2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter

Preserving the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and our ancestors who fought to save the Union 1861-1865.

Dates to Note:

November 1 – Deadline

for submissions to the Winter newsletter

November 11 – Veterans Day

January TBD – Mid-Winter Meeting

June TBD – 137th

Department of Ohio Encampment

August 8-11 – 138th National SUVCW Encampment

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Department of Ohio - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

2 – Civil War Weekend and ROTC Awards Issued

3 – Sherman Camp Activities

3 – Parrott Camp Identifies

Local Veterans

4 – Hardin County Honors Local Veterans

4 – Memorial Day Programs

5 – In Memoriam 5 – Spotlight on Civil War

Memorials & Monuments 6 – Identifying CW Soldiers

in Unmarked Graves

7 – Ohio’s Memorial Day

Grants a G.A.R. Legacy

8 – Dr. Mary Walker Award Presented to Sister Lynch

9 – Cadot-Blessing Camp‘s CW Soldier Program

10 – First Soldier Buried at

Arlington Cemetery

2018 Department of Ohio Encampment

Message From Commander Kerry Langdon

Volume 10, Issue 1 September 2018

On June 9, the Brothers from most of the Department of Ohio SUVCW Camps gathered at the Clintonville Women’s Club for the 136th annual Encampment.

Special guest National Commander-in-Chief Mark Day spoke to the Brothers and commended the Department on its proactive stance on many issues relevant to the SUVCW’s stated goals.

A brief Memorial Service started the day’s activities, which was followed by many discussions of issues relative to the Department and its Camps including the proper marking and maintenance of Civil War veterans’ graves and memorials.

Prior to stepping down following the end of his term, Commander Jim Crane thanked his fellow officers and appointees before presenting awards to them.

During the Encampment, Senior Vice-Chairman Kerry Langdon was elected as the new Department Commander. He was installed by CinC Day with the assistance of his wife and ASUVCW Sister Wanda Langdon. Later in the afternoon, Commander Langdon presented his newly elected officers and appointees.

First I want to say Thank You for the honor you have bestowed on me by electing me as your Department of Ohio Commander. Brothers, Our Mission is a Great one. I challenge us to keep that mission in the fore front of our minds and find new ways of executing it. Our ancestors sacrificed much for what they believed in and to insure their descendants – us – and our descendants – would continue to live in a united states and under the principles this country was founded on. If we don’t tell their story Brothers – who will? I traveled to Plymouth after the National Encampment ended in August. I stood on the shores where my Pilgrim ancestor, John Howland, stood when he risked great hardships to come to a new land where freedom and liberty could exist. On the trip home, we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial where 40 passengers and crew stood up to terrorism and said “not in my country”. Brothers we are called to keep our mission moving forward – to tell others – to invite them to join us. Who have you invited lately? Who will you invite tomorrow? We need to increase our membership and keep the stories alive. In the words of a great patriot “Let’s Roll”.

Above – National CinC

Mark Day speaks to

the Brothers at the

annual Encampment

on June 9.

Below – A lineup of

flags from the

Department of Ohio

and attending Camps.

On June 16 and 17, 2018, the General William H. Lytle Camp 10 participated in

the annual Civil War Days event held at Heritage Village in the Sharon Woods

Park in Hamilton County. Brothers participating included Denny Brown, Kenny

Burck, Jim Cobb, Woody Cook, Richard Davis, Jim Houston, Kerry Langdon, Robb

Kidd, Todd Mayer, Bill West, and Sister Wanda Langdon.

The Camp set up a tent with Civil War displays and information to help explain

the story of the Civil War to the numerous visitors. The weekend event served as

a potential recruiting tool to bring in new members to their Camp.

Page 2

Civil War Weekend at Heritage Village

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Lytle Camp Presents Several SUVCW ROTC Awards

Above – Department Commander Jim

Crane presents the SUVCW ROTC Award

to Cadet Jakob Hockl.

Below – Brothers Jim Cobb (left) and Jim

Houston present the

SUVCW JROTC Award to Cadet David Goad.

