George Christian Mathias Eichholtz

In 1860 he was a 23 year old telegraph operator, probably for the Pennsylvania Railroad, living with his parents and siblings in their hotel in Downington in Chester County, PA. On 19 September 1861 he was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company B of the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He was wounded in the hand at Fair Oaks, VA on 31 March 1862 and promoted to Captain on 26 April.

He led his company in Maryland and at Antietam on 17 September 1862 Lt. Col. McMichael reported:

I sent out my left company (B), commanded by Captain Eicholtz, as skirmishers, to a corn-field [Roulette's] some distance in the front.

He was wounded in the ankle at Fredericksburg, VA on 13 Dcember 1862 and resigned his commission on 30 September 1863. He was granted an invalid veteran' pension in November 1864.

By 1870 he was a retail merchant in Downington and in 1880 a clerk in the Customs House there.

His service from Bates1 and the Card File.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave. He's often seen as G.C.M. Eicholtz.

01/03/1835; Lancaster, PA

05/13/1899; Norristown, PA; burial in Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA