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Nov112009

Ghosts of the Civil War- Veterans Day 2009

Filed under General, journalism, staff by don himsel at 9:35 am

As far as I know the only spirit residing in my old home is in the form of this name carved into an old door in part of the barn I use as a woodshed.

J.T. Caraway

My limited research has led me through the town history (courtesy of a very kind neighbor, Betty) and now to this online-

“A fourth son of John Senior, Joseph Caraway, was born July 26, 1843, in Franklin, Vermont. He enlisted, credited to Goffstown, New Hampshire, September 9, 1861, and mustered in as a private, Co. C, 5th New Hampshire Infantry, on October 12, 1861. He was 30 years old, was 5 foot 6-1/2 inches tall, had a dark complexion, dark hair and brown eyes. He suffered a gunshot wound in the left hand at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., on June 1, 1862. According to a deposition in his pension application, “said wound shot away and deprived him entirely of the middle large finger of his left hand causing the whole hand to become weak, tender and number and that he is partially deprived of the use of his hand.” Joseph was discharged for disability on February 14, 1863 from Finley Hospital, Washington, D.C. He enlisted again, June 15, 1863, and mustered in as a private, Co. L, 11th Vt. Infantry, on June 27, 1863. He was wounded March 27, 1865, during the siege of Petersburg. He mustered out on May 13, 1865. Joseph died December 9, 1925, in Epping N. H., and was buried there on December 11.”

Sure it’s a bit drafty. You may be hard pressed to find a straight line in some of the wainscotting and other trim. It’s nice, though, especially today, to feel like you’re a caretaker to history in owning the place.

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