Schuylkill County Day at Antietam
September 19, 2004
 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of
48th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry
& 50th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry
sponsored by Historical Society of Schuylkill County

Participants:
Pottsville Joint Veterans & Pottsville Joint Veterans Firing Squad 

Ceremonies began at 1:00 p.m. 
At Monument of 50th PVI (Rodman Avenue)
Commanding Officer Brigadier General Benjamin C. Christ
 Prayer and Laying of Wreath
Speaker Stu Richards
Firing Squad
Ceremonies ended at 1:15 p.m.

Ceremonies began at 1:30 p.m.
At Monument of 48th PVI (Branch Avenue)
Commanding Officer Brigadier General James Nagle
Prayer and Laying of Wreath
Speaker John David Hoptak
Firing Squad
Ceremonies ended at 2:00 p.m.   


 Leo Ward (right) provides official address at 50th PA Infantry's monument
Leo Haley (standing to Leo Ward's right) read the prayer. 
(50th PA monument stands behind them)


Stu Richards speaks about the actions of 50th PA Infantry at Antietam


Old Glory unfurled before the 50th PA Infantry's monument.
Colonel Benjamin Christ of Minersville stands atop the monument.


Pottsville Joint Veterans play taps at 50th PA Monument in honor of the fallen.


 This tablet is adjacent to the 50 PA Infantry's monument.
It details the actions of Christ's brigade at Antietam.

Colonel Benjamin C. Christ
of Minersville, PA
Born: 9/12/1822  Died: 3/27/1869   

  
                                                Gravesite of Benjamin Christ in Minersville, PA

Born in Minersville, PA, Christ was a coal merchant and hotel
 proprietor before the war. He was appointed Lt Col of the 5th 
Pennsylvania Infantry 21 Apr 1861, and mustered out 25 Julv 1861 
at the end of that unit's 3-months service. He was made Colonel of
 the 50th Pennsylvania on 30 Sept 1861. During the Antietam campaign, 
he was briefly in command of the Division at the start of the Maryland 
Campaign after the death of General Stevens (1 - 8 September 1862) 
until relieved by General Willcox.  Later in the war, Christ was 
honored by Brevet to the rank of Brigadier General of Volunteers on
 1 Aug 1864 for distinguished service at Nye River and before Petersburg, Va.

 
The 48th PA Monument at Antietam Battlefield
 Brigadier General James Nagle of Pottsville stand atop the monument.


Leo Ward addresses the crowd at 48th PA Infantry's monument
The 48th PA monument stands to right.

View short video of volley fired during 48th PA re-dedication

View short video of taps being played during 48th PA re-dedication


Historian John David Hoptak speaks about 48th PA Infantry's fight at Antietam
(48th PA monument is to the right of photo)


This tablet is adjacent to the 48th PA Infantry's monument.
It details the actions of that regiment at Antietam.
The wreath was placed by Leo Haley during the ceremonies.

All photos of re-dedication taken by Tom Shay 

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