Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day
had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the
military service.
On this Memorial Day Monday I'm going to celebrate and honor my 3rd Great Grand Uncle, Andrew Jackson Ferrier. I wish I had a photo of him, but I don't.
On 23 May, 1852, at the age of 22, he married Catherine Mercer in Williams, Ohio.
About ten years later the Civil War was in process and that's when began serving as a Union Soldier.
Below is the record indicating more specific information on his role in the Civil War.
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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
about Andrew J. Ferrier
| Name: | Andrew J. Ferrier |
|---|---|
| Side: | Union |
| Regiment State/Origin: | Pennsylvania |
| Regiment Name: | 2 Pennsylvania H. Art'y. |
| Regiment Name Expanded: | 2nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (112th Volunteers) |
| Company: | K |
| Rank In: | Private |
| Rank In Expanded: | Private |
| Rank Out: | Private |
| Rank Out Expanded: | Private |
| Film Number: | M554 roll 36 |
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It shows he was responsible for using "heavy artillery". During the Civil War "heavy artillery" or Siege and garrison artillery were heavy pieces that could be used either in attacking or defending fortified places. The weight and size of siege artillery prevented it from regularly traveling with the armies. When needed, siege artillery and other
material needed for siege operations were assembled into what was called
a siege train and transported to the army. In the American Civil War, the siege train
was always transported to the area of the siege by water.
My Uncle Andrew Ferrier died at the age of 89 on 4 February 1919.
