Donnelly, Peter
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 20, credited to Castleton, VT Unit(s): 11th VT INF Service: enl 7/17/62, m/i 9/1/62, SGT, Co. C, 11th VT INF, kia, Weldon Railroad, 6/23/64 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 1842, Castleton, VT Death: 06/23/1864 Burial: St. Marys Cemetery, Fair Haven, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone researcher/photographer: Heidi McColgan Findagrave Memorial #: 0 (There may be a Findagrave Memorial, but we have not recorded it) MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Not Found 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 Webmaster's Note: The 11th Vermont Infantry was also known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery; the names were used interchangably for most of its career DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice   St. Marys Cemetery, Fair Haven, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
Peter Donnelly
A Courteous Rebel.--The sister of Sergeant Peter Donnelly, of the 11th Vt., of Castleton, who fell in front of Petersburgh, has recently received a letter from the rebel soldier who met and slew her brother a year ago. He had, it seems, taken possession of his effects, and he forwarded to her a letter Donnelly had but a few hours before his death written to her. He also stated that he had his porte-monteau and several other things belonging to him, which he would cheerfully return if desired, and would furnish particulars of his death. He expressed regret for the deed, but considered it one of the results inseparable from the fratricidal struggle they had been engaged in, and hoped the people of the North and South would soon be one in every thought and feeling. According to her request, he not long since forwarded every article belonging to Donnelly, even to a copy of Casey's Tactics he had in his pocket. A correspondent of the Rutland Herald narrates these facts, and give the following extract from the rebel's letter:
"According to requst I will now state how I came to kill your brother. We met on the evening of the 23d of June on the farm of Dr. Gurley, some 5 or 6 miels from Petersburg. I supposed him to be a scout sent out to make a reconnoissance, and as that was my business also, I ordered him to halt. He defiantly refused the second time and turned to leave when I fired and he fell. I went to the poor fellow and found him past speaking and nearly dead. He made signs for water which I got him and he soon died. He was a good looking young soldier, in an artillery dress, well clothed and equipped. I deeply regretted that I had no time to bury him; but in passing the same spot the next day, I saw a new made grave which I supposed to be his. I am glad you have his body and can forgive me for the deed, as you well know it might, under the same circumstances, have been my lot to be slain by him."
Source: Burlington Free Press, October 13, 1865, Page 2; contributed by Denis & Karen Jaquish.