| Notes |
- DIED - Maj. Frank Zentmyer, of Huntingdon, wounded and taken prisoner
by the rebels at the battle of Fredericksburg, died of his injuries, at
Richmond, on the 31st. ult.
Democratic Standard, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, January 28, 1863
1860 Franklin Township, Huntingdon County census -
John Zentmyer, 52
Margret Zentmyer, 50
David Zentmyer, 25
Franklin Zentmyer, 24
Priscilla Zentmyer, 22
Porter Zentmyer, 20
Miles Zentmyer, 18
Margret R. Zentmyer, 15
John Zentmyer, 12
Benjamine Zentmyer, 10
George Zentmyer, 8
William McDint, 21
Zentmyer, Frank, Company I, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry
(34th Volunteers); rank in, Captain; rank out, Major
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Soldiers Monument
In the old Methodist Cemetery, (also known as Burket Cemetery) near the village of Warrior's Mark, is a fine monument of bronze, which was dedicated on the Fourth of July 1878, "Sacred to the memory of our deceased comrades, by the returned soldiers of Warrior's Mark and Franklin Townships." Active in securing the requisite funds (about eight hundred dollars) were B. S. Haughawout, J. E. Hyskell, Capt. O. S. Rumberger, George Weston and George Wills. The monument which is about twelve feet high, rests on a base of stone several feet in thickness, and is surmounted by a figure of the Angel of Mercy. On the front of the upper die of the monument is a figure of Abraham Lincoln, which was modeled after one of the last photographs taken of him. Underneath are inscribed his immortal words, "With malice towards none, with charity for all." On the other side of the die are profiles of Union soldiers and a stack of arms. A metallic sub-base contains, besides the inscription of dedication, representation of the national colors and a mounted soldier. The lower die contains the names of the following:
Lt. David Zentmyer, Maj. Frank Zentmyer, among many other names.
Warrior's Mark Cemetery
Source: History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties Pennsylvania, 1883
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5th Pennsylvania Reserves/34th Pennsylvania Volunteers
Charles City Cross Roads
Retiring a short distance, the men slept on their arms for a few hours, when they where aroused and taken across the Chickahominy. Here the regiment lay under arms until the evening of the 28th of June, when it marched via Savage Station, and crossing the White Oak Swamp, arrived on the evening of the 29th at Charles City Cross Roads. The Fifth and a battalion of the Bucktails were thrown forward close up to the enemy's line. Lest in the darkness friend should be mistaken for foe, the men were directed to bare the right arm to the shoulder. The pass word was "Bucktail" and the answer "five.
On the following morning, the brigade was withdrawn, and dispositions were made for repelling an attack from the direction of Richmond, and to protect the junction of the New Market and the Quaker or Turkey Bridge road. By half-past three in the afternoon the battle had fairly began, the rebels attacking with great fury. Soon after the contest opened, the enemy moved a heavy column to the right and came down with great impetuosity upon Seymour's brigade. Colonel Simmons was immediately ordered to move with the Fifth and the Eighth regiments to its support, the Fifth gallantly led by Lieutenant Colonel Fisher. This order was promptly obeyed, the men moving forward at a double quick and charge bayonet, but not a moment too soon for a furious attack with infantry and artillery was met just in time to stay and repel it.
In this charge the Seventh and Seventeenth Virginia regiments were nearly annihilated, the greater portion being either killed wounded or taken prisoners. Shortly afterwards the enemy issued from the woods in front in great force, and for nearly two hours the battle raged fiercely, the enemy making desperate efforts to break our lines and gain the road, on which were passing the immense supply trains of our army; but without success.
In the heat of the struggle, Colonel Simmons, leading his men with determined bravery and unequalled skill, fell mortally wounded and died in the hands of the enemy. A soldier by profession and a man of the strictest honor, a patriot from principle and brave to a fault, the Reserve Corps lost no more trusted leader, nor loved companion in arms. Here fell, too, Captain Taggart, of Company B, an excellent soldier, whose loss was severely felt. In the three battles, at Mechanicsville on the 26th, Gaines' Mill on the 27th, and Charles City Cross Roads on the 30th of June, the regiment lost eighteen killed, one hundred and fifteen wounded, and one hundred and three taken prisoners.
Resting upon the field until two A. M. of the 1st of July, the regiment proceeded to Malvern Hill, where was fought the last grand battle before Richmond, in the Peninsula campaign. The Fifth was under fire, but not actively engaged, and on the morning of July 2d, moved with the army to Harrison's Landing, where it went into camp. The vacancy occasioned by the death of Colonel Simmons, was filled by the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Fishery Major George Dare was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Frank Zentmyer, Major.
