John Rourke

A 23 year old waiter, he enlisted in New York City as a Private, Company E, 9th United States Infantry on 22 September 1855 to serve 5 years. He was described as 5 feet, 7 and a half inches tall with hazel eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion. He reenlisted on 12 September 1860 at Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, still a Private. He transferred to Company G of the 4th US Infantry, date not given.

He was mortally wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862, probably while skirmishing with the enemy along the Boonsboro Pike just east of the town of Sharpsburg that afternoon.

He died of wounds on 21 September 1862 in a field hospital near Keedysville, MD and was buried on or near the Antietam battlefield.

He was reinterred in the new Antietam National Cemetery in about 1867.

Burial information from the Antietam Cemetery History,1 as John Roark. His service from the Register.2 His memorial is on Findagrave; his stone has him as John Rourk.

c. 1832; County Roscommon, IRELAND

09/26/1862; Keedysville, MD; burial in Antietam National Cemetery, Sharpsburg, MD