Another local Civil War hero (5/7/05)

Memorial Day is dedicated to the memories of all who served the American cause from those sad men who died in the bellies of French prisoner ships during the French and Indian War to the women doing their duty today in Iraq and everyone in between. I would like to take this opportunity to remember one Jay County man who served his country during the American Civil War.

Jay County contributed many men to that sanguine list of patriots, including John Jay Williams the last casualty of that war whose grave will be rededicated next week (May 14). With the possible exception of Fort Sumter, men from Jay County were present at every great and most of the minor battles of the War for the Union as W.W. Montgomery, former editor of the Portland Paper called our country’s defining conflict in his book the “History of Jay County Indiana (1864).”

Of the nearly 1,500 volunteers from Jay County, 26 men left to serve in what became known as the Iron Brigade. They were members of the 19th Indiana Regiment. The Iron Brigade suffered over 25 percent mortal casualties. This is the highest rate of sacrifice of any group American Soldiers in a war that claimed the lives of 620,000-plus Americans. Montgomery’s history shows that exactly half (13) of these 26 men left and never saw their beloved Jay County soil again, paying the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives for their love of the United States.

The man I wish to remember today is Alexander Burk(e). He survived the first three springs of the war and would have seen the great slaughter at places like Second Manassas (Va.) when he first fought Stonewall Jackson at Brawner’s Farm, Antietam (Sharpsburg, Md.) when he fought the mighty Stonewall again on the bloodiest day of the war when 22,000-plus men fell, the senseless murder called the Battle of Fredericksburg (Va.), and Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory at Chancellorsville (Va.).

On July 1, 1863 Burk marched just west of a remote crossroads farming community about the size of Portland at that time (2,400) called Gettysburg, Pa. He gave his life on the first day in a desperate three day battle initially known as the fight for Willoughby Run — a creek into which his lifeblood almost certainly drained. He joined 51,000 casualties of the greatest battle on American soil. He was shot in the chest and the hip. He was taken to a field hospital, died from his wounds, and was originally buried at Michael Clarkson’s farm. He was reinterred to the Indiana section of the Gettysburg National Military Cemetery Section O, Row A, Position 5, where many other 19th Indiana men are forever resting.

Be sure and visit this spot and the 19th Indiana monument just south of Meredith Avenue where he was shot when you tour Gettysburg.

Alexander Burk’s bravery helped our country survive its ultimate test. No matter if you are going to a Memorial Day ceremony, spending time with family and friends, or discussing who won at the Speedway over your cookout, please take a moment to remember all those who sacrificed for our country especially a teenage farmboy who went on to forever watch over our freedoms on that hallowed hill at Gettysburg personally dedicated by Abraham Lincoln where that President gave his most famous speech at the feet of one of Jay Countyís finest men.

Jeff King

Emigsville, Pa.

(A former Noble

Township/Jay County

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