Patrick H. Pentzer

Patrick Henry Pentzer was born 24 Sep 1838 in Marion County, Missouri. He enlisted in the Union Army at Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois. He served in the Civil War as Captain and Commander of Company C, 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At Fort Blakely, Alabama, 09 Apr 1865, he bravely earned the Medal of Honor. His medal was issued 09 Oct 1879. The citation reads "Among the first to enter the enemy's entrenchments, he received the surrender of a Confederate general officer and his headquarters flag." He died 16 Oct 1901, in Marion County, Missouri, and laid to rest at the Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.

The following text excerpts were taken from the description used in November, 2000, to sell Pentzer family papers acquired at the estate sale of J.B. Stone Jr. in Springfield, Missouri.

The center of the Bible has the family's names with births and deaths registered.

The letters contain a wealth of history. They are written from Ann M. Pentzer to her son, Patrick Henry, whom she calls Henry). Mrs. Pentzer was a woman who kept up with the news of the war and offered her sons advice. Most letters contain some words concerning keeping a high morality and to remember the words of the Bible. Her son Patrick and her son Thomas were both in the army and served close to each other at least close enough for Henry to keep a "watch on Thomas." They served in New Orleans for some time guarding thousands of prisoners. Henry also served in other places as a regular soldier and Captain.

These letters contain the farm news of the day and current events concerning relatives as well as war news of all sorts, bushwhackers, marches and so on. I was quite surprised though, at the knowledge this woman had of war and battles.

There are 4 letters from 1963. The first letter was sent via Vicksburg and the rest via New Orleans. Mrs. Pentzer speaks about living a good Christian life and the Sabbath Day - she also talks about the news from ....?... army is that they have had a good deal of trouble in Missouri from guerrillas, - Col. Elliot died from taking too much morphine - Circuit preacher - men respond to the call and put down this rebellion -- Charles was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga and is in the hospital at Nashville -- Union speeches are spoken of - she tells Henry that his position is a dangerous one and it would be easy for the Rebs to capture him - he's to go back to New Orleans - His regiment on the train accident but both boys escaped death.

There are 16 letters from 1864. One letter went by way of Mobile Alabama and all the others through New Orleans. Some of the interesting topics contained in this group are: Folks dying of typhoid fever -traitors not subdued - the Rebs are very ingenious but cannot beat the Yankees - soldiers prisoners and being surrounded in that city of Sodom. The mill blew up and 2 were killed at Gillespie - gone to Springfield to join the 97th - Little Tommy died of typhoid fever - Camp Butler - Grant will WHIP them soon -- the Col. health is bad - calling out the state militia - waiting to hear the results from the battles going on in the East - raising money for widows and orphans - prisoners escaped - Army beginning to move - laying and waiting at Mobile for months as you did at Vicksburg - Cold hearted Yankees commanding our western boys - battle by Sherman in Alabama - Going to a colored regiment - Thomas' 22nd birthday - Bad News General Banks was whipped - Ashbel sent to Alton will reenlist - no dependence in these peddlers - excitement about bushwhackers and guerrillas - we shall be overrun with them as in Missouri Billows fever - relieved from guarding prisoners - call for 500,000 troops - 9,000 - 10,000 prisoners - Col. Rutherford died - Atlanta was taken by Sherman - we should elect Lincoln - the draft - scare off the rebels - women fight well with their tongue.

There are 2 letters from 1865 both via New Orleans: the Rebs know there is no use - draft postponed - Let the Negroes learn to use their freedom first - Since Sherman's march the war will soon be over - Rebs from Missouri moving to Illinois - victory the fall of Charleston and Wilmington - Schoefield's army suffers defeat.

The letter dated June 16, 1879, is fascinating to read. It has to do with the men that Capt. Pentzer captured and land torpedoes. These letters were written to get some help concerning who actually captured the flag when Capt. Pentzer captured some confederate soldiers. The letter is missing a page as I read it. Something is missing, or I may be understanding it wrong, but anyway the letter is actually from the General that surrendered to Pentzer, his prisoner. He even holds him in very high regard. Also this former prisoner is explaining exactly what happened when he was captured. Another commander that came in an hour after Pentzer, told this Reb to go out in the darkness and show him where the land torpedoes are. Apparently this letter was written because another man has claimed he had the flag and they are trying to settle the situation. It is some years later in 1879 and has been brought to the attention of U.S. Representative Morrison.

The next group consists of some miscellaneous letters. The first actually is an empty envelope, dated Dec. 18, 1926, but it has the Pentzer name on it. The next item is from the Department of the Interior, pension Agency, dated 1907. The items in this envelope do not correspond with the date on the envelope. It contains the pension Certificate shown below, which is in very good condition. Also inside is a letter dated March 20, 1889 that is concerning a request for an increase of invalid pension, and the appearance of Mr. Pentzer for an examination. It is in great shape with a nice letterhead. The third envelope, dated Jan.14, 1908 contains a letter that is dated 1906 concerning a leave of absence Mr. Pentzer took during the war. This particular letter is scanned and described 2 pictures below.

Also there are several tax receipts belonging to the Pentzer's for 1912 and others for Springfield, Missouri. He was born in Marion County, Missouri.

A pension certificate, from the Bureau of Pensions to Mrs. Pentzer concerning her widows pension says that she will receive $20.00 per month to start on March 8th, 1904 and to continue through her widowhood.

A 1906 letter giving Mrs. Pentzer info on an inquiry concerning her husband's absence for personal reason for two weeks in July, 1863. It somehow had something to do with an overpayment of some sort. It is from the Law Offices of Harvey Spalding & Sons, Attorneys At Law in Washington, D.C.