Maurus Oestreich

He came to America with his father (?) Augustin aboard the bark SS Blucher arriving in Baltimore in June 1855, both listed as piano makers. He enlisted at Pottsville, PA on 2 September 1861 and mustered there on 23 September in Pottsville as a Private in Company B, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was sick on the Peninsula Campaign in June 1862 and was detailed to the Ambulance Corps about 12 August 1862.

He was with the Ambulance Corps in Maryland, and helped transport wounded soldiers to field hospitals after the battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862, and to Frederick, MD hospitals in the weeks after.

He rejoined his company, probably by the end of 1862, though he still had duty with the ambulances in several combat actions afterward. He mustered out with his company at the end of their term of enlistment on 21 October 1864.

By 1870 and to at least 1900 he was a house carpenter at Saint Clair, Schuylkill County, PA. By 1910, then 74 years, he'd finally retired in Saint Clair.

His service basics from Bates1 and the Card File,2 as Maurice. His service in Maryland and after from his diary typescript [pdf] in the Harrisburg Civil War Roundtable Collection at the US Army Heritage & Education Center. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1870, 1900, & 1910, and a passenger list from the Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Catherine "Cassie" Anschutz (1840-1907) and they had 8 children between 1866 and 1888.

01/15/1836; Hesse, GERMANY

08/13/1912; Saint Clair, PA; burial in Saint Bonifacius Church Cemetery, Saint Clair, PA