John Best was born around 1805, the oldest of 12 children of Elias and Nancy (Archibald) Best who farmed in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County,PA. He was the grandson of James Best, born in Ireland about 1745 who also farmed in Donegal Township.
John was married to Elizabeth Monticue, on May 22, 1835 in Donegal Township by Justice of the Peace, John Cambell. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Boon) Monticue who were then living in Donegal township though they were originally from Caroline County, MD. John and Elizabeth had nine children: Mary, William C. (who enrolled just before his father's death and also died in the Civil War of disease near Falmouth, VA on Dec 30, 1862) , Elizabeth, Robert, Susan, Hannah, James, Amelia and David. Their family moved from Westmoreland County to Darlington Township in Beaver County, PA. between 1840 and 1850. Their youngest son, Davy, died of lung fever in 1860.
On August 31, 1861, the family went to New Castle, PA for a patriotic send off for the young volunteer soldiers when John, a 56 or 57 year old laborer, was apparently swept up in the patriotic fervor and got onto the train when it departed New Castle. His family waited for him to go home later that day without knowing what he had done.
John enrolled at Newcastle PA August 31, 1861 in Company I, 100th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and mustered into service the same day as a private August 31st, 1861 at Pittsburgh, PA under Captain Squire for a three year term. This regiment left Pennsylvania for Washington D.C., on September 2nd where it had duty until October 9 when it moved to Annapolis, MD and was attached to Steven's 2nd Brigade, Sherman's South Carolina Expedition, which went to Port Royal Harbor S.C. October 21-Nov 7th where it captured Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor. Then followed the occupation of Beaufort, S. C. December 8, duty there until June, 1862; Port Royal Ferry, Coosa River, January 1. Then followed operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Legaire's Point, James Island, June 3, skirmishes on James Island June 3-4, the Battle of Secessionville, James Island, June 16, evacuation of James Island and a move to Hilton Head, S.C., June 28-July 7; followed by a move to Newport News, Va., July 12-17, thence to Fredericksburg MD August 4-6; then operations in support of Pope August 6-16, Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. and the Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1.
According to John's pension record, he died "of a large wound in the upper part of his arm involving the shoulder joint which he received in action at the Battle of Bull Run or Antietam". Antietam was fought Sept 16-18, 1862 and turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North delivering the first major defeat to Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. At Antietam the Union army lost over 2,000 men and the wounded numbered over 10,000--more than double the losses of D Day during WWII. Bull Run (2nd Battle) was fought Aug 28-30, 1862. The Battle of Chantilly was fought Sept 1st. John died in Cliffburne General Hospital in Washington Sept 21, 1862 and was buried in Soldier's Cemetery in Washington D.C. The somewhat unlikely information passed down to his granddaughter, Permilla Lockard Hess was that he said as he was dying "Oh, ye Comrades, look to Christ and die as I am without a struggle".
John was married to Elizabeth Monticue, on May 22, 1835 in Donegal Township by Justice of the Peace, John Cambell. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Boon) Monticue who were then living in Donegal township though they were originally from Caroline County, MD. John and Elizabeth had nine children: Mary, William C. (who enrolled just before his father's death and also died in the Civil War of disease near Falmouth, VA on Dec 30, 1862) , Elizabeth, Robert, Susan, Hannah, James, Amelia and David. Their family moved from Westmoreland County to Darlington Township in Beaver County, PA. between 1840 and 1850. Their youngest son, Davy, died of lung fever in 1860.
On August 31, 1861, the family went to New Castle, PA for a patriotic send off for the young volunteer soldiers when John, a 56 or 57 year old laborer, was apparently swept up in the patriotic fervor and got onto the train when it departed New Castle. His family waited for him to go home later that day without knowing what he had done.
John enrolled at Newcastle PA August 31, 1861 in Company I, 100th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and mustered into service the same day as a private August 31st, 1861 at Pittsburgh, PA under Captain Squire for a three year term. This regiment left Pennsylvania for Washington D.C., on September 2nd where it had duty until October 9 when it moved to Annapolis, MD and was attached to Steven's 2nd Brigade, Sherman's South Carolina Expedition, which went to Port Royal Harbor S.C. October 21-Nov 7th where it captured Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor. Then followed the occupation of Beaufort, S. C. December 8, duty there until June, 1862; Port Royal Ferry, Coosa River, January 1. Then followed operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Legaire's Point, James Island, June 3, skirmishes on James Island June 3-4, the Battle of Secessionville, James Island, June 16, evacuation of James Island and a move to Hilton Head, S.C., June 28-July 7; followed by a move to Newport News, Va., July 12-17, thence to Fredericksburg MD August 4-6; then operations in support of Pope August 6-16, Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. and the Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1.
According to John's pension record, he died "of a large wound in the upper part of his arm involving the shoulder joint which he received in action at the Battle of Bull Run or Antietam". Antietam was fought Sept 16-18, 1862 and turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North delivering the first major defeat to Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. At Antietam the Union army lost over 2,000 men and the wounded numbered over 10,000--more than double the losses of D Day during WWII. Bull Run (2nd Battle) was fought Aug 28-30, 1862. The Battle of Chantilly was fought Sept 1st. John died in Cliffburne General Hospital in Washington Sept 21, 1862 and was buried in Soldier's Cemetery in Washington D.C. The somewhat unlikely information passed down to his granddaughter, Permilla Lockard Hess was that he said as he was dying "Oh, ye Comrades, look to Christ and die as I am without a struggle".
