John L. Litchfield

A Citadel graduate who trained as a lawyer, he was a 24 year old farmer on his parent's place near Conwayboro, Horry Distict in 1860. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Company L, 7th South Carolina Infantry on 26 June 1861, was promoted to First Lieutenant at the reorganization of 13 May 1862, and made Captain the next day when Captain White was appointed Major.

He was mortally wounded in action on Maryland Heights, MD near Harpers Ferry on 13 September 1862.

He was found on the battlefield (perhaps as late as 15 September) by a local man who took him to the home of his brother, a Dr. Stonebreaker (or Stonebraker). He died there of his wounds on 16 September 1862. He was originally buried "In Dr. E Butler's graveyard" and probably reinterred at Hagerstown in about 1874.

His sister Rachel Ann Litchfield Gore (1833-1914) received his sword and other "relics" of him - including a "Confederate gray hat with a bullet hole through the crown" - in March 1896.

Burial information from Pruett1, which has him as Captain Litchfield, 8th South Carolina Infantry. His service from the Roll,2 which says he was killed outright on Maryland Heights, and Swain.3 Further details the US Census of 1860, the centennial Catalog of The Citadel (1942), and a news clipping from the Wilmington, NC Weekly Star of 27 March 1896.

His brother George was promoted to Captain of Company L at Sharpsburg on 18 September 1862.

c. 1835

09/16/1862; Washington County, MD; burial in Washington Confederate Cemetery, Hagerstown, MD