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Solomon John Dinger
1844 - 1916 (71 years)
Has 27 ancestors and 17 descendants in this family tree.
1847 - 1918 (71 years)-
Name Solomon John Dinger Birth 10 May 1844 Pennsylvania 
Gender Male Military 18 Oct 1861 Pennsylvania American Civil War Regiments American Civil War Regiments
Regiment: 78th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania
Date of Organization: 18 Oct 1861
Muster Date: 11 Sep 1865
Regiment State: Pennsylvania
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 78th
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 2
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 3
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 68
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 194
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers
Regimental History
PENNSLYANIA
78TH INFANTRY
(Three Years)
Seventy-eighth Infantry.-Cols., William Sirwell, Augustus
B. Bonnaffon; Lieut.-Cols., Archibald Blakeley, A. B.
Bonnaffon, Henry W. Torbett; Majs., A. B. Bonnaffon, James N.
Hosey, Robert M. Smith. The 78th regiment was recruited in
the late summer and early fall of 1861, and was mustered into
the U.S. service from the middle of September to the middle of
October at Camp Orr on the Allegheny river, for three years.
Cos. B, F, G, I and K were raised in Armstrong county, C and E
in Clarion, A in Indiana, D in Indiana and Cambria, and H in
Butler. On Oct. 18, 1861, it left the state and proceeded by
transport to Louisville, Ky., and thence by rail to Nolin
creek, where it was assigned to Gen. McCook's division, Army
of the Ohio, and was brigaded with the 78th Pa., 1st Wis., and
38th Ind., commanded by Brig.-Gen. James S. Negley. In
December it moved with the brigade to Munfordville, Ky., and
in March, 1862, it arrived with the division at Camp Andy
Johnson, Nashville, Tenn. Throughout the remainder of the
spring and summer it performed guard duty on the railroad from
Nashville to Columbia, garrison duty at Pulaski and
Rogersville, guard duty on the railroad from Columbia to Elk
river, and was engaged in numerous skirmishes with the enemy's
cavalry. While Buell's army was marching north into Kentucky,
in the race with Gen. Bragg for Louisville, the 78th was
ordered into the defenses of Nashville, where the garrison was
often attacked. It was engaged at La Vergne, Neely's bend,
White creek, Charlottsville and Franklin Pike, remaining in
Nashville until Dec. 12, when it moved to Camp Hamilton, where
it was assigned to Miller's brigade, of Negley's eighth
division. It was heavily engaged at the sanguinary battle of
Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, where it behaved with great
gallantry, losing 190 men killed and wounded. In Jan., 1863,
the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Rosecrans, was divided
into three corps, the 14th, 2Oth and 21st, and the 78th was
assigned to the 3rd brigade (Col. Miller), 2nd division (Gen.
Negley), 14th corps (Gen. Thomas). It was engaged in provost
duty at Murfreesboro until April, and in June shared in
Rosecrans, campaign from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma. It then
encamped at Decherd until Aug. 15, when it moved with the army
in pursuit of Bragg. On Sept. 11, a part of the regiment was
engaged at Dug gap, Ga., the whole regiment shared in the
desperate fighting at Chickamauga and then retired with the
army to Chattanooga. While here it was assigned to the 3rd
brigade (Gen. Starkweather), 1st division (Gen. R. M.
Johnson), 14th corps (Gen. John M. Palmer). In the decisive
engagements at Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge, the 78th was engaged with small loss, and it
participated in a reconnoissance to the summit of Lookout
Mountain. In company with the 21st Wis., the regiment was
assigned to duty on Lookout mountain until May, 1864, when it
rejoined its brigade at Graysville and moved with Sherman's
army on the Atlanta campaign. It saw much hard fighting at
Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost gap, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope
Church and in the long struggle before Kennesaw mountain.
