MAJOR JOHN S. PLATNER
Was born at Clyde, Wayne County, March 23, 1837. During the month of April, 1857, he proceeded to Geneva, and became Assistant Postmaster. On the following June he entered the Dry Goods House of S. S. Cobb as accountant, and in the spring of 1859 became a partner. When the Geneva Company was organized he enlisted as a private, his name being the second on the roll, and was unanimously elected First Lieutenant. On the promotion of Captain Walker to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Regiment, Capt. Platner was unanimously chosen to succeed him. January 24, 1861, he was appointed Major of the Thirty-third, which position he filled with much distinction until the close of the two years’ campaign, participating in all the battles and skirmishes of the Regiment, and having two horses killed and two wounded in action. He commanded the Thirty-third during the engagements at Savage’s Station, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hills, bringing it safely through all the toils and dangers of the retreat from before Richmond.