The 111th traveled by rail from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg on January 27th, 1862. On the following day, arms and equipment arrived, and at the Capitol, Governor Curtain presented the troops with the State's colors and delivered an inspirational message. The Regiment was ordered to Baltimore for training. They arrived in Baltimore on March 1st and set up camp at present day Patterson Park, where a hospital and training grounds were situated.
In mid-May, the 111th was ordered to Harpers Ferry to support General Banks. They were involved in a skirmish with Confederate troops near Charles Town and drove them back beyond the town. They were absorbed into General Pope's Army of Virginia when it was organized in late June.
Much of the 111th fought in the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9th, including John Arrance. But about this time, Charles Arrance, like so many of his comrades, became ill and was moved to a military hospital in Alexandria. During the Civil War, soldiers stayed in camps for extended periods of time. Human waste seeping from latrines contaminated drinking water with microbes and bacteria to which soldiers living on isolated farms all their lives had developed no immunities. Disease ran rampant, and for every combat fatality, two more lives were lost to disease.
Charles Arrance died of typhoid fever on or about September 3rd of 1862. His was the 547th interment in what was simply called "Soldiers' Cemetery." Later it was renamed Alexandria National Cemetery.
I shared this story with my friend Michelle, the great great granddaughter of Charles Arrance. Michelle is interested in connecting with other Arrance descendants in hopes of learning more about this branch of her family tree.
Charles left behind a widow, Adeline Arrance (nee Perry and Binney). They had three children, Emily "Emma" Arrance, George Perry Arrance, and Adeline Arrance. Additionally, Charles had three sons from his first marriage to Amanda "Emily" Walker: Charles Wellington Arrance, George Washington Arrance, and Mortimer Wilson Arrance. The family lived in the areas of Cattaraugus County, New York and Erie and Warren County, Pennsylvania. Many of Charles Arrance's siblings and descendants moved to the areas of Saginaw, Midland, and Gladwin, Michigan beginning about 1850. Adeline and her three children from her marriage to Charles settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with her two daughters from her previous marriage, Anna Adelia Binney and Caroline Roselia Binney.
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