Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Death Found Pvt. Alex J. Johnson 23-July-1863

Alex J. Johnson entered the Union Camp near Corinth, Mississippi on 1-July-1863 and enlisted in “D” Company, 1st Alabama U.S. cavalry. He was mustered into service as a private the same day. A few weeks later while posted as a picket he deserted along with pvt. William Brown. He took with him his horse and all accouterments that had been issued to him. Nothing else was heard of him until 19-July-1863, when a Union scouting party captured a band of guerrillas about 8 miles outside of Corinth. Alex Johnson was among the guerrillas captured.
  A drumhead court was called upon on 21-July-1863 and Johnson was found guilty of desertion and other offences. He was sentenced to be executed by firing squad on 23-July-1863. On a hot dry July morning around 8 o’clock the Union Army began to assemble on the south-east parade ground. The entire military force was in place by 9:30 forming three sides of a hollow square. This would stretch about half a mile long on each side.

  The men would observe a slow moving procession coming from town. A band marched in front of a wagon playing the “dead march”. Alex Johnson sat on top of his coffin with his face in a handkerchief sobbing. Finally the procession reached the south-west corner of the square and stopped. The band marched forward playing the “Dead March” followed by four soldiers carrying his coffin, next walked Alex Johnson followed by 16 soldiers carrying reverse arms. This procession would march slowly up and down each line of the square until they had passed each Regiment. The procession would halt in the center where the execution was to be performed. The coffin was sat down, and Alex Johnson was left there with the Chaplin. The other soldiers took 20 paces from the coffin and prepared for the deadly volley. The Chaplin offered a prayer then each charge was read aloud. A picture was taken at this time. He was told it would be sent to his wife. The Officer in charge stepped forward, placing a blindfold around his head, asking him to sit or kneel on his coffin. Alex Johnson instead stood and begged for his life! He finally yielded and sat on top of his coffin. A few seconds later the command of fire was giving. Seven minie balls took effect, striking him in numerous vital parts of his body. Alex Johnson’s lifeless body fell to the hot parched earth never to breath again. A second picture was taken of Pvt. Alex Johnson in death. Death found Pvt. Alex J. Johnson on 23-July-1863 in the form of a deadly volley fired by a firing squad. He was survived by his wife, family, and friends. May Pvt. Alex J. Johnson RIP!




Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Death Found Mary Virginia "Ginnie" Wade at Gettysburg, Pensylvania.

