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- Jan 16, 2015
The Confederate and Union soldiers who died at Camp Letterman General Hospital near Gettysburg between late July and November 1863 were buried in eight numbered sections adjacent to the hospital. My focus below is on Section 7, with 36 known graves representing burials that occurred (all but one) during a ten-day period between September 3 to September 12. This study was undertaken to gain insight into the interment and post-war reinterment of the dead and uncover any unusual circumstances. Among the latter, I found that, on occasion, if a body was exhumed by a family, the vacant grave would be used again, presumably sparing the burial party from having to dig a new grave – this section has one verified example (grave 26).
While field hospitals typically separated the northern and southern dead, at Camp Letterman no such distinction was made. But mistakes, misidentifications and omissions occurred along the way, and I have attempted to address them. Also, depending on time of death, a burial might take place on the same day or the following day.
Grave 1, 3rd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Wham, Company B, 42nd Mississippi. Wham was wounded July 1 and taken to a Confederate field hospital. Admitted to Camp Letterman on July 21, he likely died on September 3 or 4. (Another date of death is given as September 23, but the grave number points to early September.) Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 2, Private Adison C. Huffman, Company A, 18th Mississippi. Wounded in the side and lung on July 2, he was at Camp Letterman by August 10 (Ward S) and died on September 3. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 3, Private Jacob W. Massey, Company A, 4th North Carolina. Suffered a compound fracture of the femur and his left leg was amputated on July 3. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 4, pyemia set in on August 28 and he died on September 2 or 3. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Grave 4, Private John O. Dolson, Company A, 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. A resident of Minnesota, he was wounded in the leg and lung and died on September 3. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871, after being mistaken for one "John O. Dobson," Company A, 2nd North Carolina (who does not exist).
Grave 5, 2nd Lieutenant Charles L. Walker, Company F, 26th Georgia. Severely wounded by a minie ball in the hip, either on July 2 or else on July 5 while with the rear guard of the army near Fairfield, he was admitted to Camp Letterman on August 2. Reported as doing "very well" as of August 20, he died on the morning of September 4 from what an autopsy showed was damage to his intestines. Reinterred at Savannah, Laurel Grove Cemetery, on August 21, 1871.
Grave 6, Private Charles W. Grube, Company F, 153rd Pennsylvania. His left foot was fractured, leading to amputation of the leg, and he died on September 4. His widow visited his grave and apparently arrangements were made for his reinterment at Saint Lukes Old Williams Cemetery in Williams Township, Pennsylvania.
Grave 7, Private Tilman T. Briley, Company K, 26th North Carolina. With a fractured left femur (thigh bone), he was also afflicted with diarrhea. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 6, he died on September 4. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Graves 8-9, ?
Grave 10, Private William H. Trawick, Company A, 8th Alabama. Following amputation of his left thigh, he was admitted on August 8 to Camp Letterman. Gangrene was detected in the stump and a secondary hemorrhage occurred on August 18; he died September 4. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 11, Private William E. Stevens, Company E, 5th Texas. Badly wounded in the legs and hip on July 2, he was admitted to Camp Letterman on July 31 and died on September 4. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 12, 5th Sergeant Henry M. Paysinger, Company C, 3rd South Carolina. His right leg was fractured and subsequently amputated. He arrived at Camp Letterman on August 4 (Ward N) and died on September 5 or 6. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871.
Grave 13, Private Austin Nabers, Company G, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry. On July 3, he sustained a gunshot wound in the thigh on East Cavalry Field. He arrived at Camp Letterman after August 10 and died on September 5. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871.
Grave 14, Private John Garrett Folkerts, Company K, 5th Michigan Infantry. Born in the Netherlands in 1818, he left his job as a tailor in Detroit to enlist. His leg was amputated at Gettysburg, and he died at Camp Letterman on September 5. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, F-15, Michigan plot.
