Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Snyder, Simon (soldier)

SNYDER, Simon, soldier, b. 9 Feb., 1839, in the stone house which his grandfather, Simon Snyder (q. v.), built while he was governor in Selin's Grove, Pa. He enlisted in the civil war, but before he was mustered in a commission arrived for him. Simon Cameron was a warm friend of Henry W. Snyder, the governor's oldest son, and secured the commission. He was not actively engaged in the civil war, but saw a great deal of Indian warfare; was home on leave in 1876, but hurried to the frontier, and his command built Fort Keogh, from which they set out on several campaigns. He was afterward brevetted major for gallant services against the Indians at Bear Paw mountain in 1877, and was in all the battles with Sitting Bull, and was present when he surrendered. He was appointed 2d lieutenant, 5th infantry, April, 1861; 1st lieutenant, June, 1861; captain, June, 1863; major, 11th infantry, March, 1883; 5th infantry, May, 1883; lieutenant-colonel, 10th infantry, January, 1888; colonel, 19th infantry, September, 1892. He was appointed brigadier-general of U. S. volunteers, May, 1898, and commanded various divisions in the volunteer army at several points in the southern states from May to November, 1898; commanded the 1st brigade, 1st division, 1st army-corps en route to the province of Santa Clara, Cuba, November, 1898, to January, 1899. Gen. Snyder was mustered out of the volunteer service in May, 1899, and proceeded with his regiment to the Philippines. Soon after his arrival in September he was conspicuous in an engagement near Cebu.