2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023
Death announcement via military telegraph of 40 year-old Pvt. Henry Barcus (1824-1864) of Salineville, Columbiana County, Ohio, Co. A., 143rd Ohio National Guard (O. N. G.). Henry was married to Elizabeth Kirk (1821-1911) on 27 June 1844 in Jefferson county, Ohio. In the 1850 US Census, Henry was identified as a miner. In the summer of 1864, during Grant's Overland campaign, the 143rd Ohio National Guard was placed into active service for 100 days started on 2 May. Most of that time the 143rd O. N. G. garrisoned the Union fortifications at Wilson's Landing on the James river, which is where most of these letters were written.Partially printed Western Union Telegram with original cover, "Salineville, Sept. 1, 1864 from Baltimore to Mrs. Barcus, Henry Barcus died this morning. Start home with remains tonight."Though they were never in battle, they suffered several deaths from dysentery and other diseases-poor Henry Barcus among them. Henry died at the very end of his term of service suffering from dysentery. He kept the deteriorating condition of his disease from his wife as long as he could but finally revealed his true condition in the last communication with his family. The register of military deaths reports that he died of diarrhea at Patterson Park General Hospital in Baltimore on 31 August 1864, leaving a wife and six children born between 1844 and 1858. His wife applied for a pension on 18 November 1864.
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