Mary Virginia “Ginnie” Wade was born on the 21st day of May in the year of our Lord 1843 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She would grow up in Gettysburg with her family on Breckenridge Street. In 1860 her father was in a mental asylum in Gettysburg. She continued to live at home with her mother and two younger brothers. She worked as a seamstress helping her mother.
   In 1861 as the Civil War began Ginnie would do her part with needle in hand at the home front. She was in love with a local man named Johnston “Jack” Skelly. It is believed the young couple had secretly become engaged before he left for war. He enlisted in the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry and was promoted to Corporal. He marched off to war never to return. Corporal Skelly was mortally wounded at the Battle of Winchester on June 13, 1863. He was captured by Confederate forces and sent to a hospital. While in the make shift hospital Cpl Skelly recognized another Gettysburg native. Pvt. John Wesley Culp had moved to Virginia in 1858 with his employer and had enlisted in the 2nd Va. Inf. CSA. Cpl Skelly asked him to deliver a note to Gennie if at all possible. Pvt. Culp agreed to be sure she would get the note whenever he could find a way to get it to her.
   Confederate forces began their march into Gettysburg on and 1-July-1863 the battle was on. During the first shots of the battle Ginnie along with her mother, two younger brothers, and a boarder sought refuge in her sister’s home on Baltimore Street. Her sister had given birth to a son that day so they would help care for her and the newborn while there. Gennie would spend the rest of the day filling canteens and distributing bread to Union soldiers. She would try to find out about the 87th Pa and her fiancĂ© Cpl Skelly. She still had heard no word on either. The end of the day along with the Union retreat brought the battle ever so close to the home on Baltimore Street.
   On the 2nd day of battle Gennie would continue to feed the soldiers and fill canteens. By late afternoon the bread supply had became very low. Gennie and her mother had begun making more for the next day. They left the doe to rise until the next morning. During this time Pvt. Culp had found himself ever so close. He would be in battle at the end of the day on his Uncle’s Hill where he had played as a young boy.
    The third day of battle would find Pvt. Culp killed in action on Culp’s Hill. The note was still in his pocket undelivered. Gennie would awake to find that Confederate sharpshooters had begun hitting the house. One bullet had traveled through the house hitting the bedpost. At 8:00 am Gennie would decide to knead the bread in the kitchen. The house is said to have been struck by no less than 150 minnie balls. Around 8:30 am as Gennie stood in the kitchen kneading bread a bullet struck the north door traveled through the house striking the kitchen door then striking Gennie in the back killing her instantly. Her family’s screams brought Union soldiers into the house. They carried Ginnie’s body down into the cellar.
     3-July-1863 Death found Mary Virginia “Gennie” Wade as she kneaded bread in her sister’s kitchen. She would never receive word of her betrothed as Pvt. Culp carrying the letter was also killed. Cpl Skelly would die in Va. On 12-July-1863 never knowing the fate of his fiancĂ©e or friend. Gennie Wade would be the only direct civilian causality of Gettysburg.
    Mary Virginia “Gennie” Wade age 20 was survived by her father, mother, 1 sister, 4 brothers, family, and friends. May She RIP!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Death Found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

 
Pvt. George Washington Sandoe was born in Pennsylvania on 4-Nov-1842. In 1850 the family was living on a small farm in Carroll County, Maryland. His father had died by the year 1859. The family had moved to Mount Joy, Adams County, Pennsylvania between 1850 and1860 when George is listed as attending school. George would fall in love with an older neighbor named Dianna during this time. George was 18 years old when the country went to war. Young George had managed to stay away from the conflict early on. He married Dianna Caskey on 19-Feb-1863 in Mount Joy, Pa. The couple would live there together as husband and wife for a few months and were expecting their first child. The War finally caught up with the 20 year old newlywed in June of 1863.

   George would for some reason decide to enlist in a local cavalry unit. Perhaps he enlisted thinking he would be conscripted into service anyways. He may have had dreams of the glamour and glory of war. Perhaps he enlisted to defend his home state that had now been invaded by Confederate troops. Regardless of the reason George enlisted in "B" Company, 21st Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary for 6 months service. He enlisted on 18-June-1863 and kissed his pregnant wife goodbye on 23-June-1863 as he was mustered into service. His military career would be short lived not even long enough to get his first pay.
   On his 3rd day of service Pvt. George W. Sandoe and Pvt. William Lightner were the advance scouts of their unit. The two were near the Baltimore Pike when they unknowingly rode into Confederate pickets of Colonel Elijah V. White's 35th Va. Cav. The young soldiers had not noticed the pickets due to bushes and undergrowth in the area. Confederate pickets ordered the surprised soldiers to "Halt"; they would turn their horses to jump a fence. Pvt. Lightner jumped and made his escape good to the Baltimore Pike. Pvt. Sandoe was not so fortunate, as he jumped the fence his horse fell. He managed to remount his horse when he was mortally wounded in the head as his horse raced on. Official records list his death as: "Killed at Gettysburg, 26-June-1863 by the Rebs, while in discharge of his duty."
      He has the distinction of being the first Union soldier killed at Gettysburg. There is a monument in his honor. Nine days after his enlistment and just three short days of service Death found Pvt. George Washington Sandoe. He was survived by Dianna, his wife of 4 months and 7 days, their unborn son, his mother, 1 sister, 1 brother, family, and friends. May Pvt. George Washington Sandoe RIP! 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Death found Deputy Hugh Craft on a Desolute Mountain Road in Alabama

