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Peter Martz

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Peter Martz

Birth	:	22 Jul 1829 Germany
Death	:	14 Nov 1909 Cresaptown, Allegany County, Maryland, USA
Burial	:	Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos, Allen County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.8300018, -84.2906036
Description	:	For anyone who is a descendant of Peter Martz this is a real story. Peter MARTZ (1829-1909) and the Twenty First Bridge in 1861 ACROSS THE DESK appeared in the Cumberland times in Cumberland,Maryland. ACROSS THE DESK By J. William Hunt 12/23/1956 Cumberlander was B&O Watchman at Twenty First Bridge when Confederates Burned it in 1861 ----- Small Guard of Cumberland Continentals Routed by Southern Raiders-----Citizens her thrown into panic. Peter Martz. Who had emigrated from Germany around 1850 and who married Alice Wigger in Cumberland in 1854, started working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. shortly afterwards. When the Civil War began he... Read More	For anyone who is a descendant of Peter Martz this is a real story. Peter MARTZ (1829-1909) and the Twenty First Bridge in 1861 ACROSS THE DESK appeared in the Cumberland times in Cumberland,Maryland. ACROSS THE DESK By J. William Hunt 12/23/1956 Cumberlander was B&O Watchman at Twenty First Bridge when Confederates Burned it in 1861 ----- Small Guard of Cumberland Continentals Routed by Southern Raiders-----Citizens her thrown into panic. Peter Martz. Who had emigrated from Germany around 1850 and who married Alice Wigger in Cumberland in 1854, started working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. shortly afterwards. When the Civil War began he was B&O watchman at Twenty First Bridge where the railroad crossed the Potomac between Cumberland and Keyser (then known as New Creek). After the Confederates; early in 1861, had destroyed bridges a North Branch and Patterson's Creek in this area (and others father east and west) a military company was recruited here under the impressive name of the Cumberland Continentals to guard the railroad and canal structures along the Potomac from Keyser to Hancock. Part of this company was stationed at Twenty First Bridge, the men living in railroad camp cars and eating meals prepared by Mrs. Martz. In addition to his guard duties for the B&O (now aided by the Union soldiers for Cumberland) Martz butchered and cured meat for the soldier mess and raised vegetables and grain, for all of witch he was paid by the government. Mrs. Frances McBee, Westernport, is the only one surviving of the Martz children. Mrs. Catherine Mckenzie, Wills Creek Avenue, Cumberland, A Granddaughter, remembers vividly the stories told by her grandfather of confederate depredations along the B&O , Particularly the burning of the Twenty First Bridge on the morning of June 19,1861. Within the past few weeks this writer has checked Union and Confederate records in Washington and has filled in details from such a variety of books as ;Loyat West Virginia;(Lang) ; Lowdermilk's â€œHistory of Cumberland; Story of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroadâ€ (Hungerford); History of West Virginiaâ€ (Callahan); Gray Ghosts and Rebel Raidersâ€ (Jones) and several other publications. The background material all confirms the story handed down from Peter Martz who was a civilian onlooker that June morning in 1861. Daylight came early and Martz was up with the first streaks of dawn. Days had been monotonous since the outbreak of war two months previously. Some of the Cumberland Continentals had passes to go home. Accounts vary as to number of Union soldiers at Twenty First Bridge when the Confederates suddenly appeared, But one reliable source put the figure at 28. "They came over the brow of Bullneck Hill on the Virginia side of the Potomac, Mr. Martz told his grandchildren years afterwards." There were no pickets posted but several of the Continentals spotted the strangers in the distance and firing started almost immediately. When one of our soldiers fell wounded not far from out house, I called Alice (his Wife) and told her it was time to clear out." As the shooting became general, Mrs. Martz took the two older children and hurried over to a neighborâ€™s home, Ravenscraft's, through the deep cut and out of the line of fire, Mr. Martz took the baby (Mrs. McKenzie's Mother) and crawled through a grain field out of the danger zone. Bullets whizzed overhead until they were out of sight of their house. The action Continued for some time until the Confederates were in control. They burned the bridge and the camp cars, tore up a half mile or more of the tracks in the Maryland side, and twisted rails around trees and fence post. It was night before the Martz family ventured to return home. They found the house a shambles, all their meat and other provisions gone, and the bridge, cars and crossties still burning. There wasn't a Union soldier in sight. Right then and there Martz decided to move. With his wife and three children he came to Cumberland next day and took up residence on the Winchester Road not far from Cresaptown. He resumed work for the B&O at Brady's station nearby. _______________________________ Now, let's examine some of the official reports of that episode at Twenty First Bridge. Reporting to Gen. J. E. Johnston, Confederate commander of the Army of the Shenandoah with headquarters at Winchester, Col. A.P. Hill commanding the 13th. Virginia Infantry Said: â€œYesterday I directed Col. J. C. Vaughn of the Third Tennessee (then at Romney) to take two companies from his own and two from the 13th. Virginia Regiment and to proceed to New Creek Depot, 18 miles west of Cumberland on the B&O , and to disperse the force there collected and burn the railroad bridges. These directions were carried out to the letter and the march of 36 miles accomplished between 8 PM. June 18 and noon the next day. Some 250 of the Federal troops retired in disorder with the list of several men. The Twenty First Bridge was burned and Col. Vaughn. Describing the action, Col. Vaughn reported: At 5a.m. June 19 I gave the order to charge the enemy. As we appeared and started firing the enemy broke and fled in all directions, firing as they ran. XXX From the best information their number was between 200 and 300. XXX I ordered the 21st. bridge to be fired, which was done, The enemy's flag was captured; also two artillery pieces and other articles of small value. XXX In order to reach the Maryland side the men waded the river under fire, sometimes up to their waists in water." _______________________________ When news reached Cumberland of the Confederate action 18 miles west of here, Consternation seized the populace. The first reports were that the entire Union force at Twenty First Bridge had been killed, wounded or captured, and that a large Southern army was advancing on this city. Capt. Horace Resley and a company of volunteers started for Twenty First Bridge to reconnoiter, while Col. Lew Wallace struck tents and sent baggage north towards Bedford while his Indiana troops took positions of defense along Bedford Road to stop any Confederate invasion north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The only casualty was Joseph Pomiser, a member of the Frostburg Volunteers, who was badly injured when his gun was accidentally discharged as the company marched towards Cumberland. Commanding the Cumberland Continentals (under Captain Resley) were Lieutenants James C. Lynn and Theodore Luman. Capt. F. A. Mason led the Frostburg contingent, and other Union troops started for Cumberland from Wellersburg, Bedford. Pocahontas and Centerville, Pa., and Grantsville. By nightfall the Union soldiers fleeing from the Twenty First Bridge battle began arriving here and the panic subsided. The Indiana Zouaves marched back to Campobello; the outside volunteers returned to their nearby communities, and the first big scare of the civil war in Cumberland was over. The Confederate raiders returned almost directly to Romney well satisfied that they had blocked transportation of federal forces from Ohio and Indiana eastward from Keyser. ================================================= My Father Ambrose Mckenzie ask Mr. J. William Hunt to interview his mother, Catherine E. (BOCH) MCKENIE (1888-1970), so she could tell the Story that her grandfather, Peter MARTZ (1829-1909), told her and his other grandchildren about that one scary day back in June 1861. Joseph Mckenzie Dunedin, Florida Sept.2003 ================== Peter Martz Married Margareta A. Wigger in Cumberland,maryland on Febuary 12, 1854 in Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church. =============================== To Find Peter Martz's grave, Drive up into the cemetery, park as you near the end of the house that sits on the lower side of the road. Peters's grave is up on the hill about 40 to 50 feet and its almost in line with the end of the house. Joe McKenzie