John Best was born around 1805, the oldest of 12 children of Elias and Nancy (Archibald) Best who farmed in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County,PA. He was the grandson of James Best, born in Ireland about 1745 who also farmed in Donegal Township.
John was married to Elizabeth Monticue, on May 22, 1835 in Donegal Township by Justice of the Peace, John Cambell. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Boon) Monticue who were then living in Donegal township though they were originally from Caroline County, MD. John and Elizabeth had nine children: Mary, William C. (who enrolled just before his father's death and also died in the Civil War of disease near Falmouth, VA on Dec 30, 1862) , Elizabeth, Robert, Susan, Hannah, James, Amelia and David. Their family moved from Westmoreland County to Darlington Township in Beaver County, PA. between 1840 and 1850. Their youngest son, Davy, died of lung fever in 1860.
On August 31, 1861, the family went to New Castle, PA for a patriotic send off for the young volunteer soldiers when John, a 56 or 57 year old laborer, was apparently swept up in the patriotic fervor and got onto the train when it departed New Castle. His family waited for him to go home later that day without knowing what he had done.
John enrolled at Newcastle PA August 31, 1861 in Company I, 100th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and mustered into service the same day as a private August 31st, 1861 at Pittsburgh, PA under Captain Squire for a three year term. This regiment left Pennsylvania for Washington D.C., on September 2nd where it had duty until October 9 when it moved to Annapolis, MD and was attached to Steven's 2nd Brigade, Sherman's South Carolina Expedition, which went to Port Royal Harbor S.C. October 21-Nov 7th where it captured Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor. Then followed the occupation of Beaufort, S. C. December 8, duty there until June, 1862; Port Royal Ferry, Coosa River, January 1. Then followed operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Legaire's Point, James Island, June 3, skirmishes on James Island June 3-4, the Battle of Secessionville, James Island, June 16, evacuation of James Island and a move to Hilton Head, S.C., June 28-July 7; followed by a move to Newport News, Va., July 12-17, thence to Fredericksburg MD August 4-6; then operations in support of Pope August 6-16, Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. and the Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1.
According to John's pension record, he died "of a large wound in the upper part of his arm involving the shoulder joint which he received in action at the Battle of Bull Run or Antietam". Antietam was fought Sept 16-18, 1862 and turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North delivering the first major defeat to Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. At Antietam the Union army lost over 2,000 men and the wounded numbered over 10,000--more than double the losses of D Day during WWII. Bull Run (2nd Battle) was fought Aug 28-30, 1862. The Battle of Chantilly was fought Sept 1st. John died in Cliffburne General Hospital in Washington Sept 21, 1862 and was buried in Soldier's Cemetery in Washington D.C. The somewhat unlikely information passed down to his granddaughter, Permilla Lockard Hess was that he said as he was dying "Oh, ye Comrades, look to Christ and die as I am without a struggle".
John was married to Elizabeth Monticue, on May 22, 1835 in Donegal Township by Justice of the Peace, John Cambell. Elizabeth was the oldest daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Boon) Monticue who were then living in Donegal township though they were originally from Caroline County, MD. John and Elizabeth had nine children: Mary, William C. (who enrolled just before his father's death and also died in the Civil War of disease near Falmouth, VA on Dec 30, 1862) , Elizabeth, Robert, Susan, Hannah, James, Amelia and David. Their family moved from Westmoreland County to Darlington Township in Beaver County, PA. between 1840 and 1850. Their youngest son, Davy, died of lung fever in 1860.
On August 31, 1861, the family went to New Castle, PA for a patriotic send off for the young volunteer soldiers when John, a 56 or 57 year old laborer, was apparently swept up in the patriotic fervor and got onto the train when it departed New Castle. His family waited for him to go home later that day without knowing what he had done.
John enrolled at Newcastle PA August 31, 1861 in Company I, 100th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and mustered into service the same day as a private August 31st, 1861 at Pittsburgh, PA under Captain Squire for a three year term. This regiment left Pennsylvania for Washington D.C., on September 2nd where it had duty until October 9 when it moved to Annapolis, MD and was attached to Steven's 2nd Brigade, Sherman's South Carolina Expedition, which went to Port Royal Harbor S.C. October 21-Nov 7th where it captured Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor. Then followed the occupation of Beaufort, S. C. December 8, duty there until June, 1862; Port Royal Ferry, Coosa River, January 1. Then followed operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Legaire's Point, James Island, June 3, skirmishes on James Island June 3-4, the Battle of Secessionville, James Island, June 16, evacuation of James Island and a move to Hilton Head, S.C., June 28-July 7; followed by a move to Newport News, Va., July 12-17, thence to Fredericksburg MD August 4-6; then operations in support of Pope August 6-16, Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. and the Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1.
According to John's pension record, he died "of a large wound in the upper part of his arm involving the shoulder joint which he received in action at the Battle of Bull Run or Antietam". Antietam was fought Sept 16-18, 1862 and turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North delivering the first major defeat to Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. At Antietam the Union army lost over 2,000 men and the wounded numbered over 10,000--more than double the losses of D Day during WWII. Bull Run (2nd Battle) was fought Aug 28-30, 1862. The Battle of Chantilly was fought Sept 1st. John died in Cliffburne General Hospital in Washington Sept 21, 1862 and was buried in Soldier's Cemetery in Washington D.C. The somewhat unlikely information passed down to his granddaughter, Permilla Lockard Hess was that he said as he was dying "Oh, ye Comrades, look to Christ and die as I am without a struggle".
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