Private Lewis R. Sherrod - An Unfortunate Fifer

Pre-War Life

Born in July 1840 in Erie County in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Lewis R. Sherrod was the son of Michael Sherrod (1802- 1857) and Fanny Morris Sherrod (1808-1898). Lewis R. Sherrod had five siblings: Cordelia Sherrod (1838-1908), Ruhamah Sherrod Goodell (1836-1915), Sylvester Sherrod (1833-1862), John Morris Sherrod (1829-1895), and Andrew E. Sherrod (1827-1891). He attended school, after he finished; Sherrod became a farmer[1].

Military Life

On August 20, 1862 at the age 22, Lewis Sherrod enlisted in the Union Army in Company D of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private. According to record, the middle initial of Lewis R. Sherrod’s name did not have a meaning. This was a common situation during the American Civil War. Due to many soldiers having the same names, middle initials were given out to help recognize and identify each soldier. Sylvester Sherrod, his brother, also enlisted in the Union Army in Company D of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private[2]. The 83rd Pennsylvania Regiment was a volunteer infantry for the Union army during the American Civil War. The 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment were involved in various military occupations within the Civil War. This Infantry Regiment fought and were engaged in the following battles: Yorktown, Seven Days Battles, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run Campaign, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Appomattox Campaign and the Battle of Five Forks[3]. In the battle of Gaines’ Mill, Virginia on June 27, 1862 Sylvester was wounded and taken prisoner. Months later on the morning of August 3rd of 1862, he died due to his battle wounds[[2]]("Pvt Sylvester Sherrod." Pvt Sylvester Sherrod (1833 - 1862) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 06, 2017. https:/findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5786683.). In the army, Lewis Sherrod’s official position was a fifer[[1]]("Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod." Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod (1840 - 1864) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 06, 2017. https:/findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5786680.). A fifer was a non-combatant military occupation of a foot soldier who originally played fife during combat. A fife is a small instrument with a high pitch sound, it is similar to a piccolo. In June 20, 1864, during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, Lewis R. Sherrod was on picket duty[4] and was shot by a Confederate sharpshooter. He died on the morning of June 21, 1864 due to his bullet wounds. He was first buried at City Point National Cemetery, Virginia but was soon relocated to his family’s cemetery, Sherrod Hill Cemetery, Pennsylvania[[1]]("Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod." Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod (1840 - 1864) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 06, 2017. https:/findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5786680.).

Sources

[1] "Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod." Pvt Lewis R. Sherrod (1840 - 1864) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 06, 2017. https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5786680.

[2] "Pvt Sylvester Sherrod." Pvt Sylvester Sherrod (1833 - 1862) - Find A Grave Memorial. Accessed June 06, 2017. https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5786683.

[3] "83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment." The Civil War in the East. Accessed June 06, 2017. http://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/pennsylvania/83rd-pennsylvania-infantry/.

Definition:

[4] Picket Duty: the activity of standing outside an establishment to make a protest, to dissuade or prevent employees or clients from entering

Lewis R Sherrod