Patrick J. Campion

In 1860 he was a 25 year old japanner (lacquer finisher in the Japanese style) in Salem, Essex County, MA. He enlisted, along with his cousin (or brother) Edward, as a Sergeant in Company K, 20th Massachusetts Infantry on 12 July 1861 in Boston. He was promoted to First Sergeant on 1 July 1862.

He was wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was wounded again, in the right arm at Fredericksburg, VA on 13 December 1862, and his arm was amputated the same day. He was discharged 7 December 1863 (or 8 January 1864) and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of the 21st Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps to date from 23 November. He transferred to the 17th Company, 2nd Battalion of the VRC on 13 May 1864. He was dismissed on 8 August and reinstated on 7 January 1865 and sent to the 140th Company, 2nd Battalion, VRC. He died of disease in New Orleans, LA on 11 August 1865.

His widow began receiving a pension based on his service in September 1865.

Initial Antietam casualty information from Nelson.1 His service from Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines 2 and an extract from the 20th Massachusetts Company Descriptive Book, online from fold3. Fredericksburg wound and medical details from the MSHWR.3 Personal details from the US Census of 1860 and his Pension Index Card, also from fold3. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

c. 1835; County Kilkenny, IRELAND

08/11/1865; New Orleans, LA; burial in Chalmette National Cemetery, Chalmette, LA