John Elias Wilfong

In 1860 he was a 25 year old farmer living next door to his parent's place near Traveler's Repose in Pocahontas County, VA (now WV). He enlisted there as a Private in Company G, 31st Virginia Infantry on 17 March 1862.

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

He was wounded again, and captured, at Gettysburg, PA in July 1863 and held at the DeCamp General Hospital on David's Island, NY. He was paroled and was in a Richmond hospital by 16 November 1863, then furloughed. He was again wounded, by a gunshot through both thighs, on 30 (or 31) May 1864 and was furloughed for 60 days on 2 July. He was captured on 1 April 1865 in Upshur County, VA, held at the Athenaeum Prison on Wheeling, sent to Cumberland, MD on 6 April, then on to Camp Chase, OH on the 13th. He took an oath of allegiance there on 13 June 1865 and was released.

His service from Ashcraft1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 via fold3; both as John Wilfong. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married his first cousin Matilda Wilfong (1836-1878) in January 1856 and they had 5 children.

There was also a John M. Wilfong in Company G. That soldier was wounded at Chantilly, VA on 1 September and later detailed to the Pioneer Corps and as a Teamster.

c. 1835; Pocahontas County, VA

01/25/1868; Pocahontas County, WV; burial in Wilfong Family Cemetery, Bartow, WV