VETERAN
The Bond family was another prominent family in the early days of the Town of Newburgh. Some readers may remember I’ve previously written about the family and the small family cemetery off State Route 52, on Corel Place.
In the Rossville Cemetery is member of their family, buried in a family plot, who, after being enlisted for less than three months, perished in the first Battle of Bull Run, on July 21st, 1861. According to one newspaper article I unearthed, he was the first soldier from Newburgh to lose his life during the Civil War as noted in the Goshen Independent Republican’s 02-25-1904, edition.
There is mention of Pvt. Bond’s actions during the engagement in the Daily News, published on July 26th, 1861. Apparently, he was killed instantly, being shot through his heart. The article details the actions of the 71st Infantry on the day of the battle.
Samuel was only 21 at the time of his death. He grew up on the family farm and had been employed at an oil cloth factory. He completed school, but never married. He enlisted on June 1st, 1861, as a Private in Company I, of the 71st NYS Militia. Fifty days later, he lay dead on the battlefield at the First Battle of Bull Run.
Samuel O. Bond was the son of John Ambercrombie Bond and Harriet (Cromwell) Bond, born on January 3rd, 1840. They are buried in Rossville in the same plot, along with other family members. I don’t believe Samuel is buried in Rossville based on a newspaper article from the Daily News, published on August 19th, 1861. In this article it states his comrades could not recover his body. There is a record of the sermon by the Rev. Charles Shelling, the Acting Chaplin for the Regiment, in the August 20th, edition of the Newburgh Daily News.
The marker has been cleaned and continues to whiten, but it is still difficult to read the inscription for Samuel. I will continue to see if a better photo can be taken with variations in lighting. Thank you for your service Pvt. Samuel Bond. We remember…
Rossville Church & Cemetery Association 