The Spur Question

[Steve]

For those that are interested, Samuel Ream's military service:

1st enlistment - 24 July 1863 for 6 months in 21st PA Cavalry/182nd Volunteers briefly in Co A before transferring to Co. C. According to the unit history, Co. C had duty in Pottsville PA and Scranton PA during the time period of Ream's enlistment. Discharged 20 Feb. 1864

2nd enlistment - 07 Mar. 1864 in Battery C of Thompson's Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery. Ream joined the unit after it's last battle at Morton's Ford, VA on 06-07 Feb. 1864. For the remainder of the war and during Ream's enlistment, the Battery was one of the defensive units around Washington DC. Reams service record hasn't been uploaded to Fold3 yet, so I don't know if he was temporarily attached to any other units during this time. Promoted to Corporal on 09 June 1865. Mustered out on 30 June 1865. Most of the battles Ream claimed to take part in match the battle history of Battery C before Ream joined the unit according to this unit history:

http://thompsonsbatteryc.org/history-of-...e-battery/

I found an earlier version of Ream's story in the 1889 Kansas State Senate directory, along with the claim that he had been wounded at Gettysburg:

https://books.google.com/books?id=3rnUXb...&q&f=false

I also found these articles mentioning Ream's being charged with stealing two kegs of whiskey from a railroad depot:

   
Topeka Weekly Capital, 05 April 1898 pg. 3

and his acquittal:

   
Lawrence Daily Journal, 19 Jan. 1899 pg. 1

If you look at the photograph in the Naval Academy display, the other man is identified as Daniel Snyder. Snyder was a member of Ream's first company, C co. 21st PA Cav, so that would date the photo from July 1863 - Jan. 1864.