Thank you Justin for sharing these letters and this story with the list and for doing so much good work. Nancy Neuman Lewisburg ----- Original Message ----- From: <JKHouser84@aol.com> To: <PACENTRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 8:54 PM Subject: [PACENTRE] Epilogue to the Glenn Saga > Good evening, list, > > Perhaps the best way to sum up Martin Glenn's military career would be to > include parts of a letter from one of his comrades: > > Unionville, Centre Co., Penna. > March 27th, 1865. > > Mrs. Glenn: - > > Dear Madam, > > For some time I have been deprived the opportunity of communicating with you > concerning the death of your son Martin, but I will embrace with pleasure the > opportunity I now have of giving you the desired information. Your son was > killed at the Battle of the Wilderness on the 6th day of May while nobly > doing his duty. He was posted behind a large tree, a little in advance of > the main line, watching a Rebel Sharp Shooter. He had been firing very > rapidly for some time, but while he was in the act of putting a cartridge in > the muzzle of his gun, a bullet pierced his breast, and he fell forward with > a low groan and expired. The next morning, I took care of his effects, which > was a Pocket book containing $25 twenty five dollars and a photography. We > wrapped his blanket around him and buried him nicely by the side of his > comrads who had fallen with him in the battle. We placed a headboard at his > grave with his name written on it plainly, so that there will be no trouble > in finding it. When I was taken prisoner I had the pocket book in the side > pocket of my coat. The Rebels took the pocket book, but I managed to keep > the money and the Photograph. I was so tortured by hunger, that I was > induced to spend the money for something to eat. I herewith send you the > amount, also the photograph. It is a picture of Corporal Lucas of Co. A 45th > P.V. Martin was a good boy, and one of the best of Soldiers. He was amiably > kind hearted and brave, never fearing to do his duty under the most dangerous > and trying circumstances. Many times have I talked with him about his > brother James who fell at the battle of South Mountain. He felt very lonely > after the death of his brother, but he bore it with many courage, counseling > himself with the thought that he gave his life in a good cause. Alas! he too > has gone! He has followed his dear brother, and I hope they are in a better > land where they will never again be separated. Do not sorrow. Do not weep > for them. They are better off. Their names will never be forgotten, but > will ever live fresh in the memory of their living comrades as noble martyrs > for their Country. > > I am going to return to my Regiment in a few days, and I will fix up his > accounts. It will all be attended to in due season when you will be duly > notified. > > I remain, > Yours in sympathy, > Waldo C. Vanvalin > Lieut. 45th Pa. Vol. Infty. > > To Mrs. Glenn." > ==== > Jane Glenn later applied for a pension on behalf of her son Martin's service. > She died on May 27, 1873, at the age of 67, and was buried in Shiloh > Cemetery, College Township, Centre Co., PA, with her sister and > brother-in-law, Margaret and David Etters. > > The other remaining son, John Wesley, ultimately did move with his wife and > son to Kansas (his Kansas land was mentioned in one of the letters). In > addition, he and his wife had a daughter, Myra Candace, born in 1866, after > the close of the war. Sadly, he was killed in an accident while working on > his well on December 30, 1879, at the age of 43. His widow survived until > 1918. They are buried in Scottsville, Mitchell Co., KS. > > This is the conclusion to a little mini-series of history in our county. It > is a profound story; a family so full of hope and anticipation for a happy > future was completely wiped out in a period of a few years. There are still > descendants surviving from John Wesley's children, but naturally, the other > branches left no survivors to perpetuate their memory. > > It is my hope that Waldo C. Vanvalin's quote will ring true even today: > "Their names will never be forgotten, but will ever live fresh in the > memories of their living comrades as noble martyrs for their Country." > > Justin > > Justin Kirk Houser > Genealogist/Researcher of Central PA and Beyond > Main Lines: Houser, Breon, Shawley, Ranio/Hrynio (and others) > President, BAHS Class of 2003 > Student Representative, BASD Board of Education > Listowner, PACENTRE-L@Rootsweb.com > Historian, Schürch Association of North America (specialty Central PA lines) > Member, Valley View United Methodist Church > "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" > > > ==== PACENTRE Mailing List ==== > Centre County was formed in 1800 from parts of Northumberland, Mifflin, Huntingdon and Lycoming Counties. In 1839 part of Centre County was formed into Clinton County. >