Temporary record

Charles E. Snyder was born in New York in 1836. At the age of 26 he enrolled at Rome, New York, to serve three years in the Union Army. The regiment in which Snyder was mustered was originally supposed to be an Infantry regiment. The authority for the creation of this regiment was given to Colonel C.B. Stuart on the 26th of July 1861 and was designated the 50th regiment Infantry on the 20th of September 1861. It was converted to the 50th regiment of Engineers on the 22nd of October 1861. On August 30, 1862, Charles Snyder was mustered in as Private, Company C, 50th regiment volunteer Engineers. He was promoted to corporal on March 16, 1864, then sergeant on October 1, 1864. This regiment was involved in numerous engagements in Virginia from 1862 until April 1865, including Fredericksburg, Va., in December 1862 and the Appomattox Campaign from late March to early May 1865. Charles Snyder was commissioned First Lieutenant on the 28th of February 1865 with rank from January 14, 1865, then mustered in as First Lieutenant March 14, 1865. He was mustered out with his Company at Fort Berry, Virginia, on the 13th of June 1865. After the war, Snyder married Hannah Wright.

The Charles E. Snyder Papers contain 195 items from June 7, 1857 to November 28, 1866. The collection consists of correspondence, photocopies of documents, and a single photograph. There are 182 letters centering around Charles E. Snyder, of which 67 were written by Charles Snyder, 77 by Hannah Wright, 10 from his sister 'Lizzie,' 8 from his brother Steve R. Snyder, and 20 letters from miscellaneous friends and family members. There are 6 newspapers clippings enclosed in pieces of the correspondence. The 12 photocopies include 10 muster in/out forms for Charles Snyder, 1 request for discharge from the service, and 1 incomplete discharge form. The photograph is a picture of Charles E. Snyder in uniform.

M-3087.1

Subjects

United States. Army--New York engineer regiment, 50th.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

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