If Only the Dead Could Talk

Continuing with the virtual cemetery tour by bicycle I present you with a pair of graves marking the resting place of Civil War veterans.

As appears to be the case with most grave markers of this era no dates are provided.

However a web search is quite revealing.


Samuel Churches enlisted in the Army of the Potomac in September of 1861. In September of 1863 he was transferred to the National Reserve Corps due to a hernia. He was discharged in October of 1864 with the rank of Private.

Near as I can tell he was born in England in 1839 and immigrated to the states in 1851.

He married Ada L. - nineteen years his junior - on May 27, 1883.

He was still living at the ripe old age of 81 when the national census was taken in 1920.







John Brown enlisted in August of 1864 and was discharged in June of 1865 due to a hernia.

What's with the hernias?

John's discharge records indicate his rank as a Private. His grave marker says Corporal.

What could be the cause of the discrepancy?

John Brown was born in Connecticut in 1846.

Rest in peace fellas. It has been my pleasure to become acquainted with you.

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