From the Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church records, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvana:
2 Nov 1858 William Burgess and Margaret A. Newman
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:
Name:William Burgess
Side:Union
Regiment State/Origin:Pennsylvania
Regiment Name:6 Pennsylvania Res. Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded:6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (35th Volunteers)
Company:D
Rank In:Second Lieutenant
Rank In Expanded:Second Lieutenant
Rank Out:Lieutenant
Rank Out Expanded: Lieutenant
Film Number:M554 roll 15
Civil War Pension Index:
Name:William Burgess
Widow:Margaret A. Burgess
Service:Co. D, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry
Date of filing:August 21, 1890
Widow Appl. Num.467109, 331271 PA
The son of Samuel & Susan Burgess, he married Margaret Ann Newman November 2, 1858, in Frederick County, Maryland, and fathered Leila Mary (b. 08/??/59 - married William Bartine Haffelfinger), Catherine (b. 02/??/63 - married Lemuel Clendenin Senseman), Susan Newman (b. 06/15/65 - married Robert Alfred Hance), Margaret Ann (b. 07/??/67), and Anna "Nancy" (b. 03/??/70 - married Augustus Hobart Smock). In 1860, he was a clerk living with his family in Loudon Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and stood 5' 6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of thirty in Franklin County April 24, 1861, and mustered into federal service at Washington DC July 27 as 2nd lieutenant of Co. D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Infantry). He spent part of the winter months of 1861 - 62 on recruiting duty and was detached to the ambulance corps ca. August 18, 1862. Returning to the regiment, he was captured at the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, and incarcerated at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Paroled at City Point on February 20, 1863, he was forwarded to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, where he is listed as in arrest for reasons unknown by April 30. Nothing more of that situation appears in his compiled military service records, and he returned to duty with the regiment by May 16 following. Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date September 19, 1863, he was in command of his company from April 23, 1864, for which he received an extra $10.00 monthly pay. He honorably discharged at term's end June 11, 1864. A remembrance of him in the July 22, 1887, Chambersburg Public Weekly alleges that "he served throughout the entire Rebellion," which is an exaggerated claim. On June 22, 1867, the army honored him by issuing a brevet rank of captain to date March 13, 1865.
As can be seen in the accompanying news story, death came with tragic suddenness when he shot himself to death at the Cumberland Valley freight depot while cleaning a rusty army .42 Colt revolver. Witnesses agree there was no one in the room when the gun discharged, although the report was clearly heard by several who arrived on the scene within seconds. Two days later, a coroner's inquest ruled the death accidental, a decision that does not pass the hindsight smell test. To begin with, the bullet entered Burgess's mouth and exited the top of his head, lodging in the ceiling, strongly suggesting a classic method of suicide by gun. Had he been looking down the barrel of the pistol at the time it discharged as someone might do while cleaning it, the bullet would have entered closer to eye level, not his mouth. It wasn't a matter of him not knowing the gun was loaded because testimony shows that Burgess was aware the pistol contained three live rounds because he had announced his intention of emptying the weapon shooting at frogs. Last, just prior to the act, Burgess had sent a co-worker from the office purportedly to retrieve tallow needed to clean the pistol, thus leaving himself alone perhaps seconds before the event. Neither the accompanying article nor any other mentions anything about his state of mind prior to the event. Whether or not his death was a foolish and tragic accident or done purposefully likely, barring some future discovery, will never be known with any certainty, and all scenarios of his death are possible. The coroner's inquest conclusion must be deemed a nineteenth-century version of "the call on the field stands."
A member of Chambersburg's Housum Post No. 309, G.A.R., a listing of Civil War burials in the June 1, 1888, Chambersburg Public Weekly Opinion claims that Burgess was buried in the Lutheran Graveyard at Fort Loudon.
Burgess's widow received a $1,000 life insurance settlement shortly following his death, but a year later another insurance company balked at paying her a $5,000 accidental death claim on the grounds that Burgess's death had not occurred during the normal duties of a freight agent. The issue went to court, but at this time no outcome of the case has yet been located.
