Joseph Snider

On June 4, 1861 Joseph Snider was elected as a delegate to the second Wheeling Convention, which passed an ordinance calling for the "reorganization of the State Government." He was a member of the Legislature of the Reorganized Government of Virginia, and made a stirring speech against delaying the formation of West Virginia.

On August 22, 1862 he was appointed colonel of the 7th (West) Virginia Infantry. Snider led his regiment in several of the war's crucial battles.

Snider and his Regiment fought in Kimball's Brigade of French's Division in the midday assaults on the Sunken Road.

At Antietam, Colonel Snider had his horse killed under him, while at him Fredericksburg, he was severely wounded. He also participated in the Chancellorsville campaign.

By July 31, 1863, Snider had been promoted to command of the First Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, but his regiment was sorely depleted. As a result, the 7th was consolidated into four companies and the colonel was mustered out of service.

On November 27, 1863, Snider was appointed to command of the newly formed 4th West Virginia Cavalry, which served in the Third Brigade of the Second Division of the Department of West Virginia. The primary mission of the regiment was the defense of the B & O Railroad.

After the war, Snider remained active in state and local affairs.

Biograhical data from the West Virginia Archives online, and the photo from Lang1.

2/14/1827; Monongalia County, VA (later WV)

1/8/1904; Point Marion, PA; burial in Mount Union Cemetery, Monongalia County, WV