Menu

Obituary for Lewis Bloch

Lewis Bloch, of Kutztown, who was one of the surviving braves of the Battle of Gettysburg dropped dead at 3 p. m. on Friday of last week, while working on the excavations for the new residence for John Barto on Whiteoak st., opposite the public school building. He brought his age to 70 years, 2 months and 21days.Deputy coroner, Dr. W. H. Saul pronounced death due to apoplexy.

Besides his widow (nee Mary Angstadt) he is survived by the following children and brothers and sisters, Henry, Kate, wife of Thomas McCarn, Philadelphia, Elwood, Luther and Laura, wife of Wilson Brown all of this Borough, Lizzie, wife of Paul Meyers of Philadelphia is a step-daughter. The brothers and sisters are Isaac, Kutztown, Elijah, Walnuttown, Jacob, Allentown, William, Herford, Tillie, wife of Jeremiah Reiter, Reading, Mrs. Samuel Kline, Fleetwood. Six grandchildren survive.

Decease fought in the fiercest battle of modern times - the struggle at Gettysburg. He was a member of Company K, 151st Regiment, Pa. Volunteers, of which J. W. Weida who still resides near Shamrock Station was Captain. The members of the company were principally from enlisted from Longswamp and adjoining townships.
Mr.Bloch also fought in the famous seven day Battle of the Wilderness. From there he and his comrades marched double quick over pontoon bridges to Fredericksburg where another conflict took place, lasting one day.
The next course headed them towards Gettysburg, where the strife was settled by a battle from July 1 to July 4, 1863. The 151st Regiment was composed of the bravest men that ever participated in a battle in ancient or modern times. It should be stated that there were 466 non-commissioned officers and privates and 21 commissioned officers. Of this number the regiment lost 296 non-commissioned officers and privates, or nearly sixty-four percent, and fourteen commissioned officers, or sixty-six and two thirds percent. This loss in so short a time is perhaps without parallel during the war.

The occasion of it was when the regiment, which was held in reserve until near the close of the first days fight, was thrown forward to hold the enemy in check until the artillery and troops on the right and center of the first corps could be withdrawn. Men never fought more desperately, exhibited more coolness, or contested the field with more determined courage. In short, the Berks county soldiers were the bravest of the brave at Gettysburg.
Mr Bloch was wounded within twenty five yards of where General Reynolds fell. The bullet entered at the right side back of the kidneys passing diagonally through the abdomen and emerging below and in front of the left kidney. In its course it perforated the peritoneum and the bowels, inflicting a serious and off times fatal wound. On hands and feet, he crawled behind a pile of rails.
In this wounded, hungry and thirsty condition, he lay on his back four days in the scorching sun. A Rebel private took mercy on him in his sufferings, serving him with seven canteens of water. This he drank in side of two hours or as fast as his Confederate friend could bring it. Latter, his new friend proposed to exchange canteens, this Favor Mr. Bloch stoutly refused, because he still had ill feelings towards these people from the South. On July 4, about 1 o’clock he was taken from his tiring position to the Catholic Church in Gettysburg, where his wound was dressed and his wants supplied.
Sometime before Mr. Bloch’s death, he informed us that while being confined in this church, he saw two horse wagons and two horse carts haul muskets for half a day. All were loaded, with bayonets standing erect.

He was a life long member of the Lutheran denomination. His funeral was held on Thursday forenoon at 9:30 o’clock. Rev. J. J. Cressman, Lutheran pastor of St. John’s Church and Rev R. H. Leinbach, Reformed pastor of the same church, officiated. Interment was made in the Hope cemetery.