The e-mail below was sent to me by Mr Piatek and contains some interesting and new information about Joseph G. Stonesifer. Because it's difficult to update the pages containing the tree information on my site (it's done automatically from a gedcom file and must include all the pages to change only one) I've included this information here for now.
"The genealogy" to which Mr Piatek refers is the History and Genealogy of the Stonesifer Family of Maryland and Pennsylvania by Doyle F. Wildasin.
Aug 26, 2018
Ms. Stonsifer:
My father-in-law was part of the Stonesifer line, his mother Arelia having married a Cyrus M. Feeser. This is noted in the genealogy composed in 1983 at page 94.
As a student of Civil War history, I was recently reading a monograph entitled The Battle of Monocacy by Edwin C. Bearss. At page 53 of that study, it states: "Union Private Joseph G. Stonesifer of Company I, 87th Pennsylvania, was the first man to reach the Thomas house, following McCausland's retreat." (The source for this statement by Bearss is Prowell's History of the 87th Pennsylvania, p.186). Thinking that there might be a family connection, I embarked on a search of the genealogy but discovered that he was not a direct ancestor of my father-in-law.
Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the name and located Joseph G. Stonesifer in the genealogy (pg. 72). Among other things it states that he was captured at the Battle of Monocacy Junction on July 4, 1864 and was held prisoner at Libby and Danville by Confederates. It also notes his post-war occupation. The narrative states that his army unit is not known. One error exists in the date of capture, however. The actual battle occurred on July 9, 1864 and not July 4. Hence, Joseph was captured on July 9. This is confirmed as well by my researching the roster for that regiment and company found in Volume III of Samuel Bates, History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, at page 61 wherein it is noted that Joseph was a prisoner from July 9, 1864 to February 20, 1865. He was discharged from service on June 20, 1865 to date April 25 of that year.
Given this information, I have no reason to doubt that the man Edwin Bearss named in his monograph which is referred to in the 87th PA's regimental history is none other than the Joseph G. Stonesifer found in the genealogy. There is also no other Joseph G. Stonesifer listed in the genealogy's index. With this information, perhaps a correction can be made to it regarding not only the date of capture, but also that he has now been located as a member of Company I of the 87th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
It was a real pleasure for me to conduct this search to satisfy my curiosity even though I am not a descendent of the Stonesifers.
Best wishes, Frank J. Piatek