Lamar Shinn Hay

A master mason's son, in 1860 he was a 21 year old bricklayer living with his father and 6 siblings in Pottsville, PA. He enlisted there and mustered in Harrisburg as First Sergeant of the National Light Infantry (a First Defender, 3 month service unit) on 18 April 1861 - they became Company D of the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry. He mustered out with them on 23 July 1861. He enrolled again and mustered on 23 September 1861 as First Lieutenant of Company A, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was promoted to Captain on 23 September 1861.

Colonel Cake wrote of his performance in battle at Crampton's Gap on 14 September 1862:

Captain Hay, Company A, also preserved his excellent reputation as a fighting officer, holding his company well in hand, always cool and in line. His services were invaluable in the fight, as they always are on the march, on picket, or in command of skirmishers.

He was discharged on a Surgeon’s Certificate on 27 December 1862, but enlisted as a Private in Company A of the 27th Regiment, Emergency Militia of 1863 on 16 June 1863. He mustered out with them on 31 July 1863.

In 1870 he was a superintendent at a colliery (coal mine) living in Mahanoy, Schuylkill County, PA but by 1880 he was superintendent of a coal company at Mahoning in Armstrong County, PA. He was active in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and was a Justice of the Peace for Dubois, PA by 1887 and to at least 1900.

His service from Bates1 and the Card File,2 with details from Colonel Cake’s Official Report. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1900. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Orlena "Lena" Barlett (1843-1920) in October 1862 and they had 9 children.

11/24/1838; Pottsville, PA

04/09/1902; DuBois, PA; burial in Morningside Cemetery, DuBois, PA