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!

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! 

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!

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!

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.

Death Found Thousands on 25-October-1415 in Agincourt

On the 24^th 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 25^th 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