To the Editor:

I have been a subscriber of Catasauqua Press for the past several years. While I am living in Nebraska, I was born and raised in Catasauqua, and I enjoy catching up on local news and stories of interest.

I recently came across a story in the latest issue of Civil War Times (to which I also subscribe) concerning the 46th PA Infantry Regiment, which I thought might be of interest to you and other readers.

I can remember as a child going to Fairview Cemetery in West Catasauqua for memorial services at the Civil War monument. There are numerous graves of Civil War veterans surrounding the monument, and on the monument itself are inscribed the names of local men who served in the Union Army, primarily in two regiments, the 46th and 47th PA. The engagements of each of those regiments also are inscribed upon the monument.

Over the years, I’ve also been able to visit many of those battlefields and have seen where those units fought.

Consequently, it was quite interesting to see the article in Civil War Times. While the article focused primarily on the men of Company D of the 46th, which appeared to be recruited primarily in the Harrisburg area, local men from Catasauqua and the surrounding areas were in different companies. Also mentioned in the article was a Capt. Joseph Machette, a Catasauquan who enlisted into Company C and was later promoted through the ranks. A short biography of Machette is listed in the book, “A History of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania,” published in 1914.

I thought it was interesting to be able to tie nearly forgotten history to an article in a contemporary magazine and to share that with your readers.

John T. Parsons

Papillion, Neb.