VETERAN
I decided to provide the documentation discovered on one more veteran in the Rossville Cemetery with Veterans Day falling on this past Monday. Sifting through the fog of time, coupled with commonality of names, does require some time and a bit of patience.
When we began clearing brush and cleaning up the Rossville Cemetery five years ago, beneath an overgrowth of brambles, slightly leaning over, we discovered a small, yet dignified marker. There was a Civil War flag holder driven into the ground next to it. The inscription was extremely difficult to read, even with cleaning.
Most grave markers have the names, dates, and blessings etched into the stone. This one has raised lettering on the inscriptions, which was done by removing material around the name, and so on.
It was easy to verify John H. Brown’s record of being in the 124th NYS Volunteers. The date of death, May 23rd, 1915, Aged 80 years, provided a rough approximation of when he was born, 1835. Now the digging began.
I first thought with the inclusion of a middle initial, finding records would be relatively easy. Was I mistaken!
During the same time, there was another John H. Brown in Newburgh who was a significant shaker and mover of his day, having a masonry business on Lander Street. However, while he was born approximately the same year 1835, he passed away in 1905, and is buried in St. George’s Cemetery.
Puzzling was also the location of the grave in the cemetery. It is located by the south stone wall of the east side cemetery, just about in the middle. When the inscriptions were recorded for the cemetery in the 1920’s, there is no mention of Pvt. Brown. Perhaps it was already obscured by the brambles. The high bedrock table in the cemetery may the reason Pvt. Brown was buried this far from the others.
Reviewing the census records, the 1855 State Census does have a William H. Brown, son of the Rev. John Brown in the Rossville area. There is abundant data of the Reverend and other family members, but not on John H.
With unrest unfolding and the Civil War beginning, young John H. Brown enlisted as a Private, Co. I, in the 124th NYS Volunteers, remembered more so as the Orange Blossoms, on August 16th, 1962. In the roster of the 124th, he mustered out on June 3rd, 1865, near Washington, DC. The inscription on his grave marker lists Co. C, but in all the records, it is shown as Co. I.
Returning to the tranquility and rural setting of his youth, he found employment on William Presler’s farm. The 124th was involved in some of the most vicious fighting and is thought to be the basis for “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephan Crane. Perhaps, this military experience molded him into a quiet man, content to find solace in the fields and farmland of his younger days.
John H. Brown now rests in Rossville, away from the arduous labor of farm life, and away from the horrific combat of the Civil War. We thank you for your service, Private God Bless.
Rossville Church & Cemetery Association 