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M. Wait

M. Wait

Federal (USV)

Lieutenant

Martin Wait

(1843 - 1862)

Home State: Connecticut

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 8th Connecticut Infantry

Before Antietam

From a prominent family in Norwich, he had been a student at Union College, at Schenectady, NY (1860, 61) and had travelled in Europe before the War. At age 19, he enlisted as Private in Company C, 8th Connecticut Infantry. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Company A and served as a Signal Officer on Burnside's Carolina Campaign. He was promoted First Lieutenant of the Company just before returning from that Campaign in July 1862.

On the Campaign

He was killed in action on 17 September 1862. Initially wounded "in the right arm and later in the left arm, leg and abdomen. Helped to the rear by a private and the chaplain of the 8th Connecticut, Wait was wounded yet again by a shot that went through his side and pierced his lungs as he lay near a low stone wall."

The rest of the War

He was originally buried on the battlefield, but his body was returned home and was buried there on 1 October 1862.

References & notes

Basic information from Banks1. His photograph and quote above from a post on John's blog. Further details from his Memorial by Jacob Eaton (New Haven: Thomas J. Stafford, Printer, 1863).

Birth

01/21/1843; Norwich, CT

Death

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, CT

Notes

1   Banks, John, Connecticut Antietam Death List, Connecticut: self-published, 2013  [AotW citation 12518]