Spring Run Civil War Monument

One of the most beautiful Civil War Monuments in Franklin County, Pennsylvania (IMHO) is located in the northern tier of the the county above the Blue Ridge, a sometimes forgotten corner because it is ringed by mountains and largely isolated. Spring Run and the surrounding communities certainly provided their fair share of fighting men to the Union cause during the Civil War and also paid a hefty toll. Interestingly, despite the area's large participation, a large portion of the enlistees served in many of the less-notorious fighting units. These regiments have received less attention, not because of their fighting record, but likely because of the theaters in which they served or because they were not full-term (3 year units). The region fielded many men for the nine-month 126th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was engaged heavily at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. It also provided many men to the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, a unit raised during the Gettysburg Campaign for six-months service and then re-enlisted for three years. There are also men from the 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th and 19th Cavalries, as well as the 54th, 158th, 201st infantries and the 2nd Heavy Artillery.

Located in Spring Run is the Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church which was built in 1856. A monument to the valley's Civil War dead was dedicated just after the war in the churchyard and it lists the names of all those who perished by unit. It is now a part of the church's prayer garden and many of the men who are named on the monument are buried just on the other side of the road in the Spring Run Cemetery. Interestingly the monument has the names of men who were not just killed or died during the war years, but several who died as a result of wounds or disease after their enlistments ended and they returned home. Below are a few pictures from Spring Run, which is a beautiful historic town with many old homes and structures.

The Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church built in 1856

Civil War Monument in the church yard

East face of the monument

North face of the monument

West face of the monument

South face of the monument

The grave of Private James M. Wilson of the often
forgotten 19th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He died shortly
after enlisting in 1864.

The grave of Private Job Kennedy and his family. Although many of these units
don't receive the due notoriety, Kennedy is a good example as many men from
this region served more than one enlistment, he in the nine-month 126th PA and
then in the 21st PA Cavalry for the war's duration.

The grave of Sergeant Franklin Gamble of Company K, 21st
PA Cavalry who died after returning home as a result of wounds
suffered at Petersburg, Virginia during the initial assaults in
June of 1864.