Pratt's Landing, VA - Where is it?

[BobUSCT]

I have an ancestor, PVT Franklin Berstler, 56th Pennsylvania Infantry, who died at Pratt's Landing, VA of typhoid fever, in April 1863. As it appears he was not shipped home, I am assuming he was probably buried in the camp graveyard. Pratt's Landing does not seem to appear on any modern maps, and in searching the official records, I can find only one set of references in an expedition from Pratt's Landing to Healdsville, VA, under orders from Gen John Reynolds. It could be that Pratt's Landing refers to the lower wharf at Belle Plain, VA, but that is based only on a single reference, and I have not been able to find any contemporary maps that show Pratt's Landing. Belle Plain appears to be west from Falmouth, VA, near Potomac Creek and there were two landing wharves built there by the Union Army rail road construction units.

This research stems from a story told to me by mom and great grandma 55 years ago. According to the story, an uncle of my great grandma was sent as a substitute for son of a wealthy family in exchange for a winter's supply of hay. He went to war and never came back. The family was devastated and my great grandma said that her father cried about it when he told her the story, decades after the war. What I found from his records was that he enlisted in August 1862, and reported on August 15 in Harrisburg, PA. As the regiment was already formed and in the field, he was backfill for a fallen soldier. On August 29 he was with the regiment at Brawner's Farm, was wounded and captured. Soon after, he was taken from Richmond to Camp Parole to await formal exchange. That was accomplished in January 1863 and he returned to the regiment. He contracted typhoid fever, and died in the Regimental Hospital.

 

[Rebforever]

Take a wiki look. Seems to be something there.

 

[connecticut yankee]

See:
Banners South: A Northern Community at War
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0873388429
Edmund J. Raus - 2005 - ‎History ; pages 238 - 242

The author explains there were three landing wharfs at Belle Plain, Virginia in the early months of 1863 and the lowest landing of the three was Pratt's Landing. Union troops from many different states guarded these landings during 1863. I, too, have been unable thus far to find Pratt's Landing on a period map of the area. I doubt you will find it on contemporary maps as it is a long-gone feature that existed only during the war.

 

[BobUSCT]

See:
Banners South: A Northern Community at War
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0873388429
Edmund J. Raus - 2005 - ‎History ; pages 238 - 242

The author explains there were three landing wharfs at Belle Plain, Virginia in the early months of 1863 and the lowest landing of the three was Pratt's Landing. Union troops from many different states guarded these landings during 1863. I, too, have been unable thus far to find Pratt's Landing on a period map of the area. I doubt you will find it on contemporary maps as it is a long-gone feature that existed only during the war.

Thanks for the information - I imagine it will only be on a map of the period.

 

[BobUSCT]

Thanks to everyone for the help - Pratt's Landing indeed is was the lowest landing of the three on Potomac Creek. The search for this led me to maps of the Stafford review by President Lincoln, likely the last parade my ancestor ever marched in. After following the threads a bit more, and looking for camp graveyard, I checked the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, and found my ancestor, name butchered but clearly his, in one of the 20% of the identified. He was first buried on Allens Farm in Stafford county, and moved in the post war consolidation of camp and battlefield dead. My son and I are planning a Overland tour this fall, and we will add this stop to our itinerary. My 94 year old Mom will be glad to know we finally found him.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[lelliott19]

Thanks for the information - I imagine it will only be on a map of the period.

Hello Bob.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk - the best place on the internet for Civil War Discussion. Happy to have you aboard!

I know you must be very glad to have found the final resting place of your ancestor. What a relief - after all this time and no one knew where he was buried. If you are interested in learning more about the location of Pratt's Landing, you might try the UNC Gilmer Maps online here: https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/gilmer

Best of luck in your research and, again, welcome.