Other Heroes from Monroe

[Diane Merkel]

The article linked below about others from Monroe who served in the Civil War is well worth reading. Two excerpts, the first from a letter home:

On the 11th/12th of this month we were in a hard battle near Trevilian Station, not far from Gordonsville. Our brigade had the hardest duty. We were sent ahead and when the "rebel pickets" had been forced back, we broke into their lines. Our regiment became separated so that the enemy was between us and our regiment. We seized about 1,000 men, 200 horses and 200 wagons but lost it all again.

We were too few to hold on to it all. All day long it was hand to hand fighting. Until reinforcements came on the scene we were confined to a battlefield of no more than 10 acres. That day our company lost 13 men, the regiment lost 150. We fought another battle on the 12th. We held our position during both days. I think our brigade lost 1,000 men, dead, wounded or missing. General Custer's flag bearer was shot, upon which the general took hold of the flag, tore it off the pole, and stuffed it in the front of his tunic. Our regiment lost its flag.

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John Lutz was captured by members of Mosby's Raiders, a Confederate guerrilla militia, and was executed with other Union prisoners on Aug. 19, 1864, in retaliation for Union forces under George Custer executing members of Mosby's Raiders.

When some of Custer's men were captured they were shot, including John Lutz and another Monroe County soldier, Samuel Essler (or Eppler). Their burial location remains unknown although both men died at Berryville, Va., on the same day.

Article: www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/NEWS01/891277397/-1/NEWS