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131st Pennsylvania Infantry id'd cdv of Captain David Bly. Signed boldly on the front, wear as shown, no photographer's b/m.

$150.00 plus shipping

Captain David Bly was born December 28, 1839 in White Deer, the son of John and Lydia Rhoades Bly. In 1855 he was hired by Ario Pardee. He continued there until the start of the Civil War. David enlisted in Company G, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three months service. In May, 1862, he received a commission from Gov. Curtin as secon lieutenant and recruiting officer. He began rounding up volunteers in Northumberland and Union counties. On August 7, 1862, 131 men met at Watsontown and marched 75 miles to Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. There he was mustered in as captain Company B, 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers for a term of nine months. The regiment went to D.C., then Sharpsburg. From there they were sent to Falmouth and fought at Fredericksburg in December 1862. John Conley, Jacob Truckenmiller and James Durham all lost their lives. Their last battle was at Chancellorsville in 1863. The 131st was mustered out of service May 23, 1863. After the war David became involved in the railroad, mining and petroleum production. He owned and operated the White Deer flour mills until the property was sold to the White Deer Water company in 1900. David married Vinnie Crain, and they had two children. Beulah who died at the age of 17, and Bessie, who married Harry Forrest Clapp. David Bly died at Williamsport October 8, 1901.