Greetings to the Ancestry Message Board concerning the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves (AKA the 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry). The 9th PRVC was from western Pennsylvania, primarily Allegheny County, however, sizeable numbers of the recruits were from Beaver, Crawford, Westmoreland, Armstrong & Indiana Counties. It consisted of the following companies:

A. Pittsburgh Rifles
B. Garibaldi Guards
C. Iron City Guards
D. Government Guards
E. Chartiers Valley Guards
F. Meadville Volunteers
G. CIty Guards, Company B
H. New Brighton Rifles
I. McKeesport Union Guards
K. Allegheny Rangers

These companies were formed in April 1861 and a loose regimental organization in May 1861 with the complete organization occuring on 28 JUNE 1861. The unit entered federal service on July 27 & 28.

It fought at the following battles:

Dranesville
Meadow Bridge (companies C & G)
Mechanicsville
Gaines Mill
Charles City Crossroads
Malvern Hill (in reserve)
Second Bull Run
South Mountain
Antietam
Fredericksburg
Gettysburg
Falling Waters
Mine Run
Bristoe Station

The unit was mustered out at Pittsburgh on 11 & 12 May 1864.
Recruits not having served 3 years and veteran volunteers were initially transferred to the 12th PA Reserves as a new company K and in 30 days to Companies B & K, 190th PA. Vol. Infantry.

I am desiring to hear from descendants and relatives of members of the 9th. Perhaps we can share information.

Jim Owston
jowston@mountainstate.edu

Thanks, James. The Iron City Guards is exactly what I was looking for!
Rick.

I am trying to decipher the units named by my GGG Grandfather in his pension papers.

"I was enrolled in April 1861 in 'Iron City Guards' to serve for three months but was not mustered into the U. S. Service and received no pay. At the close of the term, I, in company with a number of men, with the consent of the officers, retired. The company was then mustered into the U.S. Service for three years as Co. C, Pa. Reserves. I returned to Pittsburgh and assisted in recruiting [Thompson's] Battery C, Independent Pa. Artillery [Volunteers] in which I mustered as Sergeant." ...we know further that He was discharged from this unit August 23, 1863, at Harrisburg, PA. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in Tyler's Park Battery Pa. Volunteers and mustered out on Aug. 24, 1863. He reenlisted that month (August 1863) in Park Battery, Penna Light Artillery Volunteers, under Captain Horatio Tyler, as a 2nd Lieutenant. While on duty in Frederick City, Maryland, in February, 1862, he was "injured by overmarching resulting in varicose veins in his left leg, followed by rheumatism." He was discharged on Jan. 28, 1864. Carolyn Edith Birchard Learned remembers seeing documentation noting William John's survival of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg, Maryland, 1862).

He is not listed in the Muster Roll of the Iron City Guards as he indicated he was not mustered in.

I have found his records with Thompson's Battery but have not been able to locate "Tylers Park Battery". Do you know what it's official designation was?

Thank you,

Rick.

RIck:

What specifically were you looking for concerning the Iron City Guards?

Jim

Rick:

You didn't mention his last name, but I know you are requesting information regarding William John Sloan. His two brothers: Samuel Sloan & James Washington Sloan as well as his uncle, Archibald Daugherty remained in the Iron City Guards.

Tyler's Park Battery is listed by the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania as "Independent Battery, Six Month's Pennsylvania Artillery" -- I am not sure how the federal government identified this unit. It may be listed as "Tyler's Independent Pennsylvania Artillery" -- but this is just a guess on my part. Unfortunately, he is not listed as a Lieutenant in the 1866 PA Adjutant General's Report -- this does not mean that he wasn't a lieutenant -- but that the State of PA did not recognize his promotion. This is not unusual -- so I would not worry too much about it. He may have been promoted, but never received a commission from Andrew G. Curtin, the Governor of PA.

Jim

Jim, If you were anywhere near Columbus, OH I would give you a big bear hug despite the risk of my wife and 6 children becoming certain I was nuts. I cannot put into words my elation. I even thought about this post last night wondering "Did I even post the name?"...and checked it first thing this morning. Wow!

Indeed, yes, I am speaking of my GGG Grandfather Dr. William John Sloan, son of John Sloan and Nancy Agnes Daugherty...the Sloan brick wall. Only recently have I pursued the Civil War angle and I get a new thrill at every turn.

Here is an overview of him what I know about him: http://www.jackson8.com/Second%20Site/p9.htm#i439

Is there documentation you've seen that confirms Samuel and James are his brothers? We've often wondered about James' middle name...where have you seen it? Where did you learn what you learned about him...including the relationship of Archibald Daugherty...I am still so excited I can barely sit still...

I have long wondered about the relationship of Samuel and James to William...Archibald Daugherty being there sure helps! Coincidentally, just yesterday, I was checking into a Thomas S. Sloan of Knap's Battery and found a picture of him labeled "unidentified" at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fmitchel/sloan/phot...
The resemblance is so striking, I am sure it is another brother!

