Birth year calculated from estimated age at military enlistment.
George J. Reader was born about 1827. During the American Civil War, after Massachusetts Governor Andrew received federal authorization to raise a regiment entirely of enlisted men of color, he enlisted on 3 April 1863 with Company E of the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He succumbed to lung fever at the Readville, Massachusetts training camp only a few weeks later, prior to the regiment's departure to the South.
He was buried in Dedham, Massachusetts. Private Theodore Disbrow, who also passed away at the Readville training camp and was buried in Dedham nine days prior, is buried in Old Village Cemetery in Dedham. It is likely Private Reader is also buried there.
"There were a few deaths and a moderate amount of sickness while at Readville, mainly from pneumonia and bronchitis, as the men were first exposed in the trying months of February and March." - Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. A Brave Black Regiment: History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. p.23
Ongoing collaborative research on Private Reader can be found at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reader-602
To read more about the 54th Massachusetts:
Now or Never! by Ray Anthony Shepard
George J. Reader was born about 1827. During the American Civil War, after Massachusetts Governor Andrew received federal authorization to raise a regiment entirely of enlisted men of color, he enlisted on 3 April 1863 with Company E of the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He succumbed to lung fever at the Readville, Massachusetts training camp only a few weeks later, prior to the regiment's departure to the South.
He was buried in Dedham, Massachusetts. Private Theodore Disbrow, who also passed away at the Readville training camp and was buried in Dedham nine days prior, is buried in Old Village Cemetery in Dedham. It is likely Private Reader is also buried there.
"There were a few deaths and a moderate amount of sickness while at Readville, mainly from pneumonia and bronchitis, as the men were first exposed in the trying months of February and March." - Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. A Brave Black Regiment: History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. p.23
Ongoing collaborative research on Private Reader can be found at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reader-602
To read more about the 54th Massachusetts:
Now or Never! by Ray Anthony Shepard
Birth year calculated from estimated age at military enlistment.
George J. Reader was born about 1827. During the American Civil War, after Massachusetts Governor Andrew received federal authorization to raise a regiment entirely of enlisted men of color, he enlisted on 3 April 1863 with Company E of the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He succumbed to lung fever at the Readville, Massachusetts training camp only a few weeks later, prior to the regiment's departure to the South.
He was buried in Dedham, Massachusetts. Private Theodore Disbrow, who also passed away at the Readville training camp and was buried in Dedham nine days prior, is buried in Old Village Cemetery in Dedham. It is likely Private Reader is also buried there.
"There were a few deaths and a moderate amount of sickness while at Readville, mainly from pneumonia and bronchitis, as the men were first exposed in the trying months of February and March." - Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. A Brave Black Regiment: History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. p.23
Ongoing collaborative research on Private Reader can be found at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reader-602
To read more about the 54th Massachusetts:
Now or Never! by Ray Anthony Shepard
George J. Reader was born about 1827. During the American Civil War, after Massachusetts Governor Andrew received federal authorization to raise a regiment entirely of enlisted men of color, he enlisted on 3 April 1863 with Company E of the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He succumbed to lung fever at the Readville, Massachusetts training camp only a few weeks later, prior to the regiment's departure to the South.
He was buried in Dedham, Massachusetts. Private Theodore Disbrow, who also passed away at the Readville training camp and was buried in Dedham nine days prior, is buried in Old Village Cemetery in Dedham. It is likely Private Reader is also buried there.
"There were a few deaths and a moderate amount of sickness while at Readville, mainly from pneumonia and bronchitis, as the men were first exposed in the trying months of February and March." - Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. A Brave Black Regiment: History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865. p.23
Ongoing collaborative research on Private Reader can be found at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Reader-602
To read more about the 54th Massachusetts:
Now or Never! by Ray Anthony Shepard
Gravesite Details
Private Theodore Disbrow, also of Company E of the 54th MA, who also passed away at Readville and was buried in Dedham the same month, is buried in Old Village Cemetery in Dedham. It is likely Private Reader is also buried there.
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