Pvt. James
M. PinkertonBorn: March 18, 1825 in Somerset Co., Pa
Died: October 13, 1864 at Burkes Station, Va
James was the son of Matthew and Sara (Reed) Pinkerton
On September 3, 1864 at the age of 39, James enrolled in the 6th Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery/212th PA in Allegheny City, Pa. He enlisted for one year and was given the rank of private, plus a bounty of $100.00. He was only given $33.33 at the time of enrollment and was due the remaining $66.66. His enrollment papers show his occupation as an engineer. He was 5' 6" in height and had dark hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.
James was placed in Captain Robert H. Long's Company L. Shortly after the formation of the unit Capt. Long was promoted to Major and was replaced by Captain David Cornelius. The unit arrived in Washington around September 17th and was assigned to the Second Brigade of DeRussy's Division. On the 29th, the regiment was detached from the division, and ordered to duty in guarding the portion off the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, lying between Alexandria and Manassas, VA.
The following is an excerpt from the unit history from The History of Pennsylvania Volunteers by Samuel Bates, "Over this road, supplies for Sheridan's army were transported, and the regiment was charged with keeping open the part entrusted to it. It was an enemy's country, and infested with roving bands, military and civilian upon occasion, and to guard against surprise, and to be at all points superior to an attacking force, requiring incessant watchfulness and skill in the disposition and handling of the guards. Colonel Barnes was an experienced infantry officer, having served in the Ninth Reserve, and nearly all of both officers and men had been previously in the army. The discipline, which had thus been acquired, now served a most important purpose; for it was only by the strictest attention to duty, and the exercise of sound discretion, that the wily and watchful enemy could be kept at bay. To go outside the lines, was almost certain death. On one occasion, three soldiers who had chanced thus to go, were fired upon by parties in ambush, and wounded, when, rushing up from their covert, the inhuman wretches stood with pistols in hand, over the bodies of the victims weltering in their blood, and fired into their breasts until they were quite dead".
James Pinkerton was one of the three men killed at Burkes Station. In his military records are two items, the Company Muster-out roll and the Company Muster Roll. Each one has a unique remark about Williams demise. The remarks on the Company Muster-out Roll are, "Murdered by guerrillas near Burkes Station Orange and Alexandria R.R., Oct. 13, 1864". The Company Muster Roll remarks are the most flourished statement of the event, "Assassinated near Burkes Station by Bushwhackers, Oct 12, 1864".
Nothing states what the real situation was that caused James and the two other soldiers to go outside the line and be "Bushwhacked". James final resting place is not known and more research is needed to find out is he was returned to Pennsylvania. One of the other soldiers killed at the same time appears to have had his body returned home. If he was not and he was buried at Burkes Station his remains may have been removed after the war and placed in Arlington National Cemetery. I have checked Arlington's records and William is not listed. That could mean he has been buried as an "Unknown Union Soldier".