Pike, George W.
|
MILITARY SERVICE Age: 21, credited to Sterling, VT Unit(s): 2nd VT INF, 5th VT INF Service: enl 8/26/61, m/i 9/16/61, Pvt, Co. D, 5th VT INF, dis/dsb 7/31/62; Substitute - enl 8/4/63, m/i 8/4/63, Pvt, Co. D, 2nd VT INF, d/dis 11/2/63, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Alexandria (scarlet fever) See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: abt 1840, Sterling, VT Death: 11/02/1863 Burial: Soldiers Home National Cemetery, Washington, DC Marker/Plot: G 4922 Gravestone photographer: Tom Ledoux Findagrave Memorial #: 34746066 Cenotaph: West Branch Cemetery, Stowe, VT Marker/Plot: Gravestone researcher/photographer: Bob Hackett Findagrave Memorial #: 0 (There may be a Findagrave Memorial, but we have not recorded it) MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, mother Amy B., 5/25/1867 Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS Cousin of Deanna French, Morrisville, VT (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  Soldiers Home National Cemetery, DC Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. CENOTAPH:  Cenotaph in West Branch Cemetery, Stowe, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may have cenotaphs there. |
George W. Pike
LAMOILLE NEWSDEALER: DEC. 23, 1863
In Washington Hospital, D. C. Nov 2, 1863, George W. Pike at the age of 24 years, 17 days. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Amy Pike, born in Sterling in the part that became Stowe, in 1840.
He was naturally of a kind, amiable disposition, and in early youth gave good evidence of a well grounded hope in the mercy of Christ, both in his life and conversation. He was beloved by all that knew him, and more expecially by those that knew him best. He was an unusual and almost perfect model of faithfulness and sunshine, standing erect amid the moral desolations around him, which led so many of his associates into profanity, intoxication and licentiousness. George never followed his looser companions to the grog-shop or ballroom, but spent his time in an honest, industrious and frugal manner, and many of his leisure hours in reading the history of the rise and fall of nations, which intended to increase his love for his country. He was a loyal subject to his government, and thought it his duty to go to the rescue, and felt willing to peril his own life, to save the life of the nation.
He enlisted in Co. D., 5th regiment, Vermont volunteers Sept. 15, 1861, and served in the army of the Potomac eleven months, when his health so failed him that he was honorably discharged August, 1862, and returned home the most pitiable speciman of a man that I ever saw walk, and we all thought a few days would close his existence. But he gradually recovered. He then purchased a large farm for himself and relatives, and was necessarily in debt, and concluded to go back to the army a second time, thinking he could sooner make payment and secure a a permanent home for the entire family, with the express caculation that if his health should fail him, he would return home as before. He went a substitute for another, August 5, 1863. In less than two months his health failed him, and in Gen. Meade's retreat before the enemy from Culpepper, his march was too hard for him. He was brought to the hospital, took cold, a fever set in, and he died in about two weeks. He retained his senses to the last. He was anxious to carry out his plan of returning home, but before the necessary arrangements could be made, he was dead and buried.A faithful son, and brother too,
A faithful friend to all he knew;
And faithful to his country's call,
To God- the Father of us all.
He fell a martyr to the cause,
Of freedom's banner, and her laws.
He rests now in a soldiers grave,
Surrounded by the fallen brave.
Rest there in peace, my worthy friend,
Till war and bloodshed have an end;
Till Jesus comes, and bids thee rise
To meet him in the blissful skies.Nathan Foster
Stowe, Dec. 15, 1863.
Submitted by: Deanna French.