University of Cincinnati Army ROTC Cadet Mulholand was presented the ROTC Award by Camp Commander Todd Mayer at the University of Cincinnati Annual ROTC Annual Awards Ceremony held in UC’s Richard E. Lindner Center on April 21, 2018.

On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Miami University in Oxford, Denny Brown had the high honor and privilege to present two certificates to Midshipman Paul Kenney and Cadet Brian Park. Paul has been studying mechanical engineering with a minor in Russian. He expects to be stationed at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida upon graduation. He is a native of the Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland. Brian has majored in political science and will enter an intelligence program at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas. He is from Columbus.

Brother Todd Mayer presented the Son of Union Veterans of the Civil War ROTC Award to Cadet Benjamin C. Dearie at the Xavier University All For One Battalion Annual ROTC Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cincinnati on April 21, 2018.

Brothers Jim Cobb and Jim Houston presented the SUVCW JROTC Award to Cadet David Goad at the Scarlet Oaks Awards Banquet on Wednesday, 2 May. Cadet Goad is a junior at Scarlet Oaks and is Naval Science 1 drill commander. He is involved in the rifle team and participates in the color guard. Upon completion of the NJROTC program next year he plans to join the U.S. Navy.

Department of Ohio Commander Jim Crane presented the SUVCW JROTC Award to Cadet Jakob Hockl at the Diamond Oaks Awards Banquet in Cincinnati on Monday, May 7, 2018.

Sherman Camp SUVCW Eagle Scout Awards

Earlier this year Michael Spaulding, Camp Commander of the William T.

Sherman Camp 93 presented Eagle Scout Certificates to two scouts from BSA

Troop 516, Alexey Gaulkey (15) and Will Hopwood (17). The two young men

were students at Centerville High School at the time they completed their

projects. Alexey’s project was to build nature display boxes with various articles

inside and information to inform and educate the public and he installed them

at Cowan Lake State Park. Will’s project was to create an education campaign

for the Be-a-Match Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and he staffed a booth at the

Centerville Americana parade, where he gave out literature and solicited donor

registrations.

Above: Lytle Camp Brothers

set up their tent at Sharonville.

Below: Brother Michael Spalding presents awards to

scouts Alexey Gaulkey (left) and Will Hopwood.

As they have since 2011, Major General William T. Sherman Camp 93’s

Union Army infantry, artillery, cavalry, and military history displays

attracted more than 250 visitors during Centerville’s Americana Festival on

the Fourth of July. Equally well visited was the associated “Life on the Civil

War Homefront” exhibit and information tables contributed by Sisters of the

ASUVCW O’Connell Auxiliary 10. As one young attendee commented, “Your

Civil War exhibits share information we don’t ever get in school. Thank you.”

Camp Brothers staffing exhibits included Mark Allex, Brent Davidson,

Fred Lynch, Will Motsinger, and Mike Spaulding. Auxiliary Sisters Judy

Brown, Teri and Kayley Dunlap, and Barbara Lynch hosted visitors to the

civilian life exhibit.

Following the annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony Committee meeting on May 29th, the Jacob Parrott Camp 33 began

an ambitious project in conjunction with the Kenton High School JROTC cadets and the Hardin County Genealogy Society to identify

and properly mark the grave of every known veteran in Grove Cemetery. This project to recognize service members of all eras has identified roughly 2,500 veterans in this single cemetery including

500 Civil War veterans. Spearheaded by Patriotic Instruction Officer Ronald Marvin, Jr. the

Camp has entered over 100 new names into the National SUVCW

database and has identified roughly a dozen CW vets who have no grave marker or it is so illegible the service member needs a

replacement. A few years ago, the Hardin County Genealogy Society began a

project to create biographical files on every known CW veteran buried

in the county and these files will be helpful in adding more names to the national database. For their Community Service Project during the

2018-2019 school year, the Kenton High School JROTC cadets will undertake the project to mark the several hundred recently identified

unmarked veteran graves with proper era flag holders.

