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, 1^st 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!

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

Mary Virginia “Ginnie” Wade was born on the 21^st 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 87^th 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 2^nd 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 87^th Pa and her fiancé 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 2^nd 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 fiancée 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!