While in front of Kennesaw mountain it was ordered to
Chattanooga to guard wagon trains to the front and was thus
employed for three months, when it was ordered to report to
Gen. Rousseau at Nashville. It was active at Pulaski, Tenn.,
and a little later was mounted and moved with Rousseau against
the enemy's cavalry in Southern Tenn., returning to Nashville
on Oct. 17. Its term of service having expired, all the
original members, except the veterans and recruits, returned
to Pennsylvania and were mustered out at Kittanning, Nov. 4,
1864. The veterans and recruits remained at Nashville and in
March, 1865, the regiment was recruited to the minimum
strength by the assignment of eight new companies, commanded
by Col. Bonnaffon. The regiment as thus organized was finale
mustered out at Nashville on Sept. 11, 1865.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 1
Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Col. William Sirwell, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry,
commanding Third Brigade.
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., SECOND DIV., 14TH ARMY CORPS,
Chattanooga, September 27, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the proceedings of
the Third Brigade since leaving Cave Spring, Ala.:
At 6 p. m., September 1, we left our encampment at Cave Spring, crossing
the Tennessee River the same night, and bivouacked in the river bottom
about 3 miles above.
The next day we moved to Moore's Spring near Bridgeport. During the
whole of the 3d my brigade was engaged on the mountain side repairing the
road and helping the wagons and artillery up to the summit of the Raccoon
Mountain; this being safely accomplished, after incredible labor, we reached
Warren's Mill the same evening.
According to the wish of the general commanding, I organized a working
party from the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, who, under my direction, cut
down the saw-mill, which is in a deep valley or ravine, and succeeded in
changing it into a bridge, over which the
whole of Gen. Thomas' corps safely crossed with all its artillery and
transportation.
On the 4th we descended into Lookout Valley and bivouacked at Brown's
Spring. The next morning I took out the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania and
Twenty-first Ohio on a reconnaissance, leaving one regiment for the night
at Payne's Mill, the other at Cureton's Mill. Left on the morning of the 6th
and bivouacked at the crossing of Lookout Creek, leaving the Seventy-eighth
behind at Payne's Mill. The next day, the 7th, moved to the foot of Lookout
Mountain; my command was deployed in groups up the steep mountain side
to repair the road, and assist the artillery and wagons in the difficult and
tedious ascent. The whole of the 8th and forenoon of the 9th were consumed
in this laborious and toilsome duty. The men worked cheerfully, and with
such care that no accident of any kind occurred.
On the morning of the 9th saw all our transportation on the mountain and on
its way down into the famous Chattanooga Valley. The Seventy-eighth
Pennsylvania rejoined my command while descending the mountains.
On the 10th, according to orders previously received, my brigade had the
advance on our reconnaissance toward the Pigeon Mountain. Skirmishing
with the enemy began early in the day, but we moved slowly and steadily
onward, with no loss on our side, though the fire of the enemy was at times
very vindictive.
When I reached the mouth of the ravine that finally forms Dug Gap, I halted
my command and reported to the general commanding the presence of the
enemy strongly posted in our front. At night I threw out a strong line of
pickets with lookouts on the eminences, and had my men lie on their arms.
At 3 o'clock at night I silently and carefully withdrew my command one-half
mile to the rear, leaving the picket in its original line.
Early the next morning the fire of the rebel sharpshooters began on my right
and gradually swept round to my left until the whole of my pickets in front
and on either side were hotly engaged. In this fierce engagement my men
nobly stood their ground, and repelled their assailants at every point. I had
3 men killed and several severely wounded. It was evident that the enemy
were in great force and endeavoring to pass round on our left.
Being relieved by Gen. Starkweather's brigade, under the direction of the
general commanding, my brigade was withdrawn and again placed in
position at the cross-roads, near the general's headquarters, from which it
was again removed and placed in position near the Widow Davis'. During
this eventful day I cannot too highly recommend the behavior of the officers
and men under me, taking up new positions and abandoning others in the
face of an overwhelming enemy, and all done without the least confusion or
accident of any kind.
