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| Detail of tombstone of Capt. Samuel J. Boone, Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church, Quarryville, PA |
Thirty-seven officers and men of the 79th Pennsylvania died at the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862, making it by far the bloodiest day in the military history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. With another 149 wounded and and three missing, the regiment's casualties numbered 189 according to Bates' regimental history and an 1863 casualty list published in the 3/24 Intelligencer. Of the wounded, at least 10 soldiers would die in Kentucky before the end of October, although most of the remainder appear to have returned to service. As far as I know, of these 47 men killed or mortally wounded at Perryville, the remains of only five made it back to Pennsylvania. They include:
- Capt. Samuel J. Boone, Company C. Killed in action. Buried at Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Quarryville.
- Lieut. Henry J. Test, Company C. Killed in action. Presumably buried in York.
- Corp. Frederick J. Sener. Died October 24, 1862, of wounds. Buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery. [Plot location unknown.]
- Corp. John A. Keller, Company B. Died November 3, 1862, of wounds. Buried at Lancaster Cemetery. [Plot location unknown.]
- Pvt. William Eckert [Eakert], Company B. Killed in action. Buried at Calvary Monument Bible Church Cemetery, Paradise.
The rest of the men killed in action were buried on the field by their comrades -- despite the wishes of many family members in Lancaster to have remains sent home. Those remains, which did not retain any identification, were transferred to Camp Nelson National Cemetery after the war. Others who died in military hospitals are buried in national cemeteries around Louisville.
Two years ago, I went out to visit and photograph the graves of Capt. Boone and Pvt. Eckert, which are only a couple miles apart in southern Lancaster County. In posts over the upcoming days, I'll post more about their lives and deaths and share some photos of their tombstones.
I’m looking for this follow-up article but evidently you didn’t get to write one. If I am mistaken please let me know the link. I’m living here next to the Calvary Monument graveyard. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello. I found this article yesterday after walking the cemetery at Calvary Monument and googling William Eakert. I've tried to find a followup article about his life/death, as you mentioned you would write about. Can you send that link to me? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, thanks for your comments. I haven't written the follow-up, but pretty much all of the raw material is in the "Battle Files" link. Hopefully, I'll do it some day, but it's not currently a high priority.
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