Remembering American Heroes

Written by James Wudarczyk and posted on this website on September 22, 2006.

There are occasions when the past and the present meet. Three such occasions took place in Lawrenceville when veterans of the Civil War were honored in special ceremonies.

On August 25, 2005 Brandon Keat of the Tribune-Review and Cindi Lash of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported for their respective newspapers about an event that took place in Saint Mary’s Cemetery. When it was discovered that Army Captain Daniel Dougherty, a Civil War veteran, laid buried without a headstone for more than 140 years, Frank Kelly, 68, of Hampton, Bill Reynolds, 88, of Bloomfield, and John Carnprobst, 80, of Shaler, embarked on a mission to secure a tombstone for an American hero.

The men became interested in the life of Dougherty after a family member loaned Carnprobst a copy of Dougherty’s diary. As John Carnprobst noted to Cindi Lash, “We can’t tell you much about what he did before the war or where he died. But he went down there and fought for his country. We felt a soldier should have a tombstone.”

Kelly, president of Division 4, North Hills, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish-American Catholic lay organization, jumped on the project after he learned that David Dougherty served as the first president of the Allegheny County chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Helping with the documentation was Bill Reynolds, who was instrumental in preserving a large number of graves of Civil War veterans in Uniondale Cemetery. Reynolds also served on the board of directors of the Allegheny County Soldiers and Sailors Hall, and was a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Round Table, the Sons of the Union Veterans, and the Lawrenceville Historical Society.

Carnprobst noted that details of Dougherty’s life were sketchy. Dougherty was born in 1833, lived on Cemetery Street (later renamed Carlton Street) in Lawrenceville, and was mustered into military service on August 6, 1861, for a term of three years. According to materials compiled by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Dougherty served in Company H, 63rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry. This same source noted that Dougherty was promoted to first sergeant and to second lieutenant on April 20, 1862. His promotion to first lieutenant took place on February 27, 1863. Then on July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Dougherty was promoted to the rank of captain. The 63rd fought in five major Civil War battles: Second Manassas or Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862), Chancellorsville (May 1-4, 1863), Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864), and Spotsylvania (May 18-19, 1864). Two months before the end of his enlistment, Captain Dougherty was wounded on May 23, 1864 during the North Anna, Virginia campaign. As a result of the wounds, Dougherty died on June 19, 1864. He was only 31 years of age. His body was returned to Pittsburgh, where he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Saint Mary’s Cemetery (Section P; Row 7; Grave 7) on June 23, 1864.

Although more than 140 years passed since Dougherty’s death, thanks to the patriotic efforts of Kelly, Carnprobst, and Reynolds, the Civil War veteran did not remain a forgotten man. Funding for the headstone was secured from the Veterans Administration and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Then on August 24, 2005 the three men (Carnprobst, Reynolds, and Kelly) paid a silent, unceremonious tribute at Dougherty’s grave, as the new headstone was unveiled.

On November 6, 2005 the Hibernians sponsored a memorial and blessing service at Captain Thomas Dougherty’s grave. Father Thomas O’Donnell, chaplain of the Allegheny County Ancient Order of Hibernians officiated. At last, an American hero was acknowledged for his supreme sacrifice for his country.

Father’s Day, June 18, 2006 at 11 a.m., approximately 45 persons, including a contingent of Civil War re-enactors from the 63rd Pennsylvania, met in Saint Mary’s Cemetery to rededicate Captain Thomas Dougherty’s grave. It was an impressive service with a bagpiper. The 63rd Pennsylvania entered the cemetery from the entrance near Bancroft Street in solemn procession with their gun barrels pointed face down in Civil War era military funeral protocol. Mr. Frank Kelly rendered an account of the life of Dougherty, in which his recent research revealed that Captain Dougherty left behind a widow, at least two daughters, and possibly a son. Prior to Kelly’s detailed research and address, it was believed that Dougherty was single. Another guest speaker read “the Gettysburg Address,” and an accordionist played and sang “Oh Danny Boy.” Afterwards, the 63rd fired a salute in Dougherty’s honor. On hand for the ceremonious occasion were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Sons of the Union Veterans, and the Lawrenceville Historical Society, as well as other interested parties.

The event recalled a similar act that took place slightly over a decade before in adjoining Allegheny Cemetery when on May 30, 1994 the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves dedicated a new monument marking the final resting-lace of C. F. Jackson in Allegheny Cemetery. At 3 p.m. there was a procession to the gravesite from the assembly area at the cemetery’s main gate. David Vargo of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves made the introductory remarks. Guest speakers included the Honorable Larry Dunn, Allegheny County Commissioner, Major General Leonard Hoch, U. S. Army Reserves, and Mr. Gary Augustine, Western Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table. Mrs. Jeannette Shidle, of Wilkinsburg, and Barbara Stockton of Michigan, great granddaughters of General C. F. Jackson, had the honor of unveiling the new monument. The ceremony concluded with a salute by the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves and taps.

According to Steve Twedt, writing the next day of the event in the Post-Gazette, “Allegheny County Commissioner Larry Dunn read the Gettysburg Address…But the highlight was a detailed history of Jackson’s career provided by Gary Augustine, president of the Western Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table, which described Jackson’s early days with the railroad and included the precise location of the entry and exit wounds of the shot that ended his life.”

The article also noted that Mrs. Morris later said she thought the ceremony “was wonderful” and added that the Civil War Group appeared to know more about her great grandfather than the family did.

