Victor Joseph St. Martin

He was raised in and near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and in 1860 was 31 years old and the Ascension Parish clerk, with 5 children at home.

He was appointed Junior 2nd Lieutenant of the United Rifles, Louisiana Militia on 2 April 1861 and on 28 May he enrolled at Tangipahoa, LA as 2nd Lieutenant in the Phoenix Guard, which mustered into service as Company K of the 8th Louisiana Infantry. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 14 (or 19) June. He was on recruiting duty for the Regiment in Louisiana in February and March 1862, but returned to combat service for the Shenandoah Valley Campaign in May. He was in a Lynchburg, VA hospital from 26 May to at least 12 July and was promoted to Captain to date from 27 June 1862. He was again in action at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas in August.

The 8th Louisiana was at Harpers Ferry and fought with the rest of Hays' Brigade in the Cornfield at Antietam early in the morning of 17 September 1862. Captain St. Martin was wounded "severely" there, and captured.

He was treated at a Federal field hospital near Sharpsburg, signed a parole there on 4 October, and was formally exchanged at Aiken's Landing, VA on 5 November 1862. He was on leave to at least 18 December and was detailed as acting Assistant Adjutant General (AAG) to Brigade commander Brigadier General F.T. Nicholls from 24 January to 15 March 1863. He was with his regiment at Chancellorsville in May before heading for Gettysburg, PA, where he was killed in action on Cemetery Hill on 2 July 1863, and was probably buried on the field.

His remains were recovered a year later by Augustus Seever and reinterred in the Seever plot at Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore on 8 July 1864.

His service from Booth1 and his CMSRs,2 online from fold3, with details from a roster by Wayne Cosby. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. Thanks to Anthony Normand for the correction to his death place (Cemetery Hill vs Ridge). His 1864 burial detail from Lyle Garitty at Green Mount, kindly forwarded by Joe Winiarz; the Captain's gravesite is on Findagrave. The photo above, from a family CDV, is courtesy of GGGrandson Erik Himmel.

He married Azema Marie Mollere (1829-1878) in January 1847 and they had as many as 11 children, as many as 7 of whom survived childhood.

See also a more detailed presentation on the Captain at behind AotW.

08/02/1828; Donaldsonville, LA

07/02/1863; Gettysburg, PA; burial in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland