Capt. Robert J. McNitt and Mary E. Thompson

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Husband Capt. Robert J. McNitt ¹

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           Born: 13 Apr 1833 - Armagh Twp, Mifflin Co, PA 1
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         Father: William McNitt (1806-1868) 1
         Mother: Nancy Naginey (1806-1882) 1

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       Marriage: 16 Dec 1868 2

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Wife Mary E. Thompson ²

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           Born: 31 Jul 1844 2
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         Father: Thomas Thompson (      -1843) 2
         Mother: Margaret O'Neil (Abt 1811-1879) 2

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Children

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1 M William J. McNitt ²

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2 M Harry Thompson McNitt ³

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3 F Mary Margaret McNitt ²

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General Notes: Husband - Capt. Robert J. McNitt

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He began business life with but a limited education. This was acquired in the common schools during the winter months, the time during the rest of the year being devoted to diligent labor on the home farm. He remained with his parents until the beginning of the Civil War. On April 1, 1861, he enlisted at Milroy, in Company C, First Pennsylvania cavalry, under Capt. John P. Taylor. They constituted the cavalry of McCall's division and were assigned to the Army of the Potomac, but later were transferred to Sheridan's Cavalry corps, in General Gregg's division. At Camp Pierrepont, Virginia, Mr. McNitt was promoted to the rank of first sergeant, then to second lieutenant, and on September 13, 1863, to that of first lieutenant. Finally, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Cedar Mountain, he was made captain, August 9, 1863. At Whitehouse, Virginia, June 21, 1864, Captain McNitt, with two officers and twenty-eight others of his regiment, was captured and confined in Libby Prison. For forty days they endured the horrors of that place, and were then sent to North Carolina, and thence to Columbia, South Carolina. Remaining there for only a short time, their next removal was to Macon, Georgia, and then to Savannah, whence they were shipped to Charleston, South Carolina. Captain McNitt, with about five hundred other Union prisoners, was confined in the central part of the city of Charleston, exposed to the shells and fire during the bombardment and burning of the city by the Union troops. This exposure lasted over thirty days, during which time many of the unfortunate prisoners were killed; and not until the naval ships and monitors of the Union forces retaliated by similarly exposing some Confederate prisoners, were the Northern prisoners removed from their perilous position. They were next sent to Columbia, South Carolina. It was during the dreary days of imprisonment here, that Captain McNitt, with two others, John R. Kelly, of Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and John Chittin, of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, made their escape, November 25, 1864. Although hotly pursued by the enemy and their blood hounds, they succeeeded in evading capture for seventeen days, but were finally retaken on the Savannah river, near Augusta, Georgia, and were held prisoners until March 12, 1865; then they were paroled at Wilmington, North Carolina. Captain McNitt was mustered out of service by an order of the Secretary of War, March 12, 1865. He was discharged at Annapolis, Maryland, and thence went to Washington, D. C., where he was staying at the time President Lincoln was assassinated; by this terrible event, his return home was for a short time delayed. He was a soldier true and tried, and the memory of his patriotism, bravery, and resolution will ever live in the minds of his comrades and friends. After his return home he remained with his parents on the old homestead until the death of his father, in 1868. He then succeeded to the place. He made many improvements, keeping everything in good order, and the land in a high state of cultivation, the result being that it became one of the best farms in the community. He was a life-long Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, serving as county commissioner for three years.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 663.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 664.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 644.