We reached the cove near Stevens' Gap late at night, where we remained,
changing our position once, until the morning of the 17th, when, according
to orders received from the general, my brigade was moved to Alley's
Spring, and the next day to Crawfish Spring. The same night, according to
orders received, I took the Seventy-eighth, Thirty-seventh Indiana, and
Twenty-first Ohio back about 2 miles and took a strong position near
Chickamauga Creek, in order to protect our right flank until Gen. McCook,
who was then on the march from Stevens' Gap, could join us.
Gen. McCook's corps passed us early in the morning of the 19th. Heavy
fighting to our front and left. About 2 p. m. we were ordered to the center
and took a position on the edge of a field near the springs. Received an
order from Gen. Negley to take two regiments to the woods in the bottom
at the foot of the hill. This was about sunset. We had some heavy fighting,
the rebels being in the woods and in a corn-field in front. I had 3 men
wounded and 2 killed in this engagement, which was short but fierce.
Placing two pieces of artillery in position, I had them throw canister into the
woods and across the field in my front, which effectually silenced the
enemy's fire, and during the balance of the night they were quiet.
The Thirty-seventh Indiana took up a supporting position in my rear. During
the night and on the morning of the 20th my men had thrown up
breastworks, which were really quite formidable and from which it would
have been no easy task to dislodge them. Receiving news early in the
morning from my adjutant that the rebels were massing a heavy force in my
front, I brought down a section of Marshall's battery, together with the
Seventy-fourth Ohio, and put it into excellent position. These arrangements
had hardly been completed when I was ordered away to the left of our
division to the support of Gen. Beatty, who had been for some time exposed
to a terrible fire from and overwhelming force of the enemy. As soon as we
were relieved we went at a double-quick, and at the distance of a mile,
according to the general's instructions, had my men deployed in an open
wood, so as to cover any flank attack from the left. In half an hour I
received orders to change position, moving my command by the right flank
some 400 yards. My line was now immediately in the rear of where the
fiercest of the fight was going on. Marshall's battery was posted on a hill
beside a log house used for a hospital, and in a few rounds completely
silenced a rebel battery that was beginning to prove very mischievous. While
in this position, which was a good one, with open fields in front, my men
rapidly threw up fine breastworks of logs and rails; but we had no chance
to try their defensive qualities, for the sharp, quick firing of skirmishers in
our rear made us face about and hasten up the hill immediately behind us.
Here I was solicited by Gen. Brannan to leave a regiment to support one of
his batteries. I detached the Twenty-first Ohio for that purpose, taking the
Seventy-fourth Ohio to another point to protect another battery. When I
returned I could not find my other two regiments where I had left them, but
soon ascertained that by order of Gen. Negley they had been taken to the
Rossville road to take up a new line and gather up all the stragglers. The
battery the Seventy-fourth Ohio was supporting having left, the regiment was
brought back and joined to the others on the Rossville road, and did good
service in assisting the general to reorganize and return into some kind of
shape the confused mass of troops who were rapidly streaming back from the
hard-fought battle-field. The Twenty-first Ohio faithfully remained at its post
the whole of that dreadful afternoon. The men fought as heroes; almost
unsupported and without hope they fought gallantly on; their ammunition
giving out, they gathered the cartridges of the dead and wounded, and then
finally, without a load in their guns, charged twice upon the rebel horde
which was howling furiously around them. Their loss is terrible, losing 272
men* out of a regiment of 500.
On the 21st my brigade was moved out on the Rossville and La Fayette road
about three-quarters of a mile. After remaining in position a short time, I
was ordered to move back and take position on the face of a high hill on the
left of the road, where we remained all day. At 12 o'clock at night,
according to previous arrangements, my command was withdrawn silently
from its position on the hill, leaving the Thirty-seventh Indiana, two
companies of the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, and two companies of the
Seventy-fourth Ohio on picket, to be withdrawn at daylight, and, along with
the pickets of other commands, to form a rear guard to our retreating
column.
Early at daybreak on the 22d we entered Chattanooga; since which time my
command has been kept constantly at work, night and day, on the
fortifications.
During all these long and fatiguing marches and the many skirmishes and the
heavy battles but just now over, no troops could have behaved better. I
cannot commend them too highly.
