Joseph Lane

Joseph Lane served in the 22^nd U.S.C.T. with Company G. He was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, between 1844 and 1850, the second child of Samuel and Maria Lane.¹ According to his company muster rolls, he was a free man as of April 19, 1861.² He enlisted as a private on December 25, 1863, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and his military records describe him as eighteen years old upon enlistment, standing 5 feet and 9 ¼ inches, with dark eyes, hair, and complexion. He could not read or write. His occupation is listed as laborer or blacksmith.³ There are no medical records from his time in the military, however his company muster rolls from May 1865 forward record him absent due to confinement in Norfolk, Virginia, starting May 31, as ordered by a general court martial, and as owing the government $1.68.⁴ His company was mustered out on October 16, 1865, due to the end of the war, and Joseph Lane was discharged from his time in confinement on November 27, 1865, after serving a term of six months hard labor.⁵

Joseph Lane’s general court martial took place on May 31, 1865, on board the U.S. Steamer Western Metropolis, on the James River in Virginia, with Lieutenant-Colonel I.C. Terry, 22 U.S.C.T., president of the proceedings. Lane was charged with violations of both the seventh and nineth articles of war. He began a mutiny by trying to rescue a fellow enlisted man who was being held in custody by Cap. J. B. Read of the 19^th U.S.C.T., and the Provost Marshal of the 1^st Division, 25^th U.S.C.T. According to witnesses, he shouted things like “put him out”, and “don’t let him take that man off”. While Cap. J. B. Read and the Provost Marshal were attempting to arrest Lane for his mutinous conduct, he punched the captain, saying “let me alone”, and “damn you, let me go”, and refused to the guard room when ordered by his superiors. Lane plead not guilty to all charges, but was found guilty and sentenced to six months of hard labor in prison in Norfolk, Virginia, with a ball and chain, and the forfeit of all pay during that time.⁶ He was released on November 27, 1865, and transported back to Franklin, Pennsylvania.

After his release, he married his wife Anna (also called Arena), although her maiden name and the date of their marriage is unknown. He settled in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.⁷ By the time the 1880 Federal Census was taken, he was living in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, working as a laborer, with his wife Arena, and three children, Mary, Harriet, and Elenora.⁸ Joseph Lane died on June 29, 1895, and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, row A-1, grave 1.⁹

1. 1850 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane, 23A.
2. Joseph Lane, Company Muster Roll, Sept/Oct 1864.
3. Joseph Lane, Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Vols., Chambersburg, PA, Dec 31, 1863.
4. Joseph Lane, Company Muster Roll, May/June 1865; Company Muster Roll Jul/Aug 1865.
5. Joseph Lane, List of Discharges, Nov 27, 1865; Joseph Lane, Muster-Out Roll, Oct 16, 1865.
6. Joseph Lane, General Court-Martial Orders No. 45, May 31, 1865.
7. 1870 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane, 428A.
8. 1880 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane, 308D.
9. Private Joseph Lane, North Queen Street Cemetery Records.

Bibliography:

1880 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane. Ancestry.com. 308D. NARA: Washington, n.d. 1880 United States Federal Census - AncestryLibrary.com

1850 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane. Ancestry.com. 23A. NARA: Washington, n.d. 1850 United States Federal Census - AncestryLibrary.com

1870 United States Federal Census for Joseph Lane. Ancestry.com. 428A. NARA: Washington, n.d. 1870 United States Federal Census - AncestryLibrary.com

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, Company Muster Roll, Sept/Oct 1864.

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, Muster and Descriptive Roll of a Detachment of U.S. Vols. Forwarded, Chambersburg, PA, Dec 31, 1863.

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, Company Muster Roll, May/June 1865.

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, Company Muster Roll, Jul/Aug 1865.

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, List of Discharges furnished by C.M.O. of State, Nov 27, 1865.

Joseph Lane, Co. G, 22 Regiment, U.S.C.T, Co. Muster-Out Roll, Texas, Oct 16, 1865.

Joseph Lane, General Court-Martial Orders No. 45, Headquarters 1^st Div 25^th A.C., May 31, 1865.

Private Joseph Lane, North Queen Street Cemetery Records. Ancestry.com.