According to the Jordon Encyclopedia of Biography, Conrad F. Jackson claimed Pittsburgh as his home but the family had long been residents of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He married Angeline Culler, also of Pottsville and they became the parents of Anne R. (Jackson) Shidle. Following the marriage of their daughter to Geter Crosby Shidle, the Jackson’s became grandparents of Feger Jackson Shidle, Harry Benton Shidle, and Geter Crosby Shidle. Prior to the Civil War, Mr. Jackson was in the United States Revenue Service. He recruited Company G of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves and was elected their captain. Later he was promoted to colonel because of his military service in the Mexican War.

Although Jackson’s name appears as one of a number of commanders at Camp Wilkins, Bates points out that the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment was organized at Camp Wright, near Pittsburgh, on the 28th of June, 1861, under the direction of General M’Call. Eight of the companies composing the 9th were recruited in Allegheny County, one in Crawford, and one in Beaver. Conrad Jackson was elected colonel, while Robert Anderson was made lieutenant colonel, and James M’Kinney Snodgrass was elected major.

It was not until September 21, 1861 that the Ninth was able to trade their antiquated Harper Ferry smooth bore muskets for Springfield rifled muskets.

At the battle of Dranesville, the Union forces routed the rebels. General M’Call noted, “Here was the Ninth Infantry, Colonel Jackson, who had gallantly met the enemy at close quarters, and notably sustained the credit of the state…the number of killed found in front of the position occupied by the Ninth Infantry, Colonel Jackson, is, in my estimation proof enough of the gallantry and discipline of this fine regiment.” General Ord also mentioned Jackson, as well as Captains Dick and Galway, and recommended a list of seventy-one officers and privates “for reward for their gallant conduct.”

The Ninth later saw action at Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Jackson was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on July 15, 1862. As noted in the book, Under the Maltese Cross, Jackson was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. His death took place on December 13, 1862. Recording the events of the battle, Bates noted, “General C. F. Jackson, commander of the brigade, who had led the regiment in its first campaign, and to whom it was indebted for its efficient organization and training, was mortally wounded while in the act of ordering his men to charge, and about to lead the way.”

Two years later, a Lawrenceville man was remembered with a headstone. The May 23, 1996 issue of the Tribune Review carried an interesting human-interest article by Joseph Crumb about David Roche, a New Jersey man, who was instrumental in obtaining a headstone for a Lawrenceville native, Robert Y. Thompson. Thompson, a drummer for Company E of the 61st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Infantry, served during the Civil War and died in 1921. He was buried in Allegheny Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Mr. Roche, a Civil War buff, spent the last two years researching Thompson’s life. Roche became interested in Thompson in 1975 when he purchased Thompson’s war diaries, photographs, Bible, and other personal possessions from a man who was cleaning a Bronx attic.

Mr. Roche presented proof of Thomson’s service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who provided the stone. David Roche paid the $195 fee from his own pocket for the tombstone footer.

In 1996 David Roche gave the Lawrenceville Historical Society permission to reproduce a few excerpts of the Thompson diary. He acknowledged LHS member, Bill Reynolds, for providing him with background materials relating to Private Thompson.

Robert Y. Thompson was born in Lawrenceville, August 3, 1840. His father was Hugh Thompson, who died May 6, 1862 at the age of 61 years. His mother was Jone (Nee Young) Thompson. She died October 22, 1885 at the age of 85. Both are buried in Allegheny Cemetery with the soldier. David Roche admitted that he did not have any proof what the “Y” in the soldier’s middle initial represented, but he theorized that it may have stood for Young, which was his mother’s maiden name.

Robert enlisted on August 3, 1861 as a private, Company E, 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His occupation at the time was a coppersmith. He was 5’ 5 ½” tall, dark hair, brown eyes and dark complexion. He reenlisted at Brandy Station, Virginia, on December 24, 1863, and was discharged in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1865. From his diary entries, he was a drummer for the majority of the war, but the exact date of the promotion is not known.

His regiment participated in all the major battles in Virginia: First Manassas, all of the battles in the peninsula campaign, and around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Petersburg, and Appomattox. His regiment was also engaged at Antietam and Gettysburg. The regiment arrived in Gettysburg, and fought on the second day. It was placed in reserve on the third day. His unit was definitely an active one. On July 24, 1888 a monument in honor of the 61st Pennsylvania was erected on Wolf’s Hill at Gettysburg. His name also appears on the Pennsylvania monument as a member of Company D, 61 Pennsylvania Infantry.

A few excerpts from his diaries follow. The spelling is exactly as it was written in the diaries.

Monday 1/5/1863
Co. F., Co. C., Co. H., Co. K., are all drunk, they have been fiting all day, among each other – Helfer and Banks had a fight. It is reported that General Rosenhrantys has licked the Rebs in Tennessee and that they are retreating. We got new drums today.

July 2nd, 1863
Marched all last night and all day today, passed into Pennsylvania thru the town of Littleton, halted one mile from the town to rest, arrived at Batel ground- very hard fighting all day-Rebs trying to turn over left flank, marched 3 c miles today.

Nov. 12th, 1863 Pleasant day – Beat the dead march to bury one of Co. F. who died in Regimental Hospital last night. Dec. 18th, 1863 Reported that 2 of the Vermont Brigade is to be shot today at 4 o’clock – Division ordered out to witness – 2 of the 5th Vermont shot for deserting. Never forgit this site.

The periodic rededication ceremonies allow the present generation to hail the accomplishments of past heroes. It also gives reassurance that patriotism is not a lost virtue.