Richard Henry Morrell

He emigrated to Rochester, NY with his family in the 1850s. In July 1862 he was a 45 year old shoemaker, and enlisted in Company E, 108th New York Infantry. He was promoted Corporal in the same month.

He was mortally wounded in the arm in action on 17 September 1862.

Officers of his Regiment sent a letter to his widow Margaret Making Morrell (1822-) on 14 October from Bolivar Heights, VA:

Dear Madam, I take this opportunity to inform you of the death of your husband. He died on or about the 4th day of this month after having his arm amputated twice. Once at the elbow and again at the shoulder. He seemed to be getting along well when lockjaw set in and after intense suffering [of] three days died. His remains were neatly draped and he was buried at Sharpsburg, Maryland. His personal effects I will forward to you by Express tomorrow. Anything further in regard to him will be cheerfully furnished by your obdt. svt. and sympathy in affliction.

Service information from the New York Adjutant General,1 who has his age as 37 and death date as 14 October. Details and the letter quoted above from research in his widow's approved pension file by John Banks; posted on his blog. That file is online from Fold3 (pay site). Morrell left 10 children, ages less than one to 17 years, with his widow.

03/29/1817 in ENGLAND

10/04/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Sharpsburg, MD