Austin, George W.
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 21, credited to Burlington, VT Unit(s): 1st VT CAV Service: enl 10/19/61, m/i 11/19/61, Pvt, Co. B, 1st VT CAV, wdd 5/5/64, m/o 11/18/64 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 04/06/1840, Burlington, VT Death: 05/08/1908 Burial: Greenmount Cemetery, Burlington, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Kathy Valloch Findagrave Memorial #: 23394968 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 7/11/1874; widow Elizabeth E. Stoughton, 5/25/1908, VT, not approved Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: Restored gravestone photo courtesy of Deborah Hardy and Jim Woodman. DESCENDANTS 3rd Great Granduncle of Daniel Hamilton, Chippewa Falls, WI (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  Greenmount Cemetery, Burlington, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
Obituary
Death of George W. Austin
The death of George W. Austin formerly of this city and the oldest nail carrier in Vermont, occurred Friday morning at Waterbury, where he had been under treatment during the past month. Mr. Austin suffered from hardening of the arteries and had been in failing health for the past two years. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon. Mr. Austin is survived by his wife, who was formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, and three daughters, Mrs. O. E. Chilson, Mrs. P. E. Gaines and Mrs. E. R. Jewell, all of Burlington; also two brothers, C. H. Austin, of Great Falls, Mont., and Orlando Austin of Adrian, Mich., and a sister, Mrs. Ephraim Brown, of Providence, R. I. Mr. Austin, until January, 1907, was a mail carrier in Burlington, Having been in the service for twenty-seven years, being the first mail carrier appointed in the state. He had resided in Burlington since his discharge from the service in the Civil War. He was born in St. Albans 68 years ago and resided here until he enlisted in the Civil War. From the day of enlistment as private in Company B, 1st Vt. Cav., in October, 1861, until his muster out of the United States service in November, 1864, Mr. Austin was resent in fifty-seven battles and skirmishes. He was never ill or in a hospital except when wounded. May 5, 1864, the Union cavalry, under General Sheridan, led the advance of the Army of the Potomac in the Wilderness campaign. The skirmish line of the cavalry force was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings of that regiment. George Austin was the first man on the extreme of this line, and as the same was advancing through some timber of a second growth, the Confederate cavalry rushed upon him suddenly and the captain commanding the advancing column struck him over the head with a saber. Although stunned he was not unhorsed and when he regained consciousness he found himself riding in the ranks of the Confederate cavalry. He rode a fast horse known as "Old Jim' and with blood streaming down his face he made a dash from the pike into the field, making a break for liberty. He was followed by the Confederate captain and nine men. As his horse was the fastest they could not gain upon him. During the chase he came in sight of the Union skirmish line, and lessened his speed until the captain and his soldiers were drawn inside the lines where they were captured by the Union soldiers. Austin then fell exhausted from his horse. Upon his return from the hospital, Mr. Austin fought in the Shenandoah valley in Custer's brigade, Sheridan's cavalry until his muster out of the United States service. After the war he joined the National Guard of Vermont. He was a member of Hamilton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Champlain Lodge, K. P., Burlington.
Source: St. Albans Weekly Messenger, May 14, 1908.
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.