Deputy Sheriff Hugh Craft was born in Madison County, Alabama on 6-Feb-1875. He would live in the area for the remainder of his lifetime. He worked more than 25 years as a deputy in Madison County. He had been working the last years of his life searching out and prosecuting violators of liquor laws. It is largely believed that this led to his murder.
  Deputy Craft along with Deputy G. Lilley were supposed to testify against a Bart Anderson in a Huntsville court on the morning of 12-June-1929. Deputy Craft left his home near Owens Crossroads around 06:20. It is believed that no one was with him when he left home. No witnesses saw him pick up anyone along his way either. He traveled along on the road to Esslinger Mountain. This section of road was flanked by dense woods on both sides. Unaware that two assassins waited in ambush behind a bush on the crest of the mountain. Deputy Craft’s vehicle approached the bush when one of the murderers blasted the vehicle with a shotgun. The wounded Deputy drew his service revolver as the car careened through the woods some 50 yards before striking a tree. His revolver fell to the floor of his Chevrolet. The murderers then walked up to the vehicle and shot the wounded Deputy Craft point blank in the head. Their cowardly deed finished they fled in a car that was hid just up from the ambush site. Upon investigation it was determined there was two areas where men waited in ambush. If the first had missed the second would have finished the deed. Farmers working in a nearby field said they heard two shots one from a shotgun then another shortly after from a pistol or rifle. They also claimed to have seen a strange vehicle pass by after hearing the shots. Deputy Hugh Craft was discovered with his head slumped resting in his left hand. The shotgun pellets had entered the back of his head just behind the right ear. Bloodhounds were brought in from Chattanooga to search the area. The coroner J.R. Poole immediately formed a jury, the verdict being that Deputy Craft had been murdered by parties unknown to the jury. On a warm June morning in the mountains of North Alabama death found Deputy Hugh Craft murdered in his car by two cowardly assailants. The murder of Deputy Hugh Craft remains unsolved to this day 84 years later!
  Deputy Hugh Craft age 54 years of the Madison County, Alabama Sheriffs Department End of watch was 12-June-1929 just before 07:00. He was survived by his wife, Cornelia, son, Earl, daughter, Gertrude, Sister Judge Carter of Guntersville, family, and friends. May Deputy Hugh Craft RIP!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Death found the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry on 15-April-1862

  The 75th Pennsylvania Infantry USA was taken part in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign during 1862. They had been camped near Paris, Va and were on the march to Winchester, Va.
   The 75th reached Berry's Ferry during the morning hours on the 15th of April. There they found the ferry had been partially destroyed by Confederate forces. Recent snow and sleet from April 7th until the 9th had helped flood the river. The Shenandoah was reported at the time to be about 500 feet wide at Berry's Ferry. The 75th Pa. Inf. went to work repairing the ferry when approached by a local woman. It is said that a Mrs. Nancy Benn had demanded the Union pay her for the cattle they had used during their stay. Upon her demands being ignored she made the statement "I hope that the ferry sinks and drowns the lot of you!" The soldiers continued to work on the ferry.
   In the afternoon the ferry had been repaired and the first group of soldiers began the rough journey to the other side. Now near 4 o'clock in the afternoon the 2nd group made up of companies "K" and "I" boarded the ferry. The soldiers in full packs were standing as the ferry began to cross the swollen river. The ferry's bow dipped somewhat into the water, bringing a little water on to the deck. The soldiers panicked and rushed to the stern and sides. The weight being shifted to one side caused it to cap size. Soldiers in full uniforms including packs were thrown into the swift icy water. Near by skiffs managed to save a few lucky soldiers from certain death. The raging flood waters were to swift and most would drown in the swollen Shenandoah.
    Sgt. Tiedemann known to be a great swimmer was said to have drowned while trying to save the life of Captain Wyck. In the cold freezing water of the Shenandoah River, Death would find 53 soldiers of the 75th Pa Inf. 2 Captains, 1 st LT., 3 Sgt., 6 Cpl., and 41 Pvt.s drowned on that cold day in April. May the 53 men of the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry that drowned 15-April-1862 RIP!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Death found Towton 25 on Palm Sunday 1461

