Lewis C. Parmelee

A veteran of the 7th New York Militia (C. 1859-61), he was appointed First Lieutenat and Adjutant of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters in early 1862 on their initial organization.

He was killed in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862:

Adjt. Parmelee was shot while trying to carry off a rebel flag he had seized, fastened to a fence post; but unfortunately for him and others, the rebels were behind the fence, and the gallant adjutant had five bullets put in him.

After the battle ...

As Surgeon Reynolds and myself [Captain Stoughton] were riding along the Sharpsburg pike, arriving at the very place where the adjutant fell, we met a carriage containing a lady. She spoke to us and wanted to be directed to the Second U. S. Sharpshooters, and recognizing our green uniforms, said: "Perhaps you belong to that regiment," to which we replied affirmatively. The lady again : "Do you know where Adjutant Parmelee fell? "We answered: "Yes, ma'am, right there, and the blood stains mark the spot." She continued: "Well, I came from New York on behalf of the lady to whom he was engaged, and who was at my house when the sad intelligence of his death was received." A few days later Chaplain Barber and Capt. Stoughton had nearly reached the same spot when they met a carriage containing four gentlemen, one of whom made similar inquiries as the lady, and proved to be the adjutant's father, who was informed: "Right there is the spot and there he was buried"; he then said he had come to take the body away.

Adjt. Parmelee was a great favorite in the regiment, a young man of excellent address and education, having passed through a course of studies at Edinburg, and had belonged to New York city's crack regiment, the Seventh - or National Guard. He could quote all the great poets and prominent authors.

Photo above from one at the US Library of Congress. Service information and the quotes above from Stevens1.

1842

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, CT