great-grandfather of Laura Schmidt 

Private     Co. I     84th NY Infantry 
Dates of Service:  31 Dec 1863 - 21 Aug 1865

Robert Bruce Spencer was born on August 6, 1838, in New Jersey, the son of John and Mary Hayden Spencer. Robert mustered into Co. I 84th NY Infantry as a private on 1 Jan 1864 at Culpeper, VA; transferred to Co. G 5th Veteran Reserve Infantry on 2 June 1865, was promoted to Sgt 19 June 1865, and discharged 21 August 1865 with the Company at Hart Island, NY. 

SERVICE.--The 84th NY was on Provost duty at Culpeper, Va., December 28, 1863, to May 4, 1864. Demonstration on the Rapid February 6-7. Rapidan Campaign May 4-22. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Left front May 22 and arrived at Brooklyn May 24. Veterans and Recruits attached to 12th New York Battalion May 21, then transferred to 5th New York Veteran Infantry June 2, 1864. 

Robert married Eliza J Meade of Perrysburg, Ohio, in 1872. They had two children during their marriage, George Bruce and Frank L. He died on February 21, 1902, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the age of 63, and was buried there. His widow Eliza died in 1929 and is buried in Fairplains Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

GRAVESITE: Grand Rapids Veterans Home Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, MI

Written by Dorotha Piechocki with notes from the family tree of Laura J Schmidt, Robert's great-granddaughter, February 2020.