ELLWOOD GRIEST
“A Biographical History of Lancaster Co. Being a History of
Early Settlers and Eminent Men of the County” by Alex. Harris, 1827
Lancaster, Pa.: Elias Barr & Co., 1872
Pg. 239, ELLWOOD GRIEST was born in Chester Co., Pa., June 17, 1824.His parents belonged to the Society of Friends.He was apprenticed to the blacksmithing business, and having learned this trade, he worked in the capacity of a journeyman (a man who has mastered a handicraft or trade) in Lancaster, Chester and Delaware counties.He carried on this business in Bart Twp., and afterwards in Christiana, up to the breaking out of the rebellion.He entered the service of the U. S. in December 1862 as a clerk in the subsistence department, in the Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac.In this capacity (pg. 240) he served up to October 1863, when he was captured by Moseby’s guerrillas, and sent to Richmond.Here he was detained for some months, and after returning home. was detailed for duty to Johnson’s Island, in Lake Erie, a dept of rebel prisoners.In August 1864 he was commissioned commissary of subsistence, with the rank of captain.He was ordered to Gen. Sheridan’s army, and place on his staff as issuing commissary at headquarters.He remained with Sheridan till February 1865; and when the latter went on his raid in the Shenandoah Valley, CAPTAIN GRIEST was left as post commissary at Winchester.
During the time that CAPTAIN GRIEST was connected with Sheridan’s staff, General Alexander Shaler, who knew him well in the Army of the Potomac, and was now commanding the post of Columbus, Kentucky, made repeated applications to have him assigned to duty on his staff.These applications were at length referred by the Commissary General of Subsistence to General Sheridan, who returned them with the following endorsement:
Headquarters Middle Military Division, Winchester, Va., December 14th, 1864.
Respectfully returned to the Commissary General, with the remark that Captain Griest is an intelligent and efficient officer, whose services at this time, in this department, cannot very well be dispensed with.
MAJOR GENERAL SHERIDAN
By order of
JNO. KELLOGG, Col. and Chief C. S.
He was afterwards detailed with Sheridan to New Orleans; next to Jacksonville, Florida, at which latter place he remained till mustered out of service in April, 1866, with the brevet rank of Major.Before returning home a lieutenant’s commission in the United States infantry was tendered him, which he declined accenting.In the following September, upon his return home, he was appointed County Treasurer by the county commissioners, in room of Samuel Ensminger, deceased.While acting as Treasurer he was engaged by S. A. Wylie to edit he Lancaster Inquirer, then published by the latter.In 1868 he entered into partnership with the latter, a position he retained till the death of Mr. Wylie, in June 1872.He is still editor of the Inquirer.