Grave 15, Private Peter G. Williamson, Company D, 5th Texas. Taking a gunshot to his right knee on July 2, he was forwarded to Camp Letterman on July 31 but suffered a secondary hemorrhage and died on September 5 or 6. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 16, Private Patrick McGuinity, Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery. A native of Galway, Ireland whose occupation was boot maker, he was struck on the arm on July 3. Later sent to Camp Letterman, he died on September 5. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-19, United States plot.
Grave 17, Sergeant Francis Augustus Butland, Company K, 17th Maine. Sustaining a compound fracture of his left thigh, he died at Camp Letterman on September 5. His body was disinterred in November 1863 and reburied in Landing Cemetery in his hometown of Kennebunk, Maine.
Grave 18, Private Elijah R. Amick, Company C, 15th South Carolina. His left thigh was fractured by a gunshot on July 2. Transported to Camp Letterman on July 31, he was placed in Ward B of 3rd Division, where he died on September 6. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871. (A conflicting document states he was admitted to Camp Letterman September 2.)
Grave 19, Private Edwin T. Johnson, Company I, 8th Georgia. Felled on July 2 by a compound fracture of the left thigh from a gunshot, his leg was amputated. Arriving at Camp Letterman on August 9, he died on September 7. Reinterred at Savannah, Laurel Grove Cemetery, on August 21, 1871.
Grave 20, Private Timothy Manley, Company A, 63rd New York. Sustaining a compound fracture of his right leg on July 2, he died at Camp Letterman on September 7. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-121, New York Plot.
Grave 21, 2nd Sergeant Thomas E. Steger, Company F, 17th Mississippi. Wounded in the left thigh on July 2, as of August 10 he was at the hospital established in the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Admitted to Camp Letterman on September 4 with chronic diarrhea, he died on September 8. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery in a state lot.
Grave 22, Private Davis Smith, Company I, 57th New York. Struck near his spine, he was moved to Camp Letterman on August 8 and succumbed from his wound on September 8. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-122, New York Plot.
Grave 23, Sergeant John W. Williams, Company A, 7th Tennessee. Disabled with a knee wound on July 3, his leg was amputated in a field hospital. Sent to Camp Letterman on July 28, he died there on September 7 or 8, at which time his haversack, coat and canteen were reissued to other wounded Confederates. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 24, Private Harrison Ambrose, Company H, 20th Indiana. His left tibia receiving a compound fracture, his leg was amputated. Pyemia in the stump resulted in his death on September 8. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, F-7, Indiana plot.
Grave 25, 3rd Corporal Joseph B. Robinson, Company G, 52nd North Carolina. Shot in the arm, lung and thigh during the July 3 assault on Cemetery Ridge, he was probably transported to a Union Second Corps field hospital. On July 23, he was sent to Camp Letterman and died on September 9. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Grave 26, Sergeant Charles Francis Ferguson, Company I, 1st Massachusetts. Wounded in the leg, which was amputated, he died on September 11 and was buried the next day. On October 3, his body was exhumed, presumably for reburial in Central Cemetery at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Grave 26, Private J. T. Adams, Company A, 14th Louisiana. Wounded by gunshot in lung and shoulder, he wound up at the U.S. Cavalry hospital located in the Presbyterian Church in town. Developing typhoid fever, he was taken to Camp Letterman on August 22, where he developed tetanus and died on October 2. He was buried the next day in the grave recently occupied by Sergeant Ferguson of the 1st Massachusetts. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 27, Private Hugh Purdy, Battery C (and F), 1st Pennsylvania. Following a compound fracture of his right thigh, he died at Camp Letterman on September 11. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, C-84, Pennsylvania plot.