    On a bitterly cold Palm Sunday, brutal winds and intense snow showers saw the savage end to thousands medieval warriors. Yorkist forces under Henry IV fought with Lancastrian forces of Henry Beaufort 3rd Duke of Somerset. Towton would become the bloodiest battle in the War of the Roses. Towton 25 was no stranger to battle or being wounded during battle.He would have stood in the Lancastrian line of battle as Yorkist forces under King Henry IV unleashed a lethal volley of bodkin pointed arrows. The men not wounded by this first volley of missiles would begin their advance. Volley after volley would crash into the knights and men-at-arms as they advanced. Those reaching the Yorkist line of battle would be in the most brutal warfare imaginable. Henry IV had given the orders "No quarter is to be given." It would be a brutal blade to blade duel of death.
    Towton 25 reached the enemy lines shield and blade ready to administer death to those before him. He blocked the enemies blade with his shield and swung his blade as well. Metal blades crashed against wood, metal, and bone maiming and killing thousands. Towton 25 continued in his combat toe to toe with his enemy. A blade would strike the left side of his head several times yet he would continue to fight perhaps surrounded. A blade crashed down upon the back of his head fracturing it all the way to the base of his skull. The force was so great that fragments of his skull embedded into his brain and left a large gash in his head. His body, now limp would fall on to the snow dusted battlefield. Dust of the pure white snow would melt as his blood flowed from the open wound. His lifeless body would be struck perhaps by a hammer to the back of his head on the right side. This smaller blow may have been enough to turn his body face up. Snow flurries would fall upon his face looking almost as tears as they melted on contact. A final blade perhaps that of a battle axe crashed into his face. The blade reached the back of his throat and stretched the length of his left eye to the right jaw. His clothing and armor would be removed and his body thrown into a mass grave. On a cold snowy Palm Sunday in the year of our Lord 1461 death found Towton 25. May he RIP!
 The Battle of Towton fought between the House of York and the House of Lancaster on 29-March-1461.
Towton 25 was a medieval warrior in the House of Lancaster during the War of the Roses. His body was one of many removed from a mass grave at the site of the Battle of Towton. He was assigned the number 25 because he was the 25th exhumed from the grave. His skull showed signs of a previous fracture that had healed. He was no stranger to combat and was between 36 and 45 years old.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Death Found Thousands on 25-October-1415 in Agincourt

