1863 - "Dearest Mother, farewell...

   ... It may be forever, but if I fall - I fall a free man.  Say goodbye to all Friends.” 

  

So wrote Captain William Murray of Owensville, in a letter from Baltimore, as his Confederate Brigade started toward Gettysburg.  

Capt William Murray

  On the third day of fighting, July 3, Captain Murray was killed while leading an attack on Culp’s Hill.  His brother Private Alexander Murray was wounded trying to come to his aid.  With two brothers fallen, the third brother, Private Clapham Murray took charge of the Murray Brigade in the losing hours of the battle.

Several weeks later their sister, 31-year-old Elizabeth, drove a wagon 100 miles from Owensville to Gettysburg to retrieve William’s remains.  There was no one else to undertake this task for her mother.  Her brothers were at war.  Her father was dead.  

Elizabeth Murray

To enter the battlefield where 38,000 men had recently fallen... brave brave Elizabeth! 

Christ Church Cemetery, Owensville
William Murray's stone