John Schoonover b. August 12, 1839 d. April 12 1930 Civil War Union Army officer. Rose from a First Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry regiment during the Civil War. After serving a year with a Pennsylvania regiment, John Schoonover enlisted as regimental adjutant of the 11th New Jersey, and served in that capacity during the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. His most reknown moment occurred on the 2nd day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 2, 1863), when the 11th New Jersey was nearly decimated while resisting Confederate assaults on the Peach Orchard. While holding a position just south of the Klingel House on Emmitsburg Road, the 11th came under severe fire from its front and right. All the unit's officers were killed or wounded, including Schoonover, who was hit three times. Despite his wounds, he informed each of the successive regimental commanders that their immediate superiors had gone down. When Capt! ain Dorastus Logan was killed, John Schoonover became the last remaining officer and took command himself. He held the regiment in place, then led it in a slow fighting withdrawal until he fell too weakened by his wounds. When he went down, the 11th New Jersey finally broke for the safety of Cemetery Ridge. Captain Samuel T. Sleeper arrived to take command of the regiment that night, but deferred command to Lt. Schoonover the next day in recognition of his previous day's performance. John Schoonover was subsequently promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, and commanded the 11th until the end of the war. He was brevetted Colonel, US Volunteers on April 2, 1865. This was contributed to find a grave by Russ Dodge, if you would like to see pictures follow the link http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10414 Thanks Lily