On the 24th day of October in the year of our Lord 1415 two armies found themselves head to head on a narrow strip of ploughed muddy earth recently planted with corn. King Henry V had under his command an exhausted army that suffered from dysentery and out numbered 3 to 1. The French were confident of victory and spent most of the evening in great cheer. The English would spend the night in silence awaiting day break. The weather was cold and wet; the recently ploughed and planted field was soaked from recent rains.
Daylight broke upon the field on October the 25th with both armies preparing for battle. Knight’s would dress in their armour and mount their trusty steeds. Men at arms would dress in armour and prepare their blades for the task at hand. Archer’s would string their bows and be ready to loose their arrows. The French army was made up of mostly knights and men at arms in contrast to the English whose army was made up of mostly archers. The English Archers were English and Welsh long bowmen equipped with yew longbows. Their arrows equipped with the deadly armour piercing bodkin point.
   The armies had taken to the field in line of battle by 7 a.m. no one moved until around 11 a.m. Henry made the bold decision to make the first move. He ordered the army to move forward to the narrowest part of the battlefield protecting his flanks by the woodlands. During this time the English were vulnerable, as archers had to turn their backs to the French to take up their palings (pointed wooden stakes) then again to drive back into their new positions.
    Henry V’s archers would be ordered to nock and draw their arrows and then they loosed a galling fire upon the French. It could be estimated that 75,000 arrows rained down upon the French in one minute. Close to 300,000 arrows would have been loosed at the French in four minutes. The French attacked the center of the English lines hoping to capture Royalty and Nobles to ransom. During this intense struggle King Henry V was struck in the head. The blow knocked off his crown and left a hole in his helmet. The French were exhausted from the march through mud now churned up even worse by horses. Heavy armor immobilized the French Knights and men-at-arms making them easy prey. Archers that had spent their arrows now used axes, swords, and mallets to dispatch the less maneuverable French. The first French line of battle's wounded and dead piled up in the mud. The next two French lines of battle would continue to pile up in the mud many wounded suffocated. The French attacked the King’s baggage train in the rear. Henry feared he was now being attacked from the front and rear. He ordered the prisoners to be killed so that they could not pick up discarded weapons and rejoin in the battle. English Knights refused to kill their prisoners wanting to ransom them instead. Henry would dispatch 200 archers to take care of this deed. The prisoners were stabbed in the eye, throats cut, or beheaded, and cut to pieces. Once Henry discovered the battle was in hand he halted the executions. The French casualties are believed to have been from 7,000 to 10,000 with 1,500 nobles taken prisoner. English casualties were estimated at a few hundred.
On a cold, miserable wet day in a muddy field death found thousands of men in many forms. One English soldier was said to have died from a gun stone. During the battle the Duke of Brabant was not recognized as a noble because he had borrowed a servant’s tabard, his throat was cut. The battle field was littered with dead and dying. Arrows had killed or wounded many. Men stuck in the mud in heavy armor unable to get up would see their visors raised and watch as the point of a dagger entered their eye bringing death. Heads were crushed by mallets and hammers. Some say death also found chivalry on that cold wet St. Crispin's Day near Agincourt. May those men that died during the Battle of Agincourt RIP

Friday, May 31, 2013

Death Found Charles Henry Dickinson 30-May-1806

  Charles Henry Dickinson was born on 20-Dec-1780 in the Wiltshire Manor in Caroline County, Maryland. He would marry Jane Eriwin and become an Attorney and horse trade in his adulthood. He was best known for being a crack-shot with a pistol. He was a famous Duelist credited with killing 26 men before his death.
   He had moved to Tennessee and was running a horse farm. There had been a bet between Andrew Jackson and Charles's father-n-law over a horse race. Insults were exchanged later Charles would apologize. Later the feud would resume after a friend of Charles visited with Andrew after a scheduled race had been forfeited. It is believed that perhaps a misunderstanding led to the feud starting back up. Charles Dickinson would insult Andrew Jackson in a local paper. Some believe he also insulted Jackson's wife. What ever the case Jackson demanded satisfaction with a duel to defend his honor.
   Dueling was outlawed in Tennessee so the men would meet with their seconds in Adairville, Ky. Mr. Dickinson was not worried about Mr. Jackson to much as he prepared to put the 27th notch on his belt. Mr. Jackson's second devised a risky plan for the duel. He suggested that Andrew let Charles fire first. The theory was that perhaps the accomplished duelist would be in such a hurry that he would miss. The two men met with their seconds and took pistol's in hand. Charles would fire first and was believed to have missed Andrew. Charles would be required by the rules of dueling to stand still as Andrew took his shot. Andrew in raising his pistol only went to half cock. He raised it again bringing it to full cock. He fired his pistol striking Charles in the chest. Charles would would bleed to death with in a few minutes. The duel struck a blow to Andrew Jackson's reputation, many saying that he should not have been allowed to fully cock the pistol on a second try. They believed he could have also been gentlemen enough to have fired the shot in the air or simply wounding his foe. Andrew Jackson's second noticed shortly after the duel that blood was flowing into Jackson's boot. Charles Dickinson had not missed but hit Jackson. Jackson was standing sideways  giving a smaller target. The ball from Dickinson's pistol had struck Jackson in the ribs breaking three of them. The ball had then stopped inches from Jackson's heart. There was no way to operate that close to such a vital organ at that time. Jackson would carry the ball next to his heart for the rest of his life. He would also suffer great pain from the ball.
  On 30-May-1806 two men faced off in a duel with one cheating death and the other death found. Charles Dickinson was 26 years old at the time of his death. His wife Jane was pregnant with their only child. She would name their son Charles Dickson II after his father. He was survived by his wife, unborn son, family, and friends. May Charles Dickinson RIP!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Death Found 2nd Corporal John Brooks

