George Gordon Boyer

A clerk's son, in 1860 he was 18 years old and lived with his parents and 3 siblings in Pottsville, PA. He had joined the National Light Infantry, a Pottsville, PA militia company in 1858, then a civil engineering student, and he mustered with them for war service as 4th Sergeant when they became Company D of the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry on 18 April 1861 in Harrisburg. He mustered out with them at the end of their 90 days' service on 23 July. He enrolled again, on 23 September 1861, and mustered the same day in Pottsville as First Lieutenant of Company K, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.

Colonel Cake wrote of him at Crampton's Gap on 14 September 1862:

I must also make special mention of Lieutenant George G. Boyer, acting regimental adjutant, who bravely encouraged the men throughout the lines up to the time the road was gained. Upon the fall of Major Martin, Lieutenant Boyer was charged with his removal, hoping that prompt attention might save his valuable life.

He resigned and was discharged on Christmas Day 1862.

In 1870 he was Chief of Police in Harrisburg. By 1880 and to at least 1900 he was a clerk in the State Capitol there. He began receiving a veteran's pension for disability in May 1900. He was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and was one-time Commander of Hartranft Post No. 58.

His service basics from Bates,1 as George B. Boyer, and the Card File,2 with the quote above 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 Margaret Amelia Bretz (1840-1901) in August 1861 and they had 6 daughters.

08/20/1842; Harrisburg, PA

11/24/1903; Harrisburg, PA; burial in Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, PA