The 19th Michigan had been in service long before the enlistment of John and George.  Truth be told, it was a hard luck regiment, having been routed by Confederate forces in three previous engagements with a majority of the regiment scattered or captured on three different occasions while in Tennessee. The regiment was comprised of less than 300 men in June 1863. Those captured were exchanged but could no longer be involved in this theater of war and were eventually pieced out to regiments in the Eastern Theater. At this time the regiment was reorganized by adding 600 new recruits and began training to be soldiers, learning to fire their Springfield rifles, use their bayonets, and to perform close order drill. 

 

On Oct. 25th, 1863, the Regiment became part of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Corps, and was ordered to McMinnville, Tennessee, where it was employed in the construction of fortifications. The Regiment garrisoned there until April 21st, 1864, where it built several forts, constructed a railroad bridge, put a saw mill in operation along with other construction purposes, and drilled and trained even more. April 30th, the Regiment having been ordered to join its division, arrived at Lookout Valley and officially became part of William Tecumseh Sherman’s Army of the Tenneesee. The Regiment made a demonstration at the battle of Buzzard's Roost, but was not engaged; it still had the stigma of the old 19th and was considered a raw regiment. 

 

The Army crossed through Snake Creek Gap and engaged in the battle of Resaca, Georgia, on May 15th. Here the 19thwas needed and participated in a full division charge on a Confederate battery. Four regiments spearheaded by the 70th Indiana were led by Colonel Benjamin Harrison (the future President). The division marched down the slope and into a small valley between two ridges and marched into their first taste of hell, marching 300 yards toward the four artillery pieces and the dug-in Confederates. The last 100 yards were at the run, charging into the guns, which was now firing canister “that was so close as to blow the hats off our heads” wrote Private William Sharp. Reaching the guns and driving the rebels back, the division took up a defensive position and traded volleys until nightfall. Under the cover of darkness the captured guns were pulled out of their positions and became Federal property. All four regiments involved claimed credit for the capture. The 19th’s losses in this charge were 14 killed and 66 wounded. Now they were veterans.

 

As the Union Army of the Tennessee pushed the Reb army deeper into Georgia the 19th was called upon in many engagements. On May 19th, the Regiment made a charge at Cassville while protecting the Army's left flank, losing 1 killed, 4 wounded. 

Engaged again at New Hope Church on the 25th, the 19th was involved in an ill-fated attack through deep thickets along with a 20,000-strong force led by General Joseph Hooker. The force was trapped under cannon and rifle fire from the ridge above. It was not until night fall and a torrent of rain were they able to withdraw. The two divisions lost 1,665 men, with the 19th losing 5 killed, 47 wounded.

 

On the 10th of June they were engaged at Golgotha Church, which was a rear guard engagement by Patrick Claburne’s Battalion. Several regiments attempted to break through with the 19th losing 4 killed, 9 wounded in the attempt. Yet again the 19th was engaged at Culp's Farm, with another rear guard defense where they lost 13 wounded. Following up on the retreat of the Confederates from this position to Kenesaw Mountain, the 19th was held in reserve and fortunately did not participate in the disaster that occurred while trying to capture that mountain fortress. Instead, a large section of the Army moved around the Kenesaw, thus flanking it and forcing the Confederates to the breast works around Atlanta. The 19th along with the 3rd Division crossed the Chattahoochie River to participate in the repulse of the Confederates’ attempt to smash General Thomas’s forces at Peach Tree Creek on the 25th of July. The outcome was very much in doubt with the outnumbered and out-flanked Union lines begining to crack. The entire 3rdDivision lunged into the Confederate position on the ridge that covered the fields. This so excited General Thomas who yelled “Hurrah! Look at the 3rd Division. They’re driving them!” After two hours of fighting the Confederates’ counter attack by Patrick Cleburne’s famous division, the Rebs knew they could not succeed and pulled back into the Atlanta earthworks. The Federal death toll of the day was about 1,700. The 19th lost 4 killed, 33 wounded, of which many would die of wounds later. During the Siege of Atlanta, the 19th Regiment suffered 2 killed, 6 wounded. The Regiment then advanced on Atlanta, only to find it evacuated, there to remain on garrison until October 30th, 1864.  - Sources: 19th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment ; 19th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War ; 19th Regiment, Michigan Infantry ; Shelby Foote's "The Civil War: A Narrative" ; Time Life "The Civil War"

 

At this point in the 19th 's journey, on the 5th of November, 1864, George W. Snyder was transferred to Co. F of the 17th Veteran Reserve Corps (originally the Invalid Corps). The VRC was a military reserve organization created within the Union Army during the American Civil War to allow partially disabled or otherwise infirm soldiers (or former soldiers) to perform light duty, freeing able-bodied soldiers to serve on the front lines. It existed from 1863 to 1869…. A similar corps had existed in Revolutionary times. The Invalid Corps of the Civil War period was created to make suitable use in a military or semi-military capacity of soldiers who had been rendered unfit for active field service on account of wounds or disease contracted in line of duty, but who were still fit for garrison or other light duty, and were, in the opinion of their commanding officers, meritorious and deserving. The men serving in the Veteran Reserve Corps were organized into two battalions; the First Battalion including those whose disabilities were comparatively slight and who were still able to handle a musket and do some marching, also to perform guard or provost duty. The Second Battalion was made up of men whose disabilities were more serious, who had perhaps lost limbs or suffered some other grave injury. These latter were commonly employed as cooks, orderlies, nurses, or guards in public buildings. 

 

Invalid Corps members stood out because of their unique uniforms. With jackets of sky-blue kersey, with dark-blue trimmings, cut like the jacket of the U.S. Cavalry; trousers of sky-blue; the uniform trimmed in dark blue, with chevrons of rank and the back ground of officer's shoulder insignia having that color as a backing. The Invalid Corps troops also wore standard dark blue fatigue blouses from time to time. Standard forage caps were to be decorated with the brass infantry horn, regimental number, and company letter.

 

During the war, more than 60,000 men served in the Corps in the Union army…The Federal corps was mostly disbanded in 1866 following the close of the Civil War and the lessening of a need for reserve troops. The reorganization of the Regular Army in July 1866 provided for four regiments of the Veteran Reserve Corps. The Veteran Reserve Corps ceased to exist when these regiments were consolidated with other regiments in the Army's next re-organization in March 1869.

 

As a soldier of the "1st Class" of VRC, George was assigned to guard duty at the rebel prison camp in Indianapolis, Indiana. "On duty…at Indianapolis, the 17th Regiment patrol[ed] the city, guard[ed] U.S. arsenal, State arsenal, and Government store-houses, and conduct[ed] men to the front. Forwarded 1,300 conscripts, 1,335 deserters, 3,400 recruits, 3,062 stragglers, 1,040 convalescents; total, 10,137; escapes, 56…. General duty [was] very severe; men sometimes on guard for sixty hours. During one period of eight days the average detail for guard was one-half the regiment." George served until he was discharged at Indianapolis, the 20th of July, 1865.