Description
Carte view identified as Captain George Emerson of the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George would initially muster as a 2nd lieutenant with “G” Company but would later recieve promotions to both 1st lieutenant and then to captain in July, 1863. Having survived the earlier battles of Kernstown, Winchester, Port Republic and the Seven Days, George and the men of the 67th would be tested at Fort Wagner. Following the failed attack of the now famous 54th Massachusetts, the 67th would be thrown at the forts well defended works. During the charge, a minie ball struck a glancing blow across the head of George. The wound would not prove fatal, but he would not be so lucky at Bermuda Hundred nearly a year later. Near Ware Bottom Church on May 20, 1864, Union lines slammed into Confederate forces. Emerson would be counted among the 1400 Union casualties. Shot through the bowels, the wound would prove grievous. George’s cousin, Sergeant Taylor Shroud who was serving in the same regiment, would write to George’s father notifying him of his son’s condition. “Dear Uncle: I now take this opportunity to write to you a few lines to let you know how the boys are. Your Son, George, is dangerously wounded through the bowels. I do not think he can live very long. He has gone to Fortress Monroe this morning.” He continued, “I would like to have went with George and the rest of the boys to help take care of them, but I could not go. He said that he would get a Chaplain to write to you and I think you will get all the particulars. The last thing he said to me that he wanted his body sent home if it cost two thousand dollars. I hope you will try to get to him.” George would succumb to the wound on May 23rd, while en-route to Fortress Monroe. His remains would be carried to Chesapeake Hospital. His father, Asa Emerson would retrieve his son’s body and had it interred in the cemetery near his home in Parma Heights, Ohio. This view of George was taken in Cleveland while home of furlough following his re-enlistment. Military Images Magazine did a wonderful article on George in the February of 2024.
