John O'Harra

Probably originally from Ireland, O'Harra's were in Virginia by the time of the American Revolution or soon after, expanded into Frederick County, MD and Cambria County, PA by about 1800, and a large number were in Franklin and Pickaway Counties in Ohio by the 1840s.

John O'Harra, age 21, who had at least 16 Ohio relatives serve in the Union Army, enlisted as a Private in Company G of the 30th Ohio Infantry on 17 August 1861 and mustered into Federal service with them at Champ Chase, Columbus, OH on 28 August. He was appointed Corporal, date not given.

He was mortally wounded in action at Fox's Gap on South Mountain, MD on 14 September 1862.

He died of his wounds on 24 September 1862, probably in a field hospital near the battlefield or a temporary US Army hospital in Middletown, MD. His remains were recovered and reinterred in the new National Cemetery in about 1867.

His service from the Roster,1 which says he died in Frederick, MD, and Brinkerhoff.2 Details from the cemetery History 3 and family genealogists.

He's probably the man buried under marker #1408 at Antietam National Cemetery (see the stone via Findagrave). The cemetery History has that soldier simply as Private -- O'Hara, Company G, 29th Ohio Infantry, and that he was "removed from South Mountain." I found no O'Hara/O'Harra in the Roster for the 29th Ohio (or the 23rd, for that matter). Also, the 29th Regiment was detached from their Brigade on 9 September 1862 and was not engaged at South Mountain or Antietam.

c. 1840

09/24/1862; Frederick County, MD; burial in Antietam National Cemetery, Sharpsburg, MD