—Bio courtesy of Contributor Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
2 Nov 1858 William Burgess and Margaret A. Newman
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:
Name:William Burgess
Side:Union
Regiment State/Origin:Pennsylvania
Regiment Name:6 Pennsylvania Res. Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded:6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (35th Volunteers)
Company:D
Rank In:Second Lieutenant
Rank In Expanded:Second Lieutenant
Rank Out:Lieutenant
Rank Out Expanded: Lieutenant
Film Number:M554 roll 15
Civil War Pension Index:
Name:William Burgess
Widow:Margaret A. Burgess
Service:Co. D, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry
Date of filing:August 21, 1890
Widow Appl. Num.467109, 331271 PA
The son of Samuel & Susan Burgess, he married Margaret Ann Newman November 2, 1858, in Frederick County, Maryland, and fathered Leila Mary (b. 08/??/59 - married William Bartine Haffelfinger), Catherine (b. 02/??/63 - married Lemuel Clendenin Senseman), Susan Newman (b. 06/15/65 - married Robert Alfred Hance), Margaret Ann (b. 07/??/67), and Anna "Nancy" (b. 03/??/70 - married Augustus Hobart Smock). In 1860, he was a clerk living with his family in Loudon Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and stood 5' 6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of thirty in Franklin County April 24, 1861, and mustered into federal service at Washington DC July 27 as 2nd lieutenant of Co. D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Infantry). He spent part of the winter months of 1861 - 62 on recruiting duty and was detached to the ambulance corps ca. August 18, 1862. Returning to the regiment, he was captured at the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, and incarcerated at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Paroled at City Point on February 20, 1863, he was forwarded to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, where he is listed as in arrest for reasons unknown by April 30. Nothing more of that situation appears in his compiled military service records, and he returned to duty with the regiment by May 16 following. Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date September 19, 1863, he was in command of his company from April 23, 1864, for which he received an extra $10.00 monthly pay. He honorably discharged at term's end June 11, 1864. A remembrance of him in the July 22, 1887, Chambersburg Public Weekly alleges that "he served throughout the entire Rebellion," which is an exaggerated claim. On June 22, 1867, the army honored him by issuing a brevet rank of captain to date March 13, 1865.
As can be seen in the accompanying news story, death came with tragic suddenness when he shot himself to death at the Cumberland Valley freight depot while cleaning a rusty army .42 Colt revolver. Witnesses agree there was no one in the room when the gun discharged, although the report was clearly heard by several who arrived on the scene within seconds. Two days later, a coroner's inquest ruled the death accidental, a decision that does not pass the hindsight smell test. To begin with, the bullet entered Burgess's mouth and exited the top of his head, lodging in the ceiling, strongly suggesting a classic method of suicide by gun. Had he been looking down the barrel of the pistol at the time it discharged as someone might do while cleaning it, the bullet would have entered closer to eye level, not his mouth. It wasn't a matter of him not knowing the gun was loaded because testimony shows that Burgess was aware the pistol contained three live rounds because he had announced his intention of emptying the weapon shooting at frogs. Last, just prior to the act, Burgess had sent a co-worker from the office purportedly to retrieve tallow needed to clean the pistol, thus leaving himself alone perhaps seconds before the event. Neither the accompanying article nor any other mentions anything about his state of mind prior to the event. Whether or not his death was a foolish and tragic accident or done purposefully likely, barring some future discovery, will never be known with any certainty, and all scenarios of his death are possible. The coroner's inquest conclusion must be deemed a nineteenth-century version of "the call on the field stands."
A member of Chambersburg's Housum Post No. 309, G.A.R., a listing of Civil War burials in the June 1, 1888, Chambersburg Public Weekly Opinion claims that Burgess was buried in the Lutheran Graveyard at Fort Loudon.
Burgess's widow received a $1,000 life insurance settlement shortly following his death, but a year later another insurance company balked at paying her a $5,000 accidental death claim on the grounds that Burgess's death had not occurred during the normal duties of a freight agent. The issue went to court, but at this time no outcome of the case has yet been located.
