Snowell, Martin

Martin Snowell was born around 1843 in New Jersey. Some records indicate that he joined Company I of the 8th United States Colored Troops Regiment during the Civil War, although Snowell’s service information appears inconsistent. The 8th USCT organized at Camp William Penn in Chelten Hills, Pennsylvania from September 22- October 4, 1863. The regiment departed from training camp on January 16, 1864 and traveled to Hilton Head, South Carolina before moving on to participate in the occupation of Jacksonville, Florida in February 1864. The soldiers participated in the Battle of Olustee on February 20 as well as the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm in Virginia in September 1864. They remained in Virginia until Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865 and then moved to Texas where the regiment was stationed until it mustered out on November 10, 1865. Snowell passed away in 1917 and was buried in Bethel AME Church Cemetery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. (By Brenna McKelvey)