Steele Semple Williams

In 1860 he was a 40 year old tinsmith at Punxsutawney in Jefferson County, PA. He enlisted in Brookville, PA on 24 April 1861 and mustered for 3 months' service in Harrisburg as a Corporal in Company I of the 8th Pennsylvania Infantry. He mustered out with that company on 29 July and enlisted again, as a Sergeant in Company F, 11th Pennsylvania Infantry on 25 October 1861.

He was wounded in the right hand and kidney in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was treated at the Camp Curtin hospital at Harrisburg, PA and was discharged on a Surgeon's Certificate of 6 February 1863. He died, possibly of complications of his Antietam wounds, on 6 February 1864.

His widow began to receive a pension based on his service in 1866.

His service from Bates1 and the Card File.2 Wound and hospital details from Nelson,3 citing a casualty list in the New York Times of 25 September 1862. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph from Kenneth D Williams, thanks to John Banks.

He married Sybilla Rachel Cooper (1825-1909) in January 1845 in Pittsburgh, and they had 5 children. Their oldest, Walter (1845-1919), enlisted at age 15 as a musician (drummer) in Company F with his father in October 1861 and served to July 1865, mustering out as a Sergeant.

See a c. 1861 photograph of Steele and Walter over on the blog

c. 1820; Greenburg, PA

02/06/1864; burial in New Alexandria Union Meeting House Cemetery, New Alexandria, PA