James Madison Treichler

A blacksmith's son, in 1860 he was a 16 year old living with his parents and 6 siblings in Upper Providence, Montgomery County, PA. In September 1861, giving his age as 20, occupation student, and residence in Philadelphia, he enlisted in Montgomery County, PA and mustered in Pottsville on 24 September as a Private in Company H, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.

He was with his company in Maryland. He later remembered the scene as they charged the Confederate line near Crampton's Gap on 14 September 1862:

A corn field through which we were passing hid the enemy from view until we were close upon them. They held their fire until we appeared on the edge of the field, within fourty feet, when they saluted us with a continuous shour of leden bullets ...

He was promoted to Corporal on 15 October 1862 and to Sergeant on 8 February 1863. He reenlisted on 4 February 1864 and was promoted to Sergeant Major of the regiment on 25 July. He transferred to the 95th Pennsylvania Infantry on 14 October 1864, when the 96th mustered out, was appointed First Lieutenant of Company G on 8 December 1864, and promoted to Captain on 4 March 1865. He mustered out with his Company on 17 July 1865.

By 1870 he, his parents, and now 7 siblings had all moved to Linn, Cedar County, IA, and were farmers together there. In 1880 he was working his own place at Linn, but by 1900 and to at least 1910 he was a house painter in Orient, Adair County, IA. In 1920 he had finally retired and lived in Ellston, Ringgold County, IA. In 1930, then 86 years old, he lived with his son Cyril and family in Kellerton, IA.

His service basics from Bates1 and the Card File.2 The battle quote above from Ward,3 citing James' memoirs in the Randy Treichler Collection. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1930. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph at the US Army Heritage & Education Center (USAHEC), this copy kindly provided by David A Ward.

He married Mary Emma Dance (1851-1932) in December 1872; they had 7 sons by 1890 and finally a daughter in 1893.

Colonel Don Treichler published Crimson Fields: Civil War Biography of Captain James Madison Treichler in 2011, quoting from James' letters and other papers.

01/10/1844; Trappe, PA

04/29/1931; Cherokee, IA; burial in Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon, IA