Frederick M. Yeager

One of the "First Defenders", he joined the Ringgold Light Artillery at Reading, PA on 16 April 1861, served with them in Washington, DC, and mustered out on 26 July. In 1862 he helped recruit six companies of men and was commissioned First Lieutenant, Company K, 128th Pennsylvania Infantry on 15 August 1862.

He commanded the left part of his Company in their advance through the East Woods and toward the Dunkard Church on 17 September 1862 at Antietam.

He was promoted to Captain, Company C on 1 January 1863. He was captured at Chancellorsville, VA on 2 May 1863 and held at Libby Prison, Richmond, VA. He was exchanged, date unknown, and returned home, his term having expired in May 1863.

He was a professional photographer in Reading, PA from 1864 to at least 1874, and later an "art publisher". He was active in veteran's and historical organizations. He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) and by 1912 was Commander of McLean Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

Service information from Bates.1 His role at Antietam from a letter he wrote J.M. Gould on 29 December 1893, now in the John M. Gould Collection of Papers Relating to the Battle of Antietam, Dartmouth College Library, Hanover, NH. Personal details from his bio sketch in J.M. Yeager's A Brief History of the Yeager, Buffington ... Families, and their Collateral Kindred of Pennsylvania (1912). His photographic career in Langdon's List. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph sold by J. Mountain Antiques.

06/17/1840

07/17/1920; burial in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, PA