Bio: James M. Seitzinger, Schuylkill County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jay Zane
jrzane@bigfoot.com


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		JAMES M. SEITZINGER

	Nicholas Seitzinger was born in Reading in 1758 and he paarticipated in 
the American Revolutionary War.   One of his eight sons, Jacob 
Seitzinger, was born in 1791 and died in 1844.  He had participated in 
the War of 1812.  Jacob had married Elizabeth Moyer (Meier) in 
Friedensburg and they moved to Pottsville where he supposedly built the 
first brick house.

	On of his 10 children was Israel Seitzinger, born in 1820 (died in 
1894), who organized and became captain of Company E, 6th Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, also known as the Ashland Rifles, on April 1, 1861.  It was 
the first company that went from Ashland to Civil War service and saw 
only three months' service.

	Then in 1864, Israel Seitzinger and his son, James, enlisted in Company 
G, 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, took part in the battles of 
the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania and Petersburg and served 
until the close of the war.  Israel was mustered out in July 1865, and 
son, James, two months earlier.

	WOrd-of-mouth stories which have filtered down through the years say 
that Israel was a fierc "give-no-quarter" fighter and it would appear 
that his 17 year old son was no less aggressive.

	James M. Seitzinger was born on November 24, 1846 and he died January 
14, 1924.  He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on March 1,  
1906, for distinguished gallantry in action at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on 
June 3, 1864, while serving as a privte in Company G.

	The citation as reported by the Adjutant General's Office is: "When the 
color bearer was shot down, this soldier seized the colors and bore them 
gallantly in a charge against the enemy."

	Seitzinger genealogical records recount that at Cold Harbor 'he seized 
the colors from the hands of the Confederate soldier who had seized them 
when the flag bearer was shot down and for this heroism was later 
decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor."

	His captain, Frank R. Leib, in recommending the award, wrote: "In the 
charge on Cold Harbor on the morning of June 3, 1864, our color sergeant 
was shot down and through the midst of the shot and shell, James M. 
Seitzinger, then a private, grabbed the colors and waving it called to 
the regiment to follow...."If in your judgment you deem him worthy of a 
Medal of Honor, it would be well bestowed on a gallant soldier."

	Then little more than two months later - on August 25, 1864, he was 
twice wounded near Petersburg.