—Bio courtesy of Contributor Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
From the Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church records, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvana:
2 Nov 1858 William Burgess and Margaret A. Newman
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:
Name:William Burgess
Side:Union
Regiment State/Origin:Pennsylvania
Regiment Name:6 Pennsylvania Res. Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded:6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (35th Volunteers)
Company:D
Rank In:Second Lieutenant
Rank In Expanded:Second Lieutenant
Rank Out:Lieutenant
Rank Out Expanded: Lieutenant
Film Number:M554 roll 15
Civil War Pension Index:
Name:William Burgess
Widow:Margaret A. Burgess
Service:Co. D, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry
Date of filing:August 21, 1890
Widow Appl. Num.467109, 331271 PA
The son of Samuel & Susan Burgess, he married Margaret Ann Newman November 2, 1858, in Frederick County, Maryland, and fathered Leila Mary (b. 08/??/59 - married William Bartine Haffelfinger), Catherine (b. 02/??/63 - married Lemuel Clendenin Senseman), Susan Newman (b. 06/15/65 - married Robert Alfred Hance), Margaret Ann (b. 07/??/67), and Anna "Nancy" (b. 03/??/70 - married Augustus Hobart Smock). In 1860, he was a clerk living with his family in Loudon Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and stood 5' 6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of thirty in Franklin County April 24, 1861, and mustered into federal service at Washington DC July 27 as 2nd lieutenant of Co. D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Infantry). He spent part of the winter months of 1861 - 62 on recruiting duty and was detached to the ambulance corps ca. August 18, 1862. Returning to the regiment, he was captured at the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, and incarcerated at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Paroled at City Point on February 20, 1863, he was forwarded to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, where he is listed as in arrest for reasons unknown by April 30. Nothing more of that situation appears in his compiled military service records, and he returned to duty with the regiment by May 16 following. Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date September 19, 1863, he was in command of his company from April 23, 1864, for which he received an extra $10.00 monthly pay. He honorably discharged at term's end June 11, 1864. A remembrance of him in the July 22, 1887, Chambersburg Public Weekly alleges that "he served throughout the entire Rebellion," which is an exaggerated claim. On June 22, 1867, the army honored him by issuing a brevet rank of captain to date March 13, 1865.
As can be seen in the accompanying news story, death came with tragic suddenness when he shot himself to death at the Cumberland Valley freight depot while cleaning a rusty army .42 Colt revolver. Witnesses agree there was no one in the room when the gun discharged, although the report was clearly heard by several who arrived on the scene within seconds. Two days later, a coroner's inquest ruled the death accidental, a decision that does not pass the hindsight smell test. To begin with, the bullet entered Burgess's mouth and exited the top of his head, lodging in the ceiling, strongly suggesting a classic method of suicide by gun. Had he been looking down the barrel of the pistol at the time it discharged as someone might do while cleaning it, the bullet would have entered closer to eye level, not his mouth. It wasn't a matter of him not knowing the gun was loaded because testimony shows that Burgess was aware the pistol contained three live rounds because he had announced his intention of emptying the weapon shooting at frogs. Last, just prior to the act, Burgess had sent a co-worker from the office purportedly to retrieve tallow needed to clean the pistol, thus leaving himself alone perhaps seconds before the event. Neither the accompanying article nor any other mentions anything about his state of mind prior to the event. Whether or not his death was a foolish and tragic accident or done purposefully likely, barring some future discovery, will never be known with any certainty, and all scenarios of his death are possible. The coroner's inquest conclusion must be deemed a nineteenth-century version of "the call on the field stands."
A member of Chambersburg's Housum Post No. 309, G.A.R., a listing of Civil War burials in the June 1, 1888, Chambersburg Public Weekly Opinion claims that Burgess was buried in the Lutheran Graveyard at Fort Loudon.
Burgess's widow received a $1,000 life insurance settlement shortly following his death, but a year later another insurance company balked at paying her a $5,000 accidental death claim on the grounds that Burgess's death had not occurred during the normal duties of a freight agent. The issue went to court, but at this time no outcome of the case has yet been located.
—Bio courtesy of Contributor Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
2 Nov 1858 William Burgess and Margaret A. Newman
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:
Name:William Burgess
Side:Union
Regiment State/Origin:Pennsylvania
Regiment Name:6 Pennsylvania Res. Inf.
