John B. Snyder

Age: 22

Allegiance: Union

Highest Rank: First Lieutenant

Unit: Company C, G & K 140th New York Volunteer Infantry

Occupation: Bookkeeper

John B. Snyder was born in Germany and came to the states with his parents when he was eight. John enlisted Aug. 20, 1862 at Rochester to serve for three years; at the time of his enlistment he was 22 years old, 5' 7" tall, and was described as having a "fair" complexion, with "gray" eyes and "fair" colored hair. He gave his birthplace as Germany, and his current occupation as bookkeeper. He was mustered in as first sergeant, Co. G, 140th NY volunteer infantry on Sept. 13, 1862.

Snyder was slightly wounded in the leg at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.

In the battle of the Wilderness, John was again wounded. This time he was also capured along with his brother Andrew who had been wounded as well. John's wound again was slight. Andrew's unfortunately was mortal. Those prisoners who were wounded were taken to a Confederate field hospital in Locust Grove, which was nearby. John escaped from Confederate hands. He detailed his escape in the following letter to the Rochester Democrat & American newspaper, and it was printed in its June 17, 1864 issue:

FROM SERGEANT SNYDER OF THE 140TH - HIS ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS - Orderly Sergeant Snyder, Co. G, 140th, writes us a long letter from Haddington Hospital, West Philadelphia. The date is June 13th, 1864. We make a few extracts: "I was reported killed, with a number of others, that fell wounded into the hands of the enemy. I received a severe flesh wound in the thigh, my brother a mortal one through the bowels and died by my side the next day. About five hundred, mostly severely wounded, were taken to the rebel rear, near Robertson's Tavern. For several days we had no shelter, but the shade of the woods, and our sufferings were severe. Surgeons Phillip of the 6th Connecticut, and Thompson of the 76th New York, came from our lines to take charge of us, under two rebel surgeons. Dr. Philip sent some of our men, who were able to walk, out to the battle-field to pick up pieces of shelter tents for the severest cases. Some of these were torn up for bandages and lint, as nothing else of the kind could be obtained - The only bandage which I could get I washed every day, when I was able, to prevent its poisoning of the wound as a great many lost their lives from this great evil. Our nourishment was scarce also. I will give the amount of rations which we drew on the 20th of May, when the rebels reported their communications with Richmond out. For our section of 264 men, we had 15 pounds flour, 12 pounds bacon, 16 pounds rice, 1/2 pound coffee, ditto sugar- 1/2 pound of meal and 1/4 pound of bacon to each man per day. Those that could walk five miles per day were sent to Orange Court House and thence to Lynchburg. They thought they would get more to eat and stand a better chance of being exchanged. I could not see it in that light. The 2d inst, a squad was sent off, and on the 3d they brought an ambulance train to take the next class - such as myself. When I saw them coming I made for the woods until they were gone."

"I went to Lieut. Pool and told him I must leave him, as I had but two ways to go - either south, or to our lines. I chose the latter. The Lieutenant was wounded slightly in the left breast. The ball had split, and one part, glancing, passed through the left arm, fracturing the bone so that amputation became necessary. I left him doing well on the 4th. The doctor thought his arm would be well in about a fortnight."

"At 3 am on the 4th, Corp. John Rodman, K, 146th N.Y., Peter Gerry, B, 1st NJ. and myself left the rebels. We crawled through thickets and the wilderness, until we reached the Rapidan. We crossed without any trouble. At the Rappahannock we had a narrow escape from drowning, but finally reached the shore in safety. We travelled by night until we reached our camp, the Henry House, near Falmouth. It looked much like home. We passed the rebels whom we met without molestation, and reached Acquia Creek in safety. - We did not succeed in hailing a vessel, and went to work in building a raft. Just as we were shoving off two rebels came in full haste, and applied for passage. Our raft was too light to accommodate them, but we stopped and helped them build one. We pointed for the Maryland shore, bidding adieu to "Old Virginia," but were not more rejoiced at our escape than the N.C. rebels were at theirs. We had made about a mile and a half on our raft when we were picked up by a gunboat and brought to Alexandria."

After recovering from his wound, John was promoted to Second Lieutenant and transferred to Company K of the 140th in December of 1864. He was promoted First Lieutenant and transferred to Company C of the 140th in March 1864. He' was mustered out with the rest of the regiment on June 3, 1865 near Alexandria, Va.

In 1867, John Snyder founded a stove business which was later reorganized as the John B. Snyder Electrical and Supply company. He married Louise C. Binder in 1868 and fathered six children. John died in 1901. He had been an active of the Masons, the Chamber of Commerce, the GAR and the English Lutheran Church.

Andrew Snyder

Age: 19

Allegiance: Union

Highest Rank: Private

Unit: Company G 140th New York Volunteer Infantry

Occupation: Farmer

Andrew Snyder enlisted Aug. 30, 1862 at Rochester to serve three years; at the time of his enlistment he was 19 years old, 5' 5" tall- and described as having a "fair" complexion, with "gray" eyes, and "lightcolored hair. He gave his birthplace as Germany, and his occupation at the time as farmer. He was mustered in as private, Company G, on Sept. 13, 1862.

Andrew was slightly wounded in the arm at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.

On the 5th of May, 1864 he was again wounded. This time in the abdomen. Left on the field he was captured with his brother John. Andrew died from his wounds the next day on May sixth.