083943742, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
