site logo
[no picture yet]

[no picture yet]

Confederate (CSV)

Private

John Fitzsimmons

(c. 1842 - 1862)

Home State: Louisiana

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 5th Louisiana Infantry

Before Sharpsburg

He was a 20 year old mechanic in New Orleans when he enlisted in Company F, 5th Louisiana Infantry on March 17, 1862 in New Orleans.

On the Campaign

He was killed in action on 17 September 1862 at Sharpsburg. Captain Richardson of Company F described it later:

[at Sharpsburg] Our brigade was ordered into a corn-field to the support of two batteries, which were firing from either flank. Shortly after obtaining our position, the enemy’s shells came so thick and fast that General Hays ordered us to lie down. Our Company was small, and we (the officers) laid down behind it. William, Lieutenant [Nicholas] Caufield’s brother, was leaning immediately in his front. Nick was reclining on his elbow, conversing with Lieut. [James] Gubbins of our camp. Lieutenant Fitzpatrick, of Company B, by the side of him, was struck, and Nick remarked: “Fitz, you are hit.” Many of those surrounding us were uttering exclamations of “Oh,” etc., as they were shot, when, all at once, a shell from the enemy plunged through my poor camp, passing first through the body of Willam, then cut off the leg of John Fitzsimmons, then both feet of D[avid] Jenkins, and passed through my poor friend Nick, entering at the small of the back, coming out at the breast, tearing out and exposing his heart ... By the one shot I lost three killed – Lieutenant Caufield, William Caufield and John Fitzsimmons.

References & notes

Basic information from Booth1. The quote above from a letter by Richardson printed in the Memphis Daily Appeal on 11 October 1862, transcribed online by Stuart Salling on his Louisiana in the Civil War blog.

Birth

c. 1842; New Orleans, LA

Death

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD

Notes

1   Booth, Andrew B., Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands, 3 Volumes, New Orleans: State of Louisiana, 1920, Vol. 2, pg. 860  [AotW citation 13947]