DeWitt Clinton Burke

A 14 year old laborer, he enlisted in New York in Company C, 2nd United States Infantry on 6 March 1855 and was a Musician at Ft. Ridgley, Minnesota Territory, Nebraska Territory at the end of his term in March 1858. He reenlisted, date and place not known.

Lieutenant Poland noted that he was "crippled slightly by a wound in the foot, but remained with the regiment until the close of the action [near the Middle Bridge at Antietam on 17 September 1862]. He is a brave soldier."

He reenlisted on 6 April 1866 in Washington, DC and ended that term in Washington in September 1867, a Sergeant in the 44th US Infantry, probably on Reconstruction duty. He reenlisted yet again, in August 1868 (in the Dakota Territory, a Private), in December 1873 (in Washington, DC), and in December 1878 (a Sergeant: "Char[acter] very good and faithful"). He was discharged as a Sergeant on 11 Aug 1882.

Service information from the Register.1 The Lieutenant Poland quote above is from his after-action Report. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

c. 1840; New York City, NY

12/02/1899; burial in US Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, Washington, DC