Death Found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

 
Pvt. George Washington Sandoe was born in Pennsylvania on 4-Nov-1842. In 1850 the family was living on a small farm in Carroll County, Maryland. His father had died by the year 1859. The family had moved to Mount Joy, Adams County, Pennsylvania between 1850 and1860 when George is listed as attending school. George would fall in love with an older neighbor named Dianna during this time. George was 18 years old when the country went to war. Young George had managed to stay away from the conflict early on. He married Dianna Caskey on 19-Feb-1863 in Mount Joy, Pa. The couple would live there together as husband and wife for a few months and were expecting their first child. The War finally caught up with the 20 year old newlywed in June of 1863.

   George would for some reason decide to enlist in a local cavalry unit. Perhaps he enlisted thinking he would be conscripted into service anyways. He may have had dreams of the glamour and glory of war. Perhaps he enlisted to defend his home state that had now been invaded by Confederate troops. Regardless of the reason George enlisted in "B" Company, 21st Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary for 6 months service. He enlisted on 18-June-1863 and kissed his pregnant wife goodbye on 23-June-1863 as he was mustered into service. His military career would be short lived not even long enough to get his first pay.
   On his 3rd day of service Pvt. George W. Sandoe and Pvt. William Lightner were the advance scouts of their unit. The two were near the Baltimore Pike when they unknowingly rode into Confederate pickets of Colonel Elijah V. White's 35th Va. Cav. The young soldiers had not noticed the pickets due to bushes and undergrowth in the area. Confederate pickets ordered the surprised soldiers to "Halt"; they would turn their horses to jump a fence. Pvt. Lightner jumped and made his escape good to the Baltimore Pike. Pvt. Sandoe was not so fortunate, as he jumped the fence his horse fell. He managed to remount his horse when he was mortally wounded in the head as his horse raced on. Official records list his death as: "Killed at Gettysburg, 26-June-1863 by the Rebs, while in discharge of his duty."
      He has the distinction of being the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg. There is a monument in his honor. Nine days after his enlistment and just three short days of service Death found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe. He was survived by Dianna, his wife of 4 months and 7 days, their unborn son, his mother, 1 sister, 1 brother, family, and friends. May Pvt. George Washington Sandoe RIP!