Regiment Name Expanded:6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (35th Volunteers)
Company:D
Rank In:Second Lieutenant
Rank In Expanded:Second Lieutenant
Rank Out:Lieutenant
Rank Out Expanded: Lieutenant
Film Number:M554 roll 15
Civil War Pension Index:
Name:William Burgess
Widow:Margaret A. Burgess
Service:Co. D, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry
Date of filing:August 21, 1890
Widow Appl. Num.467109, 331271 PA
The son of Samuel & Susan Burgess, he married Margaret Ann Newman November 2, 1858, in Frederick County, Maryland, and fathered Leila Mary (b. 08/??/59 - married William Bartine Haffelfinger), Catherine (b. 02/??/63 - married Lemuel Clendenin Senseman), Susan Newman (b. 06/15/65 - married Robert Alfred Hance), Margaret Ann (b. 07/??/67), and Anna "Nancy" (b. 03/??/70 - married Augustus Hobart Smock). In 1860, he was a clerk living with his family in Loudon Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and stood 5' 6" tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
A Civil War veteran, he enlisted at the stated age of thirty in Franklin County April 24, 1861, and mustered into federal service at Washington DC July 27 as 2nd lieutenant of Co. D, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Infantry). He spent part of the winter months of 1861 - 62 on recruiting duty and was detached to the ambulance corps ca. August 18, 1862. Returning to the regiment, he was captured at the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, and incarcerated at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Paroled at City Point on February 20, 1863, he was forwarded to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, where he is listed as in arrest for reasons unknown by April 30. Nothing more of that situation appears in his compiled military service records, and he returned to duty with the regiment by May 16 following. Promoted to 1st lieutenant to date September 19, 1863, he was in command of his company from April 23, 1864, for which he received an extra $10.00 monthly pay. He honorably discharged at term's end June 11, 1864. A remembrance of him in the July 22, 1887, Chambersburg Public Weekly alleges that "he served throughout the entire Rebellion," which is an exaggerated claim. On June 22, 1867, the army honored him by issuing a brevet rank of captain to date March 13, 1865.
As can be seen in the accompanying news story, death came with tragic suddenness when he shot himself to death at the Cumberland Valley freight depot while cleaning a rusty army .42 Colt revolver. Witnesses agree there was no one in the room when the gun discharged, although the report was clearly heard by several who arrived on the scene within seconds. Two days later, a coroner's inquest ruled the death accidental, a decision that does not pass the hindsight smell test. To begin with, the bullet entered Burgess's mouth and exited the top of his head, lodging in the ceiling, strongly suggesting a classic method of suicide by gun. Had he been looking down the barrel of the pistol at the time it discharged as someone might do while cleaning it, the bullet would have entered closer to eye level, not his mouth. It wasn't a matter of him not knowing the gun was loaded because testimony shows that Burgess was aware the pistol contained three live rounds because he had announced his intention of emptying the weapon shooting at frogs. Last, just prior to the act, Burgess had sent a co-worker from the office purportedly to retrieve tallow needed to clean the pistol, thus leaving himself alone perhaps seconds before the event. Neither the accompanying article nor any other mentions anything about his state of mind prior to the event. Whether or not his death was a foolish and tragic accident or done purposefully likely, barring some future discovery, will never be known with any certainty, and all scenarios of his death are possible. The coroner's inquest conclusion must be deemed a nineteenth-century version of "the call on the field stands."
A member of Chambersburg's Housum Post No. 309, G.A.R., a listing of Civil War burials in the June 1, 1888, Chambersburg Public Weekly Opinion claims that Burgess was buried in the Lutheran Graveyard at Fort Loudon.
Burgess's widow received a $1,000 life insurance settlement shortly following his death, but a year later another insurance company balked at paying her a $5,000 accidental death claim on the grounds that Burgess's death had not occurred during the normal duties of a freight agent. The issue went to court, but at this time no outcome of the case has yet been located.
—Bio courtesy of Contributor Dennis Brandt (47232334) • [email protected]
Inscription
G.A.R.
Gravesite Details
Moved From Ft. Loudon Cemetery Jan 8, 1910
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