Grave 28, Private David S. Edwards, Company D, 1st Virginia Infantry. He sustained a fractured right arm on July 3. Sent to Camp Letterman on July 29, he died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 29, Private Charles Nichols, Company C, 57th Virginia. His right thigh was fractured on July 3. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 5 or August 28 (Ward C, 3rd Division), he died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 30, Private James O. Dudding, Company C, 28th Virginia. His right humerus was fractured on July 3 and resected. On August 6, he was sent to Camp Letterman, where he died of tetanus on September 12 or 13. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 31, Private David W. McWilliams, Company B, 17th Mississippi. His left leg was fractured on July 2 and subsequently amputated. He arrived at Camp Letterman on August 7 and died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 32, Private Daniel M. Johnson, Company I, 13th Alabama. He sustained a gunshot to his right hip and was sent to Camp Letterman on July 31 or August 1 and died on September 11 or 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 33, Private Berry Crow, Company F, 6th Alabama. Shot in the right shoulder and lung, he afterwards contracted pneumonia and diarrhea. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 8, he died on September 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 34, Private Hooper Patrick Caffey, Company H, 3rd Alabama. A gunshot fractured his arm on July 3 at Culp's Hill. On August 10, he was a patient at the field hospital set up in the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Sent to Camp Letterman on September 4, he had pyemia and diarrhea when he died on September 13. On May 30, 1866, he was reinterred in Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery and possibly later in the Alabama lot at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.
Grave 35, Private James Henry Dunston, Company D, 14th Virginia. Sustaining a hip fracture on July 3, he was transferred to Camp Letterman on July 25 and died on September 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 36, Private John Van Dyck, Company K, 107th New York. His arm being shattered and amputated, he was sent to Camp Letterman, where he died on September 12. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, E-32, New York Plot.
Others who died during this timeframe but with unspecified grave information:
Private Peter Gahagan, Company K, 4th Michigan, died at Camp Letterman on September 7 or 9 following a compound fracture of his left thigh.
Private Frank Anderson, Company D, 5th Michigan. He died at Camp Letterman on September 11, but his body was removed from the hospital by "friends" the next day.
Private John T. Bixby, Company H, 15th Massachusetts, came through the battle unscathed and was detached from the regiment as a nurse for the wounded. He contracted a disease while at Camp Letterman and died on September 12.
Principal sources:
-Union Casualties at Gettysburg, by Travis W. Busey and John W. Busey.
-Confederate Casualties at Gettysburg, by John W. Busey and Travis W. Busey.
-Gettysburg's Confederate Dead, by Gregory A. Coco.
-Compiled service records, Fold3.
-Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Thomas Publications, 1988.
-Camp Letterman, The Lost Legacy of Gettysburg's "Hospital Woods," The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, 1997.
While field hospitals typically separated the northern and southern dead, at Camp Letterman no such distinction was made. But mistakes, misidentifications and omissions occurred along the way, and I have attempted to address them. Also, depending on time of death, a burial might take place on the same day or the following day.
Grave 1, 3rd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Wham, Company B, 42nd Mississippi. Wham was wounded July 1 and taken to a Confederate field hospital. Admitted to Camp Letterman on July 21, he likely died on September 3 or 4. (Another date of death is given as September 23, but the grave number points to early September.) Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 2, Private Adison C. Huffman, Company A, 18th Mississippi. Wounded in the side and lung on July 2, he was at Camp Letterman by August 10 (Ward S) and died on September 3. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 3, Private Jacob W. Massey, Company A, 4th North Carolina. Suffered a compound fracture of the femur and his left leg was amputated on July 3. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 4, pyemia set in on August 28 and he died on September 2 or 3. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Grave 4, Private John O. Dolson, Company A, 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. A resident of Minnesota, he was wounded in the leg and lung and died on September 3. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871, after being mistaken for one "John O. Dobson," Company A, 2nd North Carolina (who does not exist).
Grave 5, 2nd Lieutenant Charles L. Walker, Company F, 26th Georgia. Severely wounded by a minie ball in the hip, either on July 2 or else on July 5 while with the rear guard of the army near Fairfield, he was admitted to Camp Letterman on August 2. Reported as doing "very well" as of August 20, he died on the morning of September 4 from what an autopsy showed was damage to his intestines. Reinterred at Savannah, Laurel Grove Cemetery, on August 21, 1871.
Grave 6, Private Charles W. Grube, Company F, 153rd Pennsylvania. His left foot was fractured, leading to amputation of the leg, and he died on September 4. His widow visited his grave and apparently arrangements were made for his reinterment at Saint Lukes Old Williams Cemetery in Williams Township, Pennsylvania.