Sherman Camp Exhibits at Americana Festival

Page 3 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Parrott Camp Project Identifies Local Veterans

Above – On June 16th, 2018 General Benjamin D. Fearing Camp 2 Brothers Jamie Price

and his son, Jaksan Price,

laid a wreath at the G.A.R. Monument in Gettysburg,

Pennsylvania on behalf of the Camp to honor all of the

Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Below – Brother Fred and Auxiliary Sister Barbara

Lynch attend to the information table at the

Miamisburg Bicentennial.

Sherman Camp at Miamisburg Bicentennial

Dayton’s William T. Sherman Camp 93 Brothers in conjunction with

ASUVCW O’Connell Auxiliary 10 Sisters represented the 93rd Ohio

Volunteer Infantry Company H and their ladies during the Miamisburg

Sesquicentennial celebration on June 23rd. The 93rd OVI mustered into the

Union Army in August 1862. Co. H soldiers were mostly from Miamisburg.

The camp’s extensive display of civil War artifacts and information attracted and

educated more than 200 visitors. The exhibit was located adjacent to a realistic

military camp provided by members of the 73rd OVI Regimental Band directed

by SUVCW Brother John Huffman, Enderlin Camp #73. The band marched

in the Sesquicentennial parade and performed an afternoon concert on June 23.

Above: Brothers from the Jacob Parrott Camp

gather before the annual Memorial Day Parade and

Ceremony in Kenton. Below: Brother Ronald

Marvin, Jr. presented the Memorial Day address in

Kenton’s Grove Cemetery this year.

Sons of Union Veterans

of the Civil War Department of Ohio

The Buckeye Bugle is the

unofficial newsletter published quarterly to

inform and educate members of the SUVCW

Department of Ohio.

Articles for possible publication should be sent by email to the Editor at: curator@wyandothistory.org

Ronald I. Marvin, Jr. Editor

Hardin County Honors Local Veterans

Page 4 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Ohio’s Camps Hosted Multiple Memorial Day Events

Ohio’s Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Camps spread out across the state at numerous local cemeteries to present Decoration/Memorial Day ceremonies in keeping with General Logan’s General Order No. 11. It was especially poignant as this was the 150th anniversary of his order. The William H. Lytle Camp No. 10 (images top to bottom) was at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, the Cadot-Blessing Camp No. 126 was at Pine Street Cemetery in Gallipolis, the William T. Sherman Camp No. 93 was at Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, while the Henry Casey Camp No. 92 was at the Bloomingburg Cemetery in Bloomingburg in the morning and the Lees Creek Cemetery in Lees Creek in the afternoon.

Other Camps presenting programs were the Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 at Grove Cemetery in Kenton where Camp Patriotic Instruction Officer Ronald Marvin, Jr. was the featured speaker, the McClellan Camp No. 91 was at Alliance City Cemetery in Alliance, and the James A. Garfield Camp No. 142 which was at the Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland as well as the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Cleveland and at Woodlawn Cemetery in Cleveland where Camp Grave Registration Officer Bill Stark was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Senior Vice-Commander Kerry Langdon attended a Memorial Day ceremony in Delphos in honor of the 100th anniversary of that city’s Civil War monument.

Prior to all these Memorial Day programs, Brothers from the SUVCW joined countless local volunteers to place thousands of flags on the graves of Civil War veterans in addition to veterans of all wars buried throughout the state. Many more ceremonies then the ones listed here were attended by our Brothers reflecting greatly upon the Department of Ohio, SUVCW.

Jacob Parrott Camp Brother and Hardin County Commissioner Roger Crowe led

an effort earlier this year to recognize Hardin County’s veterans from the Civil War

to the present with banners hanging around the Courthouse Square in downtown

Kenton. Over 200 local veterans including two Medal of Honor recipients, three

Generals, and numerous KIA or DOW service members were honored with individual

banners. Over 150 were hung in time for the annual Memorial Day activities in May.

This type of project is not unique to Kenton as several other communities across

Ohio and the nation have completed banner projects including Galion and Mount

Victory. Many kudos to Brother Crowe for instituting this project allowing us

another way to honor the Boys in Blue. The Parrott Camp sponsored banners for

their namesake and Delano Morey, both Civil War MOH recipients from Kenton.

WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!! In order to share the great work our Camps are doing and

to promote their upcoming events we need your assistance. Please send your program information with dates to Brother Brian Brown who is serving as the Department Signals Officer. The programs will be listed on a calendar on our Department website and be forwarded to Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. to be included in the next newsletter. Brother Brown can be contacted by email at webmaster@OhioSUV.com. Thank you in advance for your assistance. We can only promote what we know about.

Veteran

banner for Brigadier General Moses B.

Walker buried in Kenton.

In Memoriam to Our Fallen Brothers

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 5

Spotlight on Civil War Memorials & Monuments

It is with heavy hearts that we say a final goodbye to our deceased Brothers.

Ronnie D. Cox – Henry Casey Camp No. 92

Anthony Croyan – Cadot-Blessing Camp No. 126

John T. Dye – William McKinley Camp No. 21

Thomas Graham – McClellan Camp No. 91

Ronald Marvin, Sr. – Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33

Karl Schaeffer – McClellan Camp No. 91

Howard Wolfe – Benjamin D. Fearing Camp No. 2

This issue’s article will be a little different from previous ones. Instead of

focusing on one particular monument I will be looking at the bigger picture of Ohio’s Civil War monuments. Over the past few months members of the Ohio

Vintage Postcard Group on Facebook have been uploading a wide variety of

postcard images depicting various monuments and G.A.R. activities throughout

Ohio during the early 1900s.

Many postcards show monuments, statues, and cannons located in local

cemeteries with a few depicting monuments in an urban setting. These images are an invaluable toll in determining which monuments and memorials have been lost

over time or have undergone drastic changes. The cards show small towns such as

Wilmot, Salem or New California to large urban centers such as Cincinnati and

Cleveland. One of the great benefits to looking at these images is that often local

residents add their knowledge about the history of a particular monument. Just recently I looked at an image of the Soldier’s Monument in Greenfield, Ohio. One of

the members knew the history of the statue and was willing to share it with me.

One of these images which was brought to my attention was the Soldier’s

Monument in Windsor Township, Ashtabula County. According to

www.ohiocivilwarcentral.com: “In 1907, the Ladies Monumental Society, in

conjunction with the Women’s Relief Corps, the C.A. Eddy Grand Army of the Republic Post, Post Number 558, and local residents raised funds to construct a

monument in honor of Windsor Township’s Civil War soldiers and sailors.

Designed by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, the

memorial stands eighteen feet tall, including the six-foot tall statue of a soldier at

parade rest that tops the monument. The entire memorial is constructed of zinc. The monument is engraved with an eagle, depictions of George Washington and

Abraham Lincoln, the emblem of the Women’s Relief Corps, and a plaque dedicated

to the C.A. Eddy Grand Army of the Republic Post, Post Number 558. The monument is also inscribed with the following words: Dedicated to the Soldiers and Sailors of Windsor Township. Erected 1907 by the Ladies Monumental Society and Loyal Citizens.”

If you are actively seeking to record the monuments in your county and submit the information to the National SUVCW Civil War Monuments database, I suggest

spending some time scrolling through the images in this group and see which

postcards pertain to your county. Your local historical society may even have

original copies of these postcards and others to aid in identifying lost monuments.

Top – Postcard image of the

1907 Soldier’s Monument in Windsor Township.

Middle – Copy of an early G.A.R. Encampment postcard.

Bottom – Postcard image of the Civil War monument

showing the Soldier at Parade Rest statue in Salem, Ohio’s

Hope Cemetery.

Page 6 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Identifying Civil War Soldiers in Unmarked Graves

Anne Davis of Sturgis has dedicated countless hours searching historical records

for the identities of Civil War veterans lying in unmarked graves.

