From the Brigade Commander: Barry Arnold
Friends of the Civil War Round Table, we are all in this pandemic hole with this
Corona Virus. We now are following rules of social separation, washing hands, and staying at home. The Board came to the conclusion that we had to cancel the rest of the Campaign year. I am sorry to report our meetings for April, May, and June had to be cancelled. Our cancellation of the June meeting was the result of Holiday Inn not being ready for gatherings. We do not know when the state is ready to get back to normal.
Now the Governor is saying we must wait until about the 2nd week in May to slowly bring the economy back to normal. Only time will tell… When we are able to regain our normal gathering, I hope to see you all there. While we are experiencing this social separation and when you need exercise, do what I love doing, that is walk among the dead. It is a fantastic journey and you will be amazed that the number of local civil war ancestors that are buried in our local cemeteries. If you find someone that is especially interesting, please let me know.
In my series of notable civil war burials, we come to another local cemetery in Easton. The Easton Heights Cemetery is located on North 10th Street just off Northampton Street. There you will find an old historic cemetery that housed many Civil War soldiers.
Most notable are those of the 153rd Penna volunteers. Many of their officers and enlisted men are entombed there. One of the notables is Brigadier General Charles A. Heckman. Born in Easton, Heckman served in the Mexican war as a sergeant and enlisted in the Union Army as a major at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was commissioned into the 9th New Jersey Infantry. In 1861 he was promoted to Lt. Col. Promoted twice more, he was commissioned Brig. Gen. in 1862. He led the 18th and 25th corps in the Carolinas. He was captured at Drewry’s Bluff and sent to Libby Prison. He was exchanged in 1864 and then commanded the 18 Corps in the Army of the James. During fighting at Fort Harrison led to distinguished leadership. He was replaced and transferred to command the 3rd Division in the newly created 25th Corps. He resigned from the army in 1865 and returned to work for the New Jersey Rail Road as a conductor and dispatcher. Heckman died on January 14,1896 at the age of 73.
Another civil war veteran was Colonel Charles A. Wikoff. He was also born in Easton. At the brink of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the 1st Penna. Inf. The next month he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the 15th U.S. Infantry. Shot in the eye at the Battle of Shiloh, he wore an eye patch for the rest of his life. He also participated in the Battle of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He was promoted to Captain. Wikoff transferred to the 24th US. Infantry, and then later to the 11th U.S. infantry serving in Texas. In November 1891, he was promoted to Lt. Col. Of the 19th U.S. Infantry serving at Fort Wayne. Then in January 1897, he was promoted to Colonel of the 22nd U.S. Infantry at Fort Cook, Neb. In 1898 led the 22nd infantry to Cuba. He was shot during a charge across an open field in the battle of San Juan Hill. Within 15 minutes he succumbed to his wounds and died on July 1, 1898 near Santiago Cuba.
Barry