A Woman Buried with Military Honors
Harrisburg, PA 10 Feb: The first woman buried with military honors of war in Pennsylvania was Mrs. Elmira Simmons, whose funeral took place here to-day, the interment taking place at Pottsville. Mrs. Simmons was the widow of Seneca G. Simmons, the gallant commander of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, who fell at Charles City Cross Roads under McClellan, and who body was never recovered. She was idolized by the veteran soldiers here, and especially by Post 116 G.A.R., which is named for her husband. Before dying she wrote in a book directions for her funeral, among them tht the post should follow her to the grave, the drum corps playing the regular army dead march. This request was complied with and to-day on the way to take the cars for Pottsville the drum corps played the dead march and the post marched with reserved canes in front of the hearse in which was the coffin covered with the American flag, and guarded by soldiers who marched on both sides of the hearse. Veteran soldiers followed bearing floral tributes.
New York Times 17 Feb 1886
She married Seneca in 1834 and bore him Charles F. (b. 12/21/35), Frederick D. (b. @1837, d. 1860), Edward C. (b. @1839, d. 1845), and Elmira A. (b. 12/27/42).
Harrisburg, PA 10 Feb: The first woman buried with military honors of war in Pennsylvania was Mrs. Elmira Simmons, whose funeral took place here to-day, the interment taking place at Pottsville. Mrs. Simmons was the widow of Seneca G. Simmons, the gallant commander of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, who fell at Charles City Cross Roads under McClellan, and who body was never recovered. She was idolized by the veteran soldiers here, and especially by Post 116 G.A.R., which is named for her husband. Before dying she wrote in a book directions for her funeral, among them tht the post should follow her to the grave, the drum corps playing the regular army dead march. This request was complied with and to-day on the way to take the cars for Pottsville the drum corps played the dead march and the post marched with reserved canes in front of the hearse in which was the coffin covered with the American flag, and guarded by soldiers who marched on both sides of the hearse. Veteran soldiers followed bearing floral tributes.
New York Times 17 Feb 1886
She married Seneca in 1834 and bore him Charles F. (b. 12/21/35), Frederick D. (b. @1837, d. 1860), Edward C. (b. @1839, d. 1845), and Elmira A. (b. 12/27/42).
A Woman Buried with Military Honors
Harrisburg, PA 10 Feb: The first woman buried with military honors of war in Pennsylvania was Mrs. Elmira Simmons, whose funeral took place here to-day, the interment taking place at Pottsville. Mrs. Simmons was the widow of Seneca G. Simmons, the gallant commander of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, who fell at Charles City Cross Roads under McClellan, and who body was never recovered. She was idolized by the veteran soldiers here, and especially by Post 116 G.A.R., which is named for her husband. Before dying she wrote in a book directions for her funeral, among them tht the post should follow her to the grave, the drum corps playing the regular army dead march. This request was complied with and to-day on the way to take the cars for Pottsville the drum corps played the dead march and the post marched with reserved canes in front of the hearse in which was the coffin covered with the American flag, and guarded by soldiers who marched on both sides of the hearse. Veteran soldiers followed bearing floral tributes.
New York Times 17 Feb 1886
She married Seneca in 1834 and bore him Charles F. (b. 12/21/35), Frederick D. (b. @1837, d. 1860), Edward C. (b. @1839, d. 1845), and Elmira A. (b. 12/27/42).
Harrisburg, PA 10 Feb: The first woman buried with military honors of war in Pennsylvania was Mrs. Elmira Simmons, whose funeral took place here to-day, the interment taking place at Pottsville. Mrs. Simmons was the widow of Seneca G. Simmons, the gallant commander of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, who fell at Charles City Cross Roads under McClellan, and who body was never recovered. She was idolized by the veteran soldiers here, and especially by Post 116 G.A.R., which is named for her husband. Before dying she wrote in a book directions for her funeral, among them tht the post should follow her to the grave, the drum corps playing the regular army dead march. This request was complied with and to-day on the way to take the cars for Pottsville the drum corps played the dead march and the post marched with reserved canes in front of the hearse in which was the coffin covered with the American flag, and guarded by soldiers who marched on both sides of the hearse. Veteran soldiers followed bearing floral tributes.
New York Times 17 Feb 1886
She married Seneca in 1834 and bore him Charles F. (b. 12/21/35), Frederick D. (b. @1837, d. 1860), Edward C. (b. @1839, d. 1845), and Elmira A. (b. 12/27/42).
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