Philip Crewell

In 1855 he was a 14 year old living with his parents at Columbia in Herkimer County, NY; there were at least 2 Getman households nearby. At age 20 he enlisted in Columbia on 1 May 1861 and mustered for a two year term on 15 June as a Private in Company F, 34th New York Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal, date not found.

He was in action at Antietam with his company on 17 September 1862. Afterward, he wrote his brother Henry about his experience fighting near the Dunker Church in the West Woods there:

Sedgwick’s Division was in front and Gorman’s Brigade on the left, and the left of that was the 34th—without any support whatever. Now they said that 34th was ordered by the left flank and that whilst attempting to execute the order under a most intense fire from their enemy’s lines. In the first place, we were marched right up in front, there being a heavy knoll between us and the enemy that is in the woods. We advanced to the brow of the knoll just so we could look down the other side, and there the enemy were, eight deep, laying with their faces down, within 15 rods [80 yards] of us ... The order was given to hold low and so we did. We held in the face of the first line and the word was given, “fire!” when the whole line opened with one sheet of fire and lead which lifted them from the dirt, but to fall again, for our aim was sure. Them that was left run out of the woods, or attempted to, but a good many bit the dust.

We drove the whole line before us and they, seeing our left unsupported, they came back with five times our number, and then we held our ground till we were ordered back. When we left our lines, the rebels was within two rods of us, and had it not been for the knoll, they being coming up one side and we went down the other, or they would have shot every one of us. But their balls all went over [our heads]...

He mustered out of service with his company at Albany, NY on 30 June 1863.

In 1870 he was a farmer with his new wife, widowed mother Alida/Lydia, and brother Jacob at Columbia, NY. He was a farmer there to at least 1910, living with his daughter Minnie (Cotton) and her family by 1900.

His service basics from the State of New York.1 The quote above from his letter of 8 October 1862, posted and transcribed online by Will Griffing on Spared and Shared. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1870, 1900, & 1910, and the New York State Census of 1855. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from an ambrotype offered for sale by Perry Adams Antiques; thanks to John Banks for finding that.

He married (cousin?) Mariah C Getman (1845-1879) by 1870 and they had a daughter Minnie (1871-1944).

11/13/1840; Albany County, NY

1917; burial in Dennison Corners Cemetery, German Flatts, NY