John Reisch

Of German-born parents, who probably named him Johannes, in 1860 he was an 18 year old laborer living with his parents and 7 younger siblings on their farm in Cheektowaga, NY. He enlisted in Rochester, NY and mustered as a Private in Company I, 108th New York Infantry on 15 August 1862.

Just over a month after enlisting, on 17 September 1862, he was wounded by a gunshot to his left shoulder in action at Antietam which shattered the head of his humerus (upper arm) bone.

He was admitted to US Army General Hospital #6 in Frederick, MD on 29 September 1862 and Surgeon J.B. Lewis removed the head of his humerus on 1 October, finding the bullet embedded in it. He transferred to USA GH #1 in Frederick on 9 February 1863 and was discharged for wounds on 4 March 1863.

By 1870 and to at least 1880 he was farming his own place back in Cheektowaga, NY. In September 1873 a pension examiner noted that his "limb hangs dangling and useless." He'd retired in Cheektowaga by 1900 and was living in Buffalo in 1910.

His service basics from the State of New York.1 and his Muster Roll Abstract, online from fold3. Wound and hospital details from the Patient List 2 and the MSHWR.3 Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860-1910, and his Pension Card, online from fold3. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Rosa Young (1840-1897) in May 1863 and they had 3 children, at least one adopted. He married again, Bertha A. Louise Knack (1855-1940) in February 1900.

03/12/1842; Buffalo, NY

10/31/1918; Buffalo, NY; burial in United German and French Cemetery, Cheektowaga, NY