  John Brooks was born on 22-April-1830 in Wilkinson County, Georgia. He would grow up there on the family farm until he married. He married Martha Ann Mercer on 27-April-1848 in Wilkinson Co., Georgia. The couple would live on a small farm there until the late 1850's. Sometime in the late 1850's the couple moved along with many other friends and family into Randolph County, Alabama. They were listed there in the 1860 census living on  a small farm. Just after the 1860 census they returned home  to Wilkinson Co., Georgia.
   John would be called to war and enlisted on 3-May-1862 in "D" Company, 57th Georgia Infantry CSA. He was mustered into service as a Private a short time later. He was appointed as a 2nd Corporal sometime before May of 1863. John would find himself laying wounded in agony on the battlefield of Bakers Creek (Champion Hills) in Mississippi on 16-May-1863. He would be left behind and captured by Union Forces. He was admitted to the Prison Hospital in Champion Hills, Mississippi on 17-May-1863. He was wounded in the right knee joint by a conical musket ball. The ball had fractured the condyles beyond repair. His leg was amputated above the knee taken a third of the thigh with it.This would prove to be a mortal wound as he died on 29-May-1863. He was buried in the west end of the Vicksburg City Cemetery in a mass grave with many other Confederate soldiers.
    Death found 33 year old 2nd Corporal John Brooks on 29-May-1863. He was survived by his wife, 5 sons, 3 daughters, 3 brothers, 4 sisters, family, and friends. May 2nd Cpl. John Brooks RIP!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Death found Pvt. Squire N. Lampton

Squire N. Lampton was born in Grayson, Kentucky around the year 1844. He grew up on the family farm in Kentucky. He was listed in the 1850 census at home in Breckinridge, Ky. In the1860 census the family was listed in Grayson, Ky. Squire married his wife Laura some time between 1860 and 1863. He was 6 feet tall with blue eyes, light hair, and a fair complexion. The Civil War came to Kentucky dividing families and friends.
  Squire would give his allegiance to the Union and enlisted for 1 year in "G" Company, 35th Ky. Infantry. Records of the 35th Ky. list him as enlisting on 5-Sept-1863. He is listed as discharged on 1-March-1864 for the following reason: "Discharged by virtue of enlistment in 3 years organization under letter dated 1-March-1864.
   Records indicate that he enlisted in "I" Company, 3rd Ky. Calvary for 3 years service on 25-March-1864." He was mustered into service on 23-April-1864. His military career was cut short on New Years Day in 1865. Official records list his death as: "Loss 1-Jan-1865 near Savannah from accidental discharge of his gun while dismounting." Regimental Hospital records listed him as: "Accidental penetrating gun shot wound to cranium on 1-Jan-1865."
   On New Years day in the year of 1865 death found Pvt. Squire N. Lampton as he dismounted his horse. He was laid to rest in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Georgia. He was survived by his wife Laura, father, mother, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, family, and friends. May Pvt. Squire N. Lampton RIP!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Death Found Pvt. Hugh Parkyn

