(Editor's Note: This is the first of two parts on individuals buried at the historic GAR Cemetery in Summit Hill)

The Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Summit Hill was established by a land grant from the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company about 1854. The cemetery itself was incorporated in 1879 and came under the direction and control of Conner Post 177, Grand Army of the Republic, in the late 1880s. At some point in time a section of the land was deemed "Soldiers' Square" and eventually became the final resting place for 76 known Civil War Veterans.Every grave contains a life story. By using public records and information supplied by descendants, it is possible to piece together the story of those in final repose. Ten of those stories are found below.Charles HenryNeumillerCHARLES HENRY NEUMILLER (Neumiller) was born to Henry Peter and Louisa Neumiller, both of Bavarian birth, on January 30, 1843. At the age of 18, and then working as a laborer, Charles mustered into the 11th Regiment, Pa. Volunteer Infantry, Company H, as a private on November 8, 1861. The 11th Regiment was assigned to provost and guard duty at Annapolis, Maryland, until April of 1862.Young Charles was present during Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, the Maryland Campaign, the Battle of South Mountain, and Antietam America's bloodiest day. It was at Antietam on September 17, 1862, that Charles was acutely wounded in his right shoulder and removed to the Camp Curtin Hospital, Harrisburg, Pa., for treatment. He lingered and died of those wounds on October 13, 1862, about three months shy of his 20th birthday.Historical records show that Henry Peter Neumiller, the father of Charles, worked as a carpenter in 1860; however, tax records and others show that the elder Neumiller was a practicing physician by 1866.Could his son's suffering and death have prompted that change? There is no record of the Neumillers applying for a military pension due them for their son's sacrifice nor was there an application for a government sponsored grave marker. Today, however, and because of a Veterans' Affairs Cemetery Administration Program, Charles is now memorialized with a proper military marker.John C. KochJOHN C. KOCH was born on September 22, 1832. He mustered into the 11th Regiment, Pa. Volunteer Infantry, Company H, as a private on November 15, 1861. John was described in his military record as being 5-feet tall, having brown hair, brown eyes, and a fair complexion; he worked as a miner at the time of his enrollment.John was shot in the neck at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863; he recovered from his wound and reenlisted on March 6, 1864, making him a Veteran Soldier. John was discharged by General Order on June 13, 1865. He married Elizabeth Unknown and was living in Tamaqua, in 1890. John died on May 17, 1898.The 11th Regiment, nicknamed "The Bloody Eleventh" had the distinction of being the oldest unit in continuous service from Pennsylvania. Of the 1,890 men who served in the 11th Regiment during the Civil War, only 340 men were discharged at the war's end.A casualty of the 11th was their beloved mascot "Sallie", a brindle bull terrier that a stranger presented to the unit while training in 1861. She went everywhere with the unit, even to an 1863 review of the troops in Washington where she caught the attention of President Lincoln who, upon seeing her, smiled and raised his top hat in salute.Sallie's loyalty was proved at Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, the first of a three day battle, she refused to leave the dead and dying from the 11th she lay on that field with her comrades-in-arms until found on July 4 and near death herself. The gallant pup was nursed back to health and continued to follow the 11th into each battle, racing around the front of the line and barking fiercely at the enemy.Sallie received a neck wound in May 1864 at Spotsylvania and was mortally wounded at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, in February 1865. The men in the second wave at that battle, still under fierce fire, found her body and sorrowfully buried her where she fell.Sallie would never be forgotten by her men. In 1890, when the remnant of The Bloody Eleventh returned to Gettysburg to dedicate their monument on Oak Ridge, they all remembered and patted the bronze image of Sallie that was demandingly placed at the foot of the monument by the regimental designers as her forever tribute.Silas HoffmanSILAS HOFFMAN was born in Berks County in 1819. He was almost 44 years old when he mustered into service as a private with the 48th Regiment, Pa. Volunteer Infantry, Company A, on February 29, 1864. Silas was described as being 5' 5_" tall, having, brown hair, blue eyes, a light complexion, and worked as a laborer at the time of enlistment.He mustered out with his Company on July 17, 1865. The public record is sketchy regarding Silas' life after the War, but we do know he married Rebecca Mertz and fathered thirteen children. He lived in Coaldale from 1870 through 1890 and worked as a laborer. Silas died in 1895.John B. WatkinsJOHN B. WATKINS was born in Wales in 1841 to William and Mary Watkins. The family arrived in New York aboard the ship Shannon on June 2, 1849.The family was living in Banks Township in 1850 and in Bloom Township (Post Office: Bloomsburg), Columbia County, in 1860 where John worked as a miner. He mustered into the 48th Regiment, Pa. Volunteer Infantry, Company B, as a private on September 19, 1861.John was described as being 5' feet, 4 inches tall, having a light complexion, dark hair, gray eyes, working as a miner, and residing in Ashland, Schuylkill County. He re-enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, at an unknown date, thus becoming a veteran soldier. John eventually rose to become 1st Sergeant of his Company and was severely wounded in the right thigh during the last battle fought by the 48th, The Capture of Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865.He was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant on May 22, 1865, and mustered out with his company on July 17, 1865.John married Elizabeth Lewis in 1866 and fathered eight children. The young family was living in District 144 (Summit Hill), Mauch Chunk Township, in 1870 where John worked as a coal miner, had real estate valued at $300, and had a personal estate valued at $5,000. He was living at 29 Walnut Street, Ashland in 1880, worked as a miner, and was listed as maimed. John is found in the 1890 Veterans' Schedule for Ashland; the notation "gunshot wound right this (sic)" was recorded.He was living on Ridge Street, Lansford, in 1900, worked as a miner, and was listed as a naturalized citizen. His wife died in 1909. John was retired and living with his son and daughter on Abbot Street, Lansford, in 1910. He died in 1924.The 48th Pennsylvania was made famous by its role in the Battle of the Crater, which took place on July 30, 1864.The 48th was comprised of many Pa. coal miners who undertook the task of digging a tunnel under rebel entrenchments in front of Petersburg, Va. The approach shaft was 511 feet long and about 50 feet below the enemy position. Four tons of black powder was packed below the Rebels at a depth of about 20 feet. At 4:44 a.m., the charges exploded in a massive shower of earth, men, and guns.A crater (still visible today) was created that measured about 170 feet long, 60 to 80 feet wide and 30 feet deep. When the Union army advanced, many thought the crater would make an excellent rifle pit … so they moved down into the crater. The Rebels responded by surrounding the crater with infantry and cannons; the result was "shooting fish in a barrel."Along the flanks of the crater, hand-to-hand fighting between other Union forces and Confederates commenced for several hours. The Rebels finally charged and drove back the Yankees. The plan was a failure and cost Union casualties of 504 killed, 1,881 wounded, 1,413 missing or captured. Confederate losses were 361 killed, 727 wounded, and 403 missing or captured.The movie "Cold Mountain" portrayed this battle in the opening scene.(Next Saturday: More stories of individuals buried in the GAR Cemetery, Summit Hill)