George W. Fell

In December 1846, giving his age as 18, he enlisted for Mexican War service in Company A of the First Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was discharged on 20 July 1848.

On 26 April 1861, by then a 31 year old moulder in Pittston (or Philadelphia), he enlisted and mustered as Private, Company A, 15th Pennsylvania Infantry for three months service. He mustered out with them on 8 August but enlisted again, on 18 August in Luzerne County, and mustered as Corporal, Company D, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry at Wilkes Barre on 2 September 1861. He was transferred to Company E on 10 April 1862.

He was probably killed in action at Antietam on 18 September 1862 by an enemy sharpshooter from the trees behind the Dunker Church. Although the regiment had 5 other men wounded that day, he was the only one killed.

His Civil War service from Bates1 and the Card File. His Mexican War service from the Park Service database. Birth information from family genealogists and a notice of his death in the Pittston Gazette of 16 October 1862. That piece says he was killed at Williamsport, MD on 19 September, which is possible but less likely, as the regiment was still at Sharpsburg on that date. His death at Antietam is from A.T. Brewer's History of the Sixty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (1911), which says he was killed on the 17th, the only man in the regiment killed at Antietam. Thanks to Daniel T. Fell for the pointer to Corporal Fell and that reference.

He married Margaret Baird (b. 1833) in February 1852 and they had 3 children.

02/22/1830; Wilkes Barre, PA

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD