Citizen Soldier...cool event followup

[Tom Scoufalos]

For those who were at this great event, and others:

Some of us guests in CVG's Co. B were up to no good during our down time...Randy Allen stumbed across some CW-era graffiti on the fort's riverfront wall, and Jason Spellman took a great pic of the most legible one (see attached). Greg Randazzo and I just kind of bumbled around trying to find more...

Anyway, the graffiti in the photo reads:
"Jno. Hetherington, P.V., Pottsville, Schuylkill Co. Pa 1861"

A quick search on the Soldiers and Sailors system (fortunately, "Hetherington" is a decidedly UNcommon name) reveals that a John Heatherington had enlisted in the 25th PA, a 3 months' regiment, and subsequently in the 81st PA, a 3 years' regiment long associated with 1st Division, Second Corps. I am certain it is the same fellow, as both the 25th and 81st had a number of companies from the Coal Regions.

On this site, he is listed (maybe with his brother James?) in the rolls of Company H, 25th PVI ("Washington Artillery")

http://www.pa-roots.com/~pacw/infantry/25th/washartillery.html

And on the rolls of Company D, 81st PVI (misspelled as "HeAtherington").

http://www.pa-roots.com/~pacw/infantry/81st/81stcod.html

Cool stuff, huh?

[GaWildcat]

That is cool. At the ruins of the New Manchester Mfg Co. in Lithia Springs, GA, you can see in the wheelhouse the graffiti left by Union troops that were there in 1864, as well as alot of Postwar stuff as well.

[cwrematchr]

Excellent bit of research, though wasn't Heatherington associated with Fort Washington some how? Wasn't his unit stationed there or something?

[Tom Scoufalos]

Yes, it was....smarty-pants... ;)