Second Battle of Bull Run
General M'Clellan's Peninsula campaign was now at an end, and General Pope, in command of the Army of Northern Virginia, was beginning to feel the weight of the enemy's force concentrating on his fronts The troops under M'Clellan were accordingly ordered forward to his support. Pope finding the line of the Rapidan untenable with his meagre force, withdrew to the Rappahannock, where, upon his arrival, he was joined by Reynolds with the Reserve Corps. Finding Jackson in his rear, Pope hastened with his little army to meet, and if possible overpower him before he could be reinforced. The Reserves moved via Warrenton and Gainesville to the First Bull Run battleground, arriving on Thursday, the 28th.
On the following day, the Fifth was deployed as skirmishers and was under a heavy fire of artillery during the entire day. On Saturday, August 30th, it engaged the enemy at four o'clock P. M., and the fight was maintained until six with unabated fury, when it was relieved.
In this engagement the regiment, being reduced by excessive fatigue and heavy details, numbered but two hundred men. The loss was one killed and twelve wounded. During this campaign it was under the command of Major Zentmyer, Colonel Fisher being absent in consequence of a severe injury occasioned by the fall of his horse.
Battle of Antietam
On the night of the 14th, the men slept on their arms, on the rugged mountain crest. At early dawn of the 15th, finding that the enemy had fled, the regiment moved down the mountain, and passing Boonsboro, bivouacked for the night at Keedysville.
On the 16th, it crossed Antietam Creek, and moving to the right, engaged the enemy at four P. M., and was engaged at intervals during the night. The battle was renewed at daylight on the following morning, and raged with unabated fury on that part of the line where the Reserves were posted during the early part of the day, the Fifth not being relieved until one P. M.
Finding his army badly crippled and unable longer to offer successful resistance, Lee withdrew across the Potomac, and on the 19th, the Fifth marched to the river, near Sharpsburg, where it encamped. The loss of the Fifth in this battle was two killed and eight wounded.
After considerable delay, the army again advanced into Virginia, and by command of the President, General McClellan was relieved and General Burnside ordered to succeed him. The latter determined to move upon Richmond by way of Fredericksburg. On the 11th of December, General Franklin, who commanded the left grand division, to which the Reserves were attached, crossed the Rappahannock some distance below Fredericksburg and formed in line of battle facing the enemy's entrenched camp.
A few weeks previous, the Fifth Regiment had been transferred from the First to the Third Brigade, which now consisted of the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth regiments. The Reserves, commanded by General Meade, early on the morning of the 13th, moved forward and occupied the first line of battle, with Doubleday's Division upon the left flank and Gibbon's upon the right, as supports. The Third Brigade occupied the left of the line, with the Ninth Regiment deployed as skirmishers. The dispositions had scarcely been made, when the enemy opened from a battery posted on the Bowling Green road, to the left and rear of the line. The Third Brigade was immediately faced to the left, forming with the First nearly a right angle. Simpson's, Cooper's and Ransom's Batteries were soon brought into position, which together with the batteries of Doubleday silenced and compelled the withdrawal of the enemy's guns. During the progress of this artillery duel, a body of rebel sharp shooters advanced along the Bowling Green road, but were soon dispersed by the marksmen of the Third Brigade, sent to meet them. The line now advanced, the Fifth Regiment occupying a position upon the left, nearest to the enemy's breast works. The struggle became desperate, but the Reserves, unaided, advanced with determined bravery, sweeping everything before them until they had penetrated and completely broken his lines. In this advance, the Third Brigade encountered a destructive fire from a battery posted on the heights on its left. In the face of this deadly fire the troops boldly crossed the railroad and ascended the acclivity; but so terrible was the storm of battle from both infantry and artillery that they were compelled to withdraw.
Here General Jackson, who commanded the brigade, was killed, and was succeeded by Colonel Fisher, of the Fifth, Lieutenant Colonel Dare assuming command of the regiment. The loss of the Fifth in this engagement was twenty killed, eighty-eight wounded and sixty-one taken prisoners. Major Zentmyer and his brother, acting Adjutant, were among the killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Dare among the wounded.
Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.
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- While Frank died at the notorious Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, it is not known where his remains are buried. A Memorial Stone sits in the Zentmyer family plot in the Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and lists his date of death as 27 December.
"Maj. Frank Zentmyer, of Huntingdon, wounded and taken prisoner by the rebels at the battle of Fredericksburg, died of his injuries, at Richmond, on the 31st."
Democratic Standard, Hollidaysburg, Pa., Wednesday, January 28, 1863
"Maj. Frank Zentmyer.- The father of Major Zentmyer has received a letter from Richmond informing him of the death of his brave son. The Major lost a leg at Fredericksburg, was taken prisoner and sent to Richmond where he died on the 31st."
The Huntingdon Globe, January 21, 1863.
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1836 - 1862 (26 years)