I am in posession of William John's original promotion documents: To Sargeant; Company [faded] of the Thompson's Regiment of Independant Pennsylvania Battery @ williamsport, MD 7 Nov 1861. And to 2nd Lt. of "Park Battery" @ Harrisburg 16 Jul 1863.
I am working this family at http://www.jackson8.com/Sloan.html - it includes pictures of this paperwork and pics of both William John and Samuel...amongst others.

So tell me...I am eager...where did you get this stuff?

In addition to "uncle Archy" I found R. J. Dougherty who was killed...digging into the Civil War has been incredibly revealing. I'm putting it together at http://www.jackson8.com/sloancivilwar.html

...still eager to hear from you.

Rick.

Richard:

My wife would not understand the bear hug either, so we better forego that. Here’s what I can tell you at the present.

Unfortunately, I do not have where I found James Washington Sloan’s middle name documented – it could have been from an affidavit for another soldier that he provided information about for a pension or the company roll or some other regimental document. I will check my records over the past several years on this. I’ve had this designation for him for some period of time at least since July of 1999.

He himself was not issued a pension (to my knowledge) and I do not have a death date for him, although, in light of the pension laws – this probably indicates that he died prior to 1890.

I first became aware of the relationship of the three brothers from Edith Sloan’s website. With this in mind, I did some further research and concluded it was so. If these men were cousins or some other relation, they would not be listed chronologically with the mother, but rather at the end of the household.

You have the 1850 census, but are lacking the 1860 census.

SLOAN, A. 45 FEMALE Born: Ireland Pers. Est.: $250
SLOAN, S. 25 MALE Nailer Born: PA Pers. Est.: $100
SLOAN, J.W. 23 MALE Nailer Born: PA
SLOAN, W.J. 20 MALE Nailer Born: PA
SLOAN, T.S. 18 MALE Teacher Born: PA Pers. Est.: $100
SLOAN, MAA. 15 FEMALE Born: PA
SLOAN, M. 12 FEMALE Born: PA
RARK, T.S. 25 MALE Theol. Student Born: PA Pers. Est. $100
SHARPER, J. 23 MALE Theol. Student Born: Ireland Pers. Est. $100

The 1859 Pgh. City Directory has Agnes, widow of John M. – living at 588 Liberty. The three sons I am interested in are at the same address.

I found Archibald Daugherty in the 1880 with William John Sloan – but also knew of him from my previous research. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland.

He was a veteran of the Mexican War and was living near Greensburg, Westmoreland County at time of enlistment in 1846. You have not found him in the census records, because following the war, he moved to Ritchie County, Virginia (now West Virginia). By 1860, he was living in Elizabeth, Allegheny County, PA. At discharge, he listed Birmingham, Allegheny County as his residence.

You have been concentrating your efforts on Pittsburgh, but this family may have lived in Westmoreland County when coming to America. I found a Dougherty family in Patton Twp, Allegheny County (bordering Westmoreland). Archy Dougherty and Jane Warnic (his wife) came to Patton Twp. from Ireland in 1808. They had a son named William John Dougherty. This may be a relative.

There also was a Robert Johnson Daugherty also in company C of the regiment. He was the son of James R. and Mary Ann Daugherty and was from Saltsburg, Indiana County, which is closely aligned with the portion of Westmoreland County near Greensburg. This may be a lead as well.

Good luck.

Jim Owston

Thank you for all of this. Edith and I work this family together...she is my 1st cousin once removed. She is a very busy globe trotter so I do not get to hear from her as often as I wish.

I did find the "Uncle Archibald" info (that I knew in the back of my mind I had) in the 1880 Census:

William J. Sloan 40, PA, Oil Producer, PA IRE
wife Rebecca J., 34, PA IRE IRE
dau Jenny A., 16, PA
dau Claudia E., 13, PA
dau Edith, 8, PA
son John H., 6, PA
son William W., 6, PA
mil Jane McClelland, 67 IRE IRE IRE
uncle Archibald Daugherty, 65, IR IR SC

And yes, I also believe the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming that James and Thomas are William John's brothers.

Again, I am very grateful for your input.

I think the Civil War Angle may very well answer alot more questions seeing the McClellands and Doughertys there too.

Check back to that Sloan Civil War link I sent you...I hope one day I'll have something there that will help you even a fraction of how much you have helped me.

Rick.

This Daugherty may also related to a number of others in the Regiment. Joseph Cowan Walkinshaw (of company I) shared an aunt with Robert Johnson Daugherty.

William John Daugherty's son (see previous post) was named Joseph Cowan Daugherty -- which may indicate a relationship with Walkinshaw. This family was related to Francis W. Karns also of company C.

It is a small world.

Jim