Grave 7, Private Tilman T. Briley, Company K, 26th North Carolina. With a fractured left femur (thigh bone), he was also afflicted with diarrhea. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 6, he died on September 4. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Graves 8-9, ?
Grave 10, Private William H. Trawick, Company A, 8th Alabama. Following amputation of his left thigh, he was admitted on August 8 to Camp Letterman. Gangrene was detected in the stump and a secondary hemorrhage occurred on August 18; he died September 4. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 11, Private William E. Stevens, Company E, 5th Texas. Badly wounded in the legs and hip on July 2, he was admitted to Camp Letterman on July 31 and died on September 4. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 12, 5th Sergeant Henry M. Paysinger, Company C, 3rd South Carolina. His right leg was fractured and subsequently amputated. He arrived at Camp Letterman on August 4 (Ward N) and died on September 5 or 6. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871.
Grave 13, Private Austin Nabers, Company G, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry. On July 3, he sustained a gunshot wound in the thigh on East Cavalry Field. He arrived at Camp Letterman after August 10 and died on September 5. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871.
Grave 14, Private John Garrett Folkerts, Company K, 5th Michigan Infantry. Born in the Netherlands in 1818, he left his job as a tailor in Detroit to enlist. His leg was amputated at Gettysburg, and he died at Camp Letterman on September 5. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, F-15, Michigan plot.
Grave 15, Private Peter G. Williamson, Company D, 5th Texas. Taking a gunshot to his right knee on July 2, he was forwarded to Camp Letterman on July 31 but suffered a secondary hemorrhage and died on September 5 or 6. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 16, Private Patrick McGuinity, Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery. A native of Galway, Ireland whose occupation was boot maker, he was struck on the arm on July 3. Later sent to Camp Letterman, he died on September 5. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-19, United States plot.
Grave 17, Sergeant Francis Augustus Butland, Company K, 17th Maine. Sustaining a compound fracture of his left thigh, he died at Camp Letterman on September 5. His body was disinterred in November 1863 and reburied in Landing Cemetery in his hometown of Kennebunk, Maine.
Grave 18, Private Elijah R. Amick, Company C, 15th South Carolina. His left thigh was fractured by a gunshot on July 2. Transported to Camp Letterman on July 31, he was placed in Ward B of 3rd Division, where he died on September 6. Reinterred in Charleston, Magnolia Cemetery, on May 10, 1871. (A conflicting document states he was admitted to Camp Letterman September 2.)
Grave 19, Private Edwin T. Johnson, Company I, 8th Georgia. Felled on July 2 by a compound fracture of the left thigh from a gunshot, his leg was amputated. Arriving at Camp Letterman on August 9, he died on September 7. Reinterred at Savannah, Laurel Grove Cemetery, on August 21, 1871.
Grave 20, Private Timothy Manley, Company A, 63rd New York. Sustaining a compound fracture of his right leg on July 2, he died at Camp Letterman on September 7. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-121, New York Plot.
Grave 21, 2nd Sergeant Thomas E. Steger, Company F, 17th Mississippi. Wounded in the left thigh on July 2, as of August 10 he was at the hospital established in the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Admitted to Camp Letterman on September 4 with chronic diarrhea, he died on September 8. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery in a state lot.
Grave 22, Private Davis Smith, Company I, 57th New York. Struck near his spine, he was moved to Camp Letterman on August 8 and succumbed from his wound on September 8. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, D-122, New York Plot.
Grave 23, Sergeant John W. Williams, Company A, 7th Tennessee. Disabled with a knee wound on July 3, his leg was amputated in a field hospital. Sent to Camp Letterman on July 28, he died there on September 7 or 8, at which time his haversack, coat and canteen were reissued to other wounded Confederates. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 24, Private Harrison Ambrose, Company H, 20th Indiana. His left tibia receiving a compound fracture, his leg was amputated. Pyemia in the stump resulted in his death on September 8. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, F-7, Indiana plot.