Hugh H. Parykn was born in England around the year 1825. His father Hugh and family lived in Cornwall, England. He moved to the US sometime before 1860. He married Isabella Mann of Massachusetts sometime prior to 1860. In the 1860 census they are listed as living in Augusta, Georgia. They had a 8 month old son named Charles when the census was taken. Hugh's occupation was listed as a merchant's clerk. He was also an accomplished violinist.
   Hugh heard the call to arms at the age of 35 and enlisted on 11-May-1861 for one year's service. He was mustered in the same day as a musician in "A" Company, 5th Georgia Infantry CSA  known as the "Clinch Rifles." The men were excited to be going off to the big war and fight on the battlefield. They were sent to Pensacola, Florida to train and learn military drill and life. Letter's and diaries indicate the men were eager for battle and were enjoying the time there. They were receiving many goods from home. Georgia citizens were soon informed not to send the men anymore cakes. It was suggested they send sugar cured hams to the men instead.
   Twenty days after enlisting death would find Pvt. Hugh H. Parykn. He was bitten by a snake sometime on the 31st of May. One roster list the snake that administered the fatal bite as a rattler. Official records list his death as: "Killed by snake bite on 31-May-1861 in Pensacola, Florida." The Daily Chronicle & Sentinel ran the following story on 1-June-1861: " We regret to learn that in a pvt dispatch that was received here last night; announcing the death of H.H. Parkyn, bugler of the clinch rifles, at Pensacola yesterday, resulting from the bite of a snake."
   The Sacramento Daily Union ran the following story: "Hugh H. Parkyn, a bugler in the rebel army at Pensacola, died on the 31st from the bite of an adder."
    At a time when men were preparing for war with glorified thoughts of dying on a battle field,  the life of Hugh Parkyn was cut short by a snake bite. His body was returned to Georgia and laid to rest in the Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia.
    Bugler Hugh H. Parkyn 35 of Augusta, Georgia was survived by his wife, 1 son, family, and friends. May Pvt. (bugler) Hugh H. Parkyn RIP!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Death found Pvt. John McCabe

23-April-1863: Pvt. John McCabe age 22 of  "E" Company 97th Pennsylvania Infantry died of a gunshot wound. Pvt. John McCabe was born around 1841 in Wilmington, Delaware. His mother Ann was from Ireland. In 1850 Ann is listed as the head of the household in Wilmington, Delaware. Her occupation is listed as a spinner. John is listed as being 14 years old. Ann Lamb age 2 is also listed in the home. I could not find a solid lead in the 1860 census.
  John McCabe enlisted for 3 years service on 18-Sept-1862 in "E" Company 97th Pennsylvania Infantry known as the "Mulligan Guards". He was listed as 21 years old at the time of his enlistment. He is listed in the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry records as: "Accidentally shot by the Sgt. of the guard, in camp at Seabrook Island, S.C." He must have been transported to John's Island, N.Y. because he is listed there in death records as:
birth date:1841
birthplace:Delaware
residence: 1863 Co. J. 97 Penn. ( McCabe was in Company E – There was no Company J in the 97th Pa. Infantry Regiment. )
burial place:Old Chester, Pen.
death date:23 Apr 1863
death place: John's Island, New York
age: 22
occupation:Unk
race:White
   U.S. National Interment records list him in the Philadelphia National Cemetery as grave # 75. Originally buried in Bristol & W Hall Cemeteries in Philadelphia.
   So here we have Pvt. John McCabe 22 years old killed by accidental shooting. After checking  the U.S. Register of Deaths of Vols 61-65 I found a different account of his death. The cause of death is listed in the records as: "Shot by the Sgt. of Patrol for disobedience of orders." What orders did the young man disobey that called for his death we may never know. I could not find anymore on the event in question and he is not listed on the execution list for the 97th PVI. Regardless of how or why, death found this young soldier on 22-April-1863.
  Pvt. John McCabe was survived by his Mother, Family, and Friends. May Pvt. John McCabe RIP!