Born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1825; profession, Physician. First entrance into the military service was as Contract Surgeon and acting Assiting Surgeon of the 41st Reg't., O. V. I. in April 1862. Was in the battles of Corinth, Miss., April 30 to May 30, 1862. Returned home in June 1862. Enlisted or entered the service again, Aug. 18, 1862 as 1st Lieutenant of Co. G, 52nd Reg't., O. V. I.; promoted to Captain, March 18, 1863; resigned his Commission, January 31, 1865. The service of Comrade Rothacker was that of the Regiment from organization at Camp Dennison, Ohio, to the onward march from Atlanta to Savannah and up through the Carolinas, engaging in the many conflicts. Any march is trying enough and attended with much exposure, but when we mention the march to Louisville and the march to Knoxville and the return to Chattanooga, there is no need to here relate those terrible experiences and awful sufferings, when men fall by the wayside, courting death to relieve them from the hardships of this life. The fortunes of war threw him into the following conflicts: Big Hill, Ky.; covering the retreat to Louisville as rear guard is saying they had a continual fight during a hundred mile march; Perryville, Oct. 6, 7, and 8, 1862, included in the dates was the attack and defense of Peter's Hill; Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862 to Jan. 3, 1863; Chickamauga, Sept. 19 to 23, 1863, also Siege of Chattanooga; Missionary Ridge, Nov. 24 to 29; struck camp for Knoxville, Nov. 29; four days intense suffering from Knoxville to Chattanooga, Dec. 15 to 19; Buzzard's Roost, February 25 to 27, 1864; Atlanta Campaign opened May 5, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 13 to 16; Rome, May 17 and 18; Kingston, May 18 to 24; charge at Kenesaw, June 9 to 30; Peach Tree Creek, July 20; Jonesborough, AUg. 19 to 31 and Sept. 1 to 7. After occupation of Atlanta, officers were sent back to Chattanooga with money intrusted to them by the boys for shipment northward. Comrade Rothacker was sent from the 52nd, and before his return the whole army had moved on the march to the sea, and shortly after this, by special order, all officers and soldiers on detached service were sent to the Convalescent Camp as Headquarters, until such time as the way was open for them to rejoin their commands by the sea. Whilst here Comrade Rothacker, in company with two other officers, were by special order, sent with six hundred men to Knoxville, Tennessee, to report to Gen. Gillem, as that city was threatened. After remaining at Knoxville some two weeks, was sent back to Chatanooga and from there to the Officer's Hospital on Lookout Mountain, and was discharged for disablility on the 31st of January, 1865, after an arduouse service of three years.