The officers and men of the Twenty-first Ohio deserve great praise for their
conduct upon this occasion. I respectfully mention, in terms of praise, the
names of Lieut.-Col. Stoughton and Maj. McMahan, who gallantly
fought and stood by their men until wounded and not able to do anything
more.
The officers and men of my brigade behaved bravely, without a single
exception. I cannot particularize the officers and men of my command who
deserve especial mention; if I did so, my report would be so voluminous that
it would scarcely be read.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM SIRWELL,
Col., Comdg. Third Brigade.
Maj. JAMES A. LOWRIE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Second Division.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 383-50 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII.
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]
Battles Fought
Fought on 16 Apr 1862 at Camp Rutherford, TN.
Fought on 15 Jul 1862 at Elkton, AL.
Fought on 1 Oct 1862.
Fought on 20 Oct 1862 at Hermitage Ford, TN.
Fought on 13 Nov 1862.
Fought on 30 Dec 1862 at Stones River, TN.
Fought on 31 Dec 1862 at Stones River, TN.
Fought on 1 Jan 1863 at Stones River, TN.
Fought on 2 Jan 1863 at Stones River, TN.
Fought on 8 Sep 1863 at Chattanooga, TN.
Fought on 11 Sep 1863 at McLamore's Cove, GA.
Fought on 20 Sep 1863 at Chickamauga, GA.
Fought on 23 Sep 1863.
Fought on 27 May 1864 at New Hope Church, GA.
Fought on 27 May 1864 at Dallas, GA.
Fought on 30 May 1864 at New Hope Church, GA.
Fought on 31 May 1864 at Dallas, GA.
Fought on 4 Jun 1864 at Acworth, GA.
Fought on 27 Jun 1864.
Fought on 14 Aug 1864 at Dallas, GA.
Fought on 28 Sep 1864.
Fought on 29 Sep 1864 at Nashville, TN.
Fought on 16 Feb 1865 at Spring Hill, TN.
Source Information:
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Regiments [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works. Copyright 1997-2000
Military 20 Sep 1862 Armstrong County, Pennsylvania American Civil War Soldiers American Civil War Soldiers
Name: John Dinger
Residence: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment Date: 20 Sep 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Pennsylvania
Birth Date: 10 May 1844
Service Record: Enlisted as a Sergeant on 20 September 1862 at the age of 18.
Enlisted in Company A, 78th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 20 Sep 1862.
Discharged from Company A, 78th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 19 Jun 1865 at Nashville, TN.
Sources: 18,128
Source Citation: Side served: Union; State served: Pennsylvania; Enlistment date: 20 Sep 1862..
Source Information:
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA form the following list of works.
Military 19 Jun 1865 Nashville, Tennessee Discharge from Union Army 
John Dinger - Union Army Discharge Paper Death 16 Feb 1916 Oakridge, Red Bank County, Pennsylvania Burial 
John Dinger - Headstone Patriarch & Matriarch 
Peter Dinger, b. Abt 1641, Evangelich, Wald Bei Solinger(Prussia) (4 x Great Grandfather) 
Anne Marie S. o. Holstein (2 x Great Grandmother)Person ID I8820 FeldmanTree Last Modified 6 Jul 2009
Father Solomon John Dinger, b. 30 Nov 1818, Pennsylvania d. Nov 1901 (Age 82 years) Mother Sarah Ann Baughman, b. 10 Jul 1819, Pennsylvania d. 20 Nov 1897 (Age 78 years) Marriage 20 Feb 1838 Family ID F25672 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Elizabeth Hendricks, b. 10 May 1847, Pennsylvania d. 30 Jul 1918, Pennsylvania (Age 71 years) Marriage 03 Jan 1867 Children + 1. John Clyde Dinger, b. 15 Apr 1878, Redbank, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania d. 16 Jun 1963, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (Age 85 years)▻ Gertrude Anna Densmore m. 6 Aug 1904Family ID F2749 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 11 Jun 2009
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Photos Solomon John Dinger 
Solomon John Dinger - Civil War
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