Jeremiah Helms

A tailor from Schuykill Haven, he mustered into service in Company C on 9 September 1861 as a musician (too young at 15 to enroll as a Private).

He was mortally wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 by gunshot to the head.

He was perfectly sensible for the first seven days of his suffering, and able to walk about. Thus he lingered, with out a murmur, bearing his pain like a true soldier, with Christian fortitude, until the morning of the 27th, only the day previous to his father arrival, when he breathed his last and became another victim to this cursed rebellion and sacrifices at the star of his country's choicest blessing, liberty and freedom.

Basic information from Bates1, who has him as Jeremiah Holmes, and KIA on the 17th. Thanks to Dr. Norman Gasbarro for sharing his research on this man in a blog post, and to Steve Maczuga for publishing Bates' information in his excellent database. The quote above from the Pottsville Miner's Journal of 12 October 1862.

06/08/1846; Myerstown, PA

09/27/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Old Union Cemetery, Myerstown, PA