Jacob Miles Foreman was the 2nd Great Grandfather of Gary L Close
Jacob “Miles” Foreman was born June 19, 1836 in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was probably the 2nd child and 1st son born to Jacob K. and Catharine Foreman. As of the 1850 Federal Census, the elder Jacob was a Teamster at Paint, Clarion County.
The Register of Pennsylvania Soldiers shows that the younger Jacob enrolled for service on April 25, 1861, aged 25, at Clarion County. He enlisted as a Private with Co E of the 10th PA Reserves (also known as the 39th Vol Infantry) on July 21st, 1861 at Harrisburg, PA. Jacob remained with the 10th Reserves for the duration of their service which terminated in June, 1864. They were mustered out at Pittsburgh. (Many of the veterans signed on with the newly created 190th and 191st Infantry Regiments. There is no indication that Jacob chose that option.)
The 10th PA Vol Reserves was in camp through the winter of 1863 and 1864 near Brandy Station, Virginia. At midnight May 4th, they and the entire 5th Corps began a march to a crossing of the Rapidan River and an encampment that night in the Wilderness near the Lacy house. At that time the 10th PA Reserves was assigned to the 3rd Brigade (Col Joseph W. Fisher commanding), 3rd Division (BG Samuel W. Crawford commanding, of the 5th Corps (Major General Gouverneur. K. Warren commanding).
On the morning of May 5, the 3rd Division was ordered to march along the cart path that has become known as the Parker Store Road. The 10th Reserves reached the Chewning heights later that day, where they met elements of A P Hill’s 3rd Confederate Corps. After initial contact with Hill’s units at Chewning Heights, the 10th was moved back to consolidate the left flank of the Union line to the southeast of the Lacy House. Later, the 10th was moved to stand picket before the Union lines to the west of the Lacy House. A Regimental history of Co E shows that only one member was killed during action the two days of May 5 and 6, 1864.
Family records show that Jacob suffered serious diarrhea issues beginning at Richmond in June, 1862. He also pulled his back badly at White Oak Swamp, VA, that same month. The latter injury bothered him for the rest of his life. After the war, he returned to Venango County where he worked on various oil wells. Jacob filed a disability petition in 1888, wherein he named Sarah as his beneficiary.
Jacob married Sarah E. Manross on January 1, 1866 in Oil City, Pennsylvania. Together, they had 6 children. He died May 6, 1897 at Brandon/Oil City in Venango County, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Death Index records say that he died of paralysis. The find-a-grave record says he was buried on May 8th, 1897 in the Brandon Cemetery.