David Shafer

He mustered into service for 9 months as Private, Company G, 132nd Pennsylvania Infantry on 15 August 1862.

He was slightly wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He mustered out with his Company on 24 May 1863 at the end of their term of service, near Chancellorsville, VA. He reenlisted on 29 February 1864 as Private, Company D, 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was briefly captured in action at Five Forks, VA on 1 April 1865, but freed before he could be taken to the rear. He was transferred 24 July 1865 to Company D, 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry (161st Regiment), and mustered out with them on 11 August 1865 in Richmond, VA.

By 1883 he was living in Easton, PA and worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

Service information from Hitchcock,1 who has him as David Shaffer, and Bates,2 who lists him as David Shaeffer. Thanks to descendant Mike Shafer for details from written family history, and for two photographs: one from 1865, source of David's picture above, of David and his brothers (at least 4 of whom served in the War); the other a group picture of him (with violin) with brothers and sisters, taken at a family reunion in the early 1900s. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

07/14/1843; WIlkes-Barre, PA

10/20/1933; Hampton, VA; burial in Hampton National Cemetery, Hampton, VA