Photograph of a reproduction of the 25th Virginia Infantry battle flag.
(Original flag located in the Museum of the Confederacy.)
Pvt Harrison Pitsenbarger was born 5/8/1833
and was the son of John and Rachel (Propst) Pitsenbarger. According
to the 1860 census, he was "26 years old, a laborer, with
residence in Doe Hill PO, Pendleton County, Virginia" (now
in West Virginia). He enlisted in Company E (Pendleton Rifles),
25th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. He
served in the early engagements of the regiment including "Rich
Mountain", "Greenbrier River", "Alleghany
Mountain" (where one of his two brothers, Abraham Pitsenbarger,
was Killed in action), and "McDowell". These are documented
in post war records, which show that he and his other brother
Benjamin were transferred to the Confederate "Niter"
Bureau. Employed as Assistant Superentendant, Kee Cave Niter Works,
Pendleton County, Virginia during the period from 1 January, 1863
to 30 April, 1863. Also, at the very beginning of the above time
period, he had worked as a laborer for 12 days at the Hiner Cave
Niter Works, probably located in Highland County, Va. These "niter"
works were nitrate suppliers for the black powder manufacturers
for the Confederate Army. Harrison and his brother were discharged
from Confederate service on the 31st of December, 1863. He was
a post war resident of Thorne, West Virginia. At age 46, according
to the 1880 census, he was a farmer and Sugar Gum distributor
back in his hometown of Pendleton, West Virginia. He was married
twice: (1) Mary Christina Propst, (2) Margaret Rexrode. He died
on 28 February, 1920 and is burried in St. John's Cemetery, Pendleton
County, West Virginia.
"Harrison Pitsenbarger, 25th Regiment" received the
Southern Cross of Honor on November, 1911. Southern Cross of Honor
book # 9, page 422, endorsed by Thomas H. Priest and J. G. Hahn;
given by a chapter at Elkins, West Virginia.
Harrison Pitsenbarger is an ancestor of John Pittsenbargar, Rebels
on the Rio Grande, Camp 1826, Las Cruces, NM.
To learn more of the history of the 25th Virginia Infantry --
click here.
Photograph of a reproduction of the 25th Virginia Infantry battle
flag.
(Original flag located in the Museum of the Confederacy.)