By Rosalie Currier, Sturgis Journal

Anne Davis of Sturgis has dedicated countless hours searching historical records for the

identities of Civil War veterans buried in unmarked graves. Her latest discovery is of four Union

soldiers buried in the Fawn River Township Cemetery. Tombstones from the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs now mark the soldier’s graves. At 2 p.m. July 15, a dedication service will begin at the

cemetery. The veterans died more than a century ago, long after returning from the Civil War

battlefront. Each died at St. Joseph County Infirmary at U.S. 12 and County Farm Road. Davis is

attempting to find living relatives of the soldiers to include in the ceremony. Bruce Gosling from Sons

of Union Veterans of the Civil War said the funeral ceremony is the same used by Grand Army of the

Republic. “We’re giving them closure,” Gosling said. “They all served their country.”

Veterans who will be honored at the ceremony:

Pvt. John Dennes, born Jan. 1, 1883, in New York, died Dec. 25, 1903. He was with Company B

of the 1st Michigan Cavalry.

Pvt. Levi Fuller served with Company D of the 27th Michigan Infantry. He was born April 26,

1836 in New York and died May 19, 1903. Fuller was married to Sarah Johnson and had at least two

children. Davis has found an ancestor of Fuller who plans to attend the ceremony.

Sgt. John Moore, was born in 1834 and died May 7, 1912. He enlisted with Company A of the

6th Michigan Infantry as a private and was promoted to corporal and then sergeant. Moore and sister

Sophie shared a family home. Like their oldest brother, Jackson, also a Civil War veteran, the siblings

died at the county infirmary.

Pvt. George Detwiler, born March 4, 1814, in Pennsylvania and died Aug. 17, 1905, at age 91.

Detwiler enlisted in Company D of the 25th Michigan Infantry in Kalamazoo. The regiment served

with distinction until mustering out June 24, 1865. He was married to Rebecca Black and the

Detwilers had at least four children.

The service is organized by Sons of the Union Veterans of Civil War, March To The Sea Camp

#135, Daughters of the American Revolution LaGrange de Lafayette Chapter, Michigan National

Honor Guard and Michigan Patriot Guard.

(www.sturgisjournal.com/news/20180703/civil8200war-soldiers-in-unmarked-graves-to-be-honored)

Bruce Gosling (left) of the SUVCW stands with Amy Davis beside the newly marked Civil War veteran graves at Fawn River Township Cemetery in Fawn River, Michigan.

Page 7

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Ohio’s Memorial Day Grants a G.A.R. Legacy

By Fred Lynch, PDC, Department of Ohio Public Affairs Officer

Hosting community Memorial Day ceremonies is a GAR-SUVCW tradition. Ohio provides funds each year to encourage and support ceremonies state-wide.

With roots in Grand Army of the Republic General John Logan’s General Order #11, Ohio Revised Code

307.66 provides encouragement and funding for the state’s Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War camps to

plan, organize, sponsor, and conduct community Memorial Day ceremonies. The law states, in part: “The board of county commissioners, annually, shall appropriate, and advance upon application made no more than one

hundred twenty days prior to memorial day, to . . . each chartered post, garrison, or naval branch of any organization of

veterans recognized and chartered by the congress, upon request of their officials, in the county, a sum of money not to

exceed five hundred dollars to aid in defraying the expenses of memorial day.

. . . .

“If any posts have become extinct or unable to attend to memorial day services, the appropriation by the board of county

commissioners or the board of township trustees shall be made to a post or unit of the sons of union veterans of the civil

war, woman's relief corps, or daughters of veterans, or to any civic or patriotic organization willing and able to undertake

and perform the work of commemoration and observance of memorial day. If the appropriation by the board of county

commissioners is made to a civic organization, it shall not exceed one hundred dollars.”

To obtain the grant, an Ohio SUVCW camp officer should contact their County Veterans Services Office

(VSO) or Board of County Commissioners asking that the camp be recognized by them as an organization that

sponsors a community Memorial Day ceremony. Include in the letter mention that the SUVCW is chartered by

the U.S. Congress. Also include information concerning the camp and its community service activities including

past or anticipated Memorial Day ceremonies.

About 120 days before Memorial Day, the county will send the camp a letter asking for an estimate of how

much money the camp wants authorized for expenditures directly in support of the ceremony. The estimate

cannot exceed $500.

Primary purpose of the Memorial Day support money is to encourage community Memorial Day ceremonies

each year, purchase military service flag holders to be placed alongside all veterans’ tombstones, to buy small

flags each year to place in the flag holders, and to pay for a wreath and flowers used in association with the

ceremony.

