Knarr
‘The Susquehanna Union Volunteers’ details Civil War service of regional men
WAVERLY TWP. — The Lackawanna Historical Society and the Waverly Community House (Comm) will host a book signing for “The Susquehanna Union Volunteers” by James (Jay) Knarr, Ph.D., Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Waverly Community House, 1115 N. Abington Road.
The program begins at 6 p.m. with a lecture by the author about his work detailing the Civil War service of a Union Army company, primarily composed of men from Susquehanna County, though some had connections to Lackawanna County.
A few enlisted in Scranton, and at least two are buried in Lackawanna County, including Thomas W. Stone (1838- 1882). Stone was a Waverly Township native who joined Company H in May 1861 and died the following year during the Battle of Gaines’ Mill in Virginia. He is buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Waverly Township.
The Susquehanna Union Volunteers, or Company H of the 4th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, was the first company raised from Susquehanna County during the Civil War. It served with the vaunted Army of the Potomac and saw action at such notable battles as Gaines’ Mill, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.
The author will discuss the company’s history, and read pertinent selections from the book to provide a better understanding of the motivations and actions of the brave men who answered the nation’s call in 1861.
Knarr holds a Ph.D. in history from Texas Christian University (TCU). He works as a back-of-the-book indexer and academic translator in Weatherford, Texas, with his wife, daughter, and enough house pets to qualify his domicile as a zoo in most jurisdictions.
This program, co-sponsored by the Lackawanna Historical Society and the Waverly Community House, is free and open to the public. Copies of “The Susquehanna Union Volunteers” will be available for $40.
For information, contact the Society at 570-344-3841 or email lackawannahistory@gmail.com.