Grave 25, 3rd Corporal Joseph B. Robinson, Company G, 52nd North Carolina. Shot in the arm, lung and thigh during the July 3 assault on Cemetery Ridge, he was probably transported to a Union Second Corps field hospital. On July 23, he was sent to Camp Letterman and died on September 9. Reinterred in Raleigh, Oakwood Cemetery, on October 1, 1871.
Grave 26, Sergeant Charles Francis Ferguson, Company I, 1st Massachusetts. Wounded in the leg, which was amputated, he died on September 11 and was buried the next day. On October 3, his body was exhumed, presumably for reburial in Central Cemetery at Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Grave 26, Private J. T. Adams, Company A, 14th Louisiana. Wounded by gunshot in lung and shoulder, he wound up at the U.S. Cavalry hospital located in the Presbyterian Church in town. Developing typhoid fever, he was taken to Camp Letterman on August 22, where he developed tetanus and died on October 2. He was buried the next day in the grave recently occupied by Sergeant Ferguson of the 1st Massachusetts. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 27, Private Hugh Purdy, Battery C (and F), 1st Pennsylvania. Following a compound fracture of his right thigh, he died at Camp Letterman on September 11. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, C-84, Pennsylvania plot.
Grave 28, Private David S. Edwards, Company D, 1st Virginia Infantry. He sustained a fractured right arm on July 3. Sent to Camp Letterman on July 29, he died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 29, Private Charles Nichols, Company C, 57th Virginia. His right thigh was fractured on July 3. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 5 or August 28 (Ward C, 3rd Division), he died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 30, Private James O. Dudding, Company C, 28th Virginia. His right humerus was fractured on July 3 and resected. On August 6, he was sent to Camp Letterman, where he died of tetanus on September 12 or 13. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 31, Private David W. McWilliams, Company B, 17th Mississippi. His left leg was fractured on July 2 and subsequently amputated. He arrived at Camp Letterman on August 7 and died on September 11. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 32, Private Daniel M. Johnson, Company I, 13th Alabama. He sustained a gunshot to his right hip and was sent to Camp Letterman on July 31 or August 1 and died on September 11 or 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 33, Private Berry Crow, Company F, 6th Alabama. Shot in the right shoulder and lung, he afterwards contracted pneumonia and diarrhea. Admitted to Camp Letterman on August 8, he died on September 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 34, Private Hooper Patrick Caffey, Company H, 3rd Alabama. A gunshot fractured his arm on July 3 at Culp's Hill. On August 10, he was a patient at the field hospital set up in the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Sent to Camp Letterman on September 4, he had pyemia and diarrhea when he died on September 13. On May 30, 1866, he was reinterred in Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery and possibly later in the Alabama lot at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.
Grave 35, Private James Henry Dunston, Company D, 14th Virginia. Sustaining a hip fracture on July 3, he was transferred to Camp Letterman on July 25 and died on September 12. Reinterred in Richmond, Hollywood Cemetery, on June 13, 1872.
Grave 36, Private John Van Dyck, Company K, 107th New York. His arm being shattered and amputated, he was sent to Camp Letterman, where he died on September 12. Reinterred in Gettysburg's National Cemetery, E-32, New York Plot.
Others who died during this timeframe but with unspecified grave information:
Private Peter Gahagan, Company K, 4th Michigan, died at Camp Letterman on September 7 or 9 following a compound fracture of his left thigh.
Private Frank Anderson, Company D, 5th Michigan. He died at Camp Letterman on September 11, but his body was removed from the hospital by "friends" the next day.
Private John T. Bixby, Company H, 15th Massachusetts, came through the battle unscathed and was detached from the regiment as a nurse for the wounded. He contracted a disease while at Camp Letterman and died on September 12.
Principal sources:
-Union Casualties at Gettysburg, by Travis W. Busey and John W. Busey.
-Confederate Casualties at Gettysburg, by John W. Busey and Travis W. Busey.
-Gettysburg's Confederate Dead, by Gregory A. Coco.
-Compiled service records, Fold3.
-Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Thomas Publications, 1988.
-Camp Letterman, The Lost Legacy of Gettysburg's "Hospital Woods," The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, 1997.
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