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Peter Martz's memorial?
Peter Martz's memorial is located at: Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos, Allen County, USA.
When did Peter Martz death?
Peter Martz death on 14 Nov 1909 in Cresaptown, Allegany County, Maryland, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Peter Martz's memorial?
Latitude: 40.8300018
Longitude: -84.2906036

Family Members:

Spouse

Margareth Alice Wigger Martz

(1836 - 1913)

Children

Mary Catherine Martz Grabenstein

(1855 - 1924)

Johannes Martz

(1858 - 1890)

Anna Catherine Martz Boch

(1860 - 1919)

Heinrich Wilhelm Martz

(1863 - 1914)

Johannes Bernhart Martz

(1865 - 1941)

Martin Joseph Martz

(1868 - 1946)

Peter Martin Martz

(1870 - 1950)

Margaret A. Metzner

(1877 - 1949)

Frances C. Martz McBee

(1880 - 1964)

Flowers:

I would like to sit down and have a talk with you about the old days. Your Great Great Grandson.

Left by Anonymous on 07 Feb 2009

Left by Anonymous on 28 Jul 2009

Another Ancestor is looking at your History.

Left by Anonymous on 10 Dec 2012

Ken this man is you Great Great Great Grandfather

Left by Anonymous on 06 Nov 2014

Left by Anonymous on 01 Feb 2020

May perpetual light shine upon him.

Left by Anonymous on 08 Nov 2021

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Walnut Grove Cemetery
Delphos, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8300018, -84.2906036

2. Hartshorn Cemetery
Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8424988, -84.2908020

3. New Saint John's Catholic Cemetery
Delphos, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8451390, -84.2889380

4. King Cemetery
Marion Township, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8060989, -84.2869034

5. Saint John's Catholic Cemetery
Delphos, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8423620, -84.3319580

6. Pike Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.7947006, -84.2585983

7. Westside Cemetery
Delphos, Van Wert County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8452988, -84.3507996

8. Doner Cemetery
Elida, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7951330, -84.2277470

9. Carmen Cemetery
Gomer, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8531380, -84.2118660

10. Sharon Mennonite Cemetery
Elida, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7828080, -84.2332721

11. Hadding Cemetery
Gomer, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8319016, -84.2035980

12. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Fort Jennings, Putnam County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8986015, -84.3035965

13. Raabe Cemetery
Fort Jennings, Putnam County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8993988, -84.2789001

14. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Fort Jennings, Putnam County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9056015, -84.2928009

15. Lutheran Cemetery
Elida, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7877998, -84.2050018

16. Saint John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery
Landeck, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7999992, -84.3874969

17. Keirns Cemetery
Sugar Creek Township, Putnam County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8875008, -84.2181015

18. Salem Mennonite Cemetery
Elida, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8171220, -84.1851000

19. Greenlawn Cemetery
Elida, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7691994, -84.2024994

20. West Union Cemetery
Spencerville, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7574997, -84.3641968

21. Hartford Cemetery
Spencerville, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7386017, -84.3158035

22. Old Hartford Cemetery
Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7371788, -84.3140564

23. Pike Run Cemetery
Gomer, Allen County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8432999, -84.1669006

24. Ottawa River Cemetery
Rimer, Putnam County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9061012, -84.2080994