Nicholas Sotter (Satter, Sotter’s)
Co. G, 74th P.V.I.
He was born on January 17, 1840 in Allegany County, Pennsylvania.
He was employed as a carpenter prior to enlisting for three years on September
10, 1861 after the disastrous Battle of Bull Run. His enlistment papers
describe him as twenty-one years of age, five foot / ten inches tall, with a
light complexion, gray eyes and black hair. He initially enlisted with Company
G, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was moved via Philadelphia to
Washington, D.C. where he mustered in as a private in Company G, 74th
Pennsylvania Infantry and, was attached to Blenker’s Brigade, Division of the
Potomac. He trained and assumed duty in the Washington defenses. In March, 1862
he was attached to Bohlen’s 3rd
Brigade, Blenker’s Division, 2nd Army of the Potomac. In
April, he was attached to the Department of the Mountains and traveled to
Petersburg, W. VA., Shenandoah Operations
He served with Freemont, the “Pathfinder”, in the early battles
in West Virginia and at Cross Keys during Jackson’s Valley Campaign. In June,
he joined the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st
Army Corps, Army of Virginia. In this capacity, he served with Pope in his
northern Virginia operations at Freeman’s Ford and Hazel Run. After arriving
too late for the action at Groveton, he participated in the attack on the rebel
left under Jackson while under the command of Schurz. He participated in the disastrous attack on
the infamous railroad cut where Union forces were repulsed with heavy
casualties. After the loss at Bull Run, he retreated to Centerville under Pope.
He was promoted to Corporal in September of that year as part of the 11th
Corps reorganization. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd
Division and served in the Washington defenses until November when they moved
to the Fredericksburg area via Centerville. He participated in the infamous
January 1863 “Mud March” and camped just east of Stafford Court House where
they spent a very difficult winter.
General Howard assumed command of the 11th Corps
after a series of command changes and began the flanking maneuver to
Chancellorsville via Kelly’s Ford. Jackson’s counter flank maneuver hit the 74th
late in the evening of May 2nd
and struck the 74th on three sides. The regiment made an excellent
stand under the conditions and enabled portions of the 11th Corps to
redeploy in a north-south line at the Wilderness Church. On May 3rd,
the 74th was placed in reserve at the rear. On May 3rd,
he was promoted to sergeant due to his prior performance.
In July, he joined with the rest of 11th Corps in
meeting Lee’s forces north of Gettysburg where they had only enough strength to
form a skirmish line, which held until overwhelmed on three sides. He withdrew
with the regiment to Cemetery Ridge where they underwent a night attack by
Early’s Division.
He joined the badly depleted regiment in the move to the
Charleston, South Carolina area as part of the 1st Brigade, Gordon’s
Division, 10th Corps, Department of the South. He participated in
the attacks on Secessionville and Wagner.
In August, 1864, he was assigned to the 2nd Brigade,
Derussy’s Division, 22 Corps, Department of Washington where he served in Forts
Ethan Allen and Marcy.
He mustered out on September 29th at Harpers Ferry as
a sergeant and returned to the Pittsburgh area. His records indicate that he
was not wounded during his service. After the war, he married Catherine Good
and fathered seven children. He died on December 4, 1917 in the Pittsburgh
area.
After the war, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Potomac.
One of his favorite stories involved the long distances that they marched and
how they did so both day and night. To acquire the necessary sleep, they
marched three abreast. The one in the middle slept and marched while those on
either side provided the necessary guidance and stride.
Biography by Bert
Sobers