Some of the funds - - with prior approval of the VSO or county - - can also be used for purposes such as

purchasing bottled water for participants, buying a replacement all-weather flag for the flagpole located in a

veterans’ burial section, and to acquire major support items such as a portable public address system for use by

ceremony speakers.

As Memorial Day approaches, the Camp may buy items needed for the ceremony. Receipts must be obtained

and kept. Within 60 days following completion of the ceremony, a letter requesting reimbursement to the camp

with receipts attached must be sent to the VSO, or designated county office,. The actual procedure may vary by

county.

The “up to $500” county grant is available each year because Grand Army of the Republic Comrades wanted

Ohio SUVCW camps and other veterans groups to continue Memorial Day as a special day of commemoration,

and, to do as GAR Commander in Chief Logan directed: “Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their

sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us

raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to

aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and

sailor’s widow and orphan.”

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 8

2018 Dr. Mary Walker Award Presented to ASUVCW Sister Lynch

By Brother Fred Lynch, PDC, General William T. Sherman Camp Department Commander Kerry Langdon presented the Doctor Mary Edwards Walker Award

on July 14 to Auxiliary SUVCW Sister Barbara G. Lynch before the assembled Brothers of Major General William T. Sherman Camp 93, and Auxiliary SUVCW Sisters, in Dayton. She was nominated for the award by “unanimous approval” of the Brothers of Sherman Camp in recognition and appreciation for her outstanding efforts during many years in support of the SUVCW and Department of Ohio missions, goals, and objectives.

The award citation reads: “Sister Barbara G. Lynch, Sister Anthony O’Connell Auxiliary #10, Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Allied Orders, is awarded the Department of Ohio Doctor Mary Edwards Walker Award. This award recognizes and commends Sister Lynch for her unceasing efforts in support of the Department of Ohio, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, goals, projects, programs, and missions as a member of the Allied Orders.”

“Notable among her personal contributions and achievements are helping establish Sister Anthony O’Connell #10 ASUVCW in response to a stated goal of the Department of Ohio Department Commander, establishing and sustaining the ASUVCW Ohio Department’s ‘Sisters Supporting Women Veterans’ program, her support of Memorial Day and Grand Army of the Republic Commander in Chief John Logan’s General Order 11 concerning Memorial Day honors, and her numerous presentations with and on behalf of the SUVCW, to inform and educate thousands of attendees at public events concerning the ‘Boys in Blue’, the history of the Grand Army of the Republic, as well as the civilian ‘life on the home front during the American Civil War.’”

“Her outstanding achievements reflect great support for the SUVCW Department of Ohio, and the Sons of Union Veterans missions and purpose.”

(Photo captions left to right) Department Commander Kerry Langdon presents the Dr. Walker Award to Sister Barbara Lynch as Ohio ASUVCW President Wanda Langdon watches. Sister Lynch shows of her award certificate to the ceremony attendees. The

Sherman Camp Brothers and Sister O’Connell Sisters surround Barbara and Fred Lynch

following the award ceremony on July 14, 2018.

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 9

Cadot-Blessing Camp 126 Presented the Life of a Civil War Soldier

By Brother Gene Huffman - Camp Member and U.S. History Teacher at Gallia Academy Middle School

Members of the Cadot-Blessing Camp 126 were invited to Gallia Academy Middle School in Gallipolis,

Ohio to share with 150 eighth graders about the life of the common Civil War soldier. This was an event

that served as a culmination of their study of the Civil War era. During the presentation Abraham Lincoln

made an appearance and spoke about his life, and encouraged the students to do their best in their

studies and to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. The next segment of the program was a hands-on exploration of the common Civil War soldier. Brothers from the Camp brought in many

artifacts to share with the students. The members of the camp shared with the students about the life of

the soldier as they handled rifles, swords, minie balls, cannon balls (one was a hundred-pounder) and

tried on Civil War clothing. Members also had the opportunity to share with the students about their Civil

War ancestors and how the Civil War played an important part in our local history.

VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR FINALLY GETS HEADSTONE MORE THAN A 100 YEARS AFTER HE DIED

ALEXANDRIA, S.D. — A Civil War veteran was honored with a military headstone on his grave in South Dakota more than a century after his death.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War held a remembrance ceremony Saturday for Cpl. Timothy Peters in Alexandria, the Daily Republic reported. Peters served as a corporal from 1861 to 1865 in a Wisconsin company. He mostly fought in Missouri and Arkansas.

Peters survived the Civil War, got married, had children and eventually moved to Hanson County. He died in 1906 and was buried without an official military headstone.

Peters’ military headstone was at first wrongly placed on the grave of a Timothy Peters in Washington state in 2007. A Civil War history buff in Washington had tried to get Civil War soldiers buried in his county the proper headstone, but didn’t realize that the Timothy Peters he’d found was born after the war ended.

Joni Krause stumbled upon the mix-up while researching her family history, including her distant relative Timothy Peters.

“I messed around for a couple years, trying to get it straightened out,” Krause said of the headstone error. “I just kind of gave up. I knew the truth.”

Gordon Stuve, a camp commander for the nonprofit Sons of Union, contacted Krause about the issue about two years ago. Stuve wanted to move the stone to the proper grave, but he needed permission from Peters’ relatives.

“After almost 11 years exactly, this stone has found its home,” Stuve said at the headstone dedication. “And I thank the people that participated in this project with me.”

Krause was given a memorial flag, while Peters was remembered with a firing squad salute. (www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/06/27/veteran-of-civil-war-finally-gets-headstone-100-years-after-he-died/)

The First Soldier Buried in Arlington National Cemetery The first soldier ever buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Private William H.

Christman, died in a Washington-area hospital and was buried in Arlington Cemetery before the “official” order establishing the cemetery was actually signed by the Secretary

of War. Christman was laid to rest in Section 27, Grave 19 in what was originally the Lee Rose Garden near the Lee-Custis Mansion on the Arlington Estate. A little over a month later, on June 15, 1864, the small cemetery was established as a national cemetery.

What was once created out of necessity during the Civil War, Arlington National Cemetery now is a national shrine for hundreds of thousands active duty military

members, veterans and their families who have served during times of war and times of peace. The history of our nation can be seen every day – America's heroes are buried here from every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the conflicts of the 21st

century. William Henry Christman (October 1, 1843 – May 11, 1864) of Pocono Lake, Tobyhanna Township, Monroe

County, Pennsylvania, was the first soldier to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Christman worked as a

laborer in the Pocono Lake region prior to enlisting in the Union Army for service during the American Civil War on March 25, 1864; serving with Company G, 67th

Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. He was hospitalized for measles five weeks later, being admitted to Lincoln

General Hospital on May 1, and died ten day later on May 11. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery on May 13, 1864, the first Union soldier to be so

honored. Some of the other early burials in Arlington National Cemetery include: Private William H.

McKinney, who served with the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry was interred on Friday, May 13, 1864. The

seventeen year old soldier was the first to have their family present at the funeral. Private William Reeves,

who served with the 76th New York Infantry was the first draftee interred. He was buried

on May 13, 1864. Private William Blatt, who served with the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, was the first battle casualty interred. He was buried on Saturday, May 14, 1864. Two Unknown Union Soldiers were interred on May 15, 1864. They were the first of nearly

5,000 Unknown Veterans now resting in Arlington National Cemetery. Interesting to note is that the first graves in Arlington National Cemetery were dug

by James Parks, a former Arlington Estate slave. Parks is buried in Section 15 and was the only person buried in Arlington National Cemetery who was actually born on the property. Parks was born on the Lee-Custis Estate on March 19, 1843. He was given his

freedom in 1862 through the will of his former owner, George Washington Parke Custis. He was still living on the Arlington Estate when Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton

signed the orders designating Arlington as a military burial ground. Parks was soon enlisted as a grave digger and maintenance man for the cemetery in the U.S. Army from 1861 until his death on August 21, 1929. He was buried with full military honors.

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 10