Francis Marion Cantrell

A 28 year old farmer in Damascus, Spartanburg District, he enlisted as Private, Company I, 7th South Carolina Infantry on 9 August 1862.

He was mortally wounded by canister ball to the leg and was captured in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862. His tibia was shattered and his knee joint was damaged.

His leg was amputated in the middle third of his thigh by a Federal surgeon at a US Army field hospital near Sharpsburg on 18 September, but he died of pyemia (infection) on 25 September 1862. The surgeon also noted that his health had been poor before he was wounded, which probably hurt his chances of survival.

Wound and medical details from Fisher.1 Service from Swain,2 citing the Compiled Service Records, which say he was wounded on Maryland Heights on 13 September and died on 5 October in Sharpsburg. Personal details from family genealogists.

He married Jemima Paris (1838-1899) in July 1858 and they had a son James Talton Cantrell (1861-1929).

1834; Spartanburg District, SC

09/25/1862; Sharpsburg, MD