Do you know more about teen-aged Connecticut deserter?

James A. Brown's grave in Union Cemetery in Duncannon, Pa. (Photo: Richard Grossman)

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On Aug. 23, 1864, 18-year-old James A. Brown died of "congestive chills" at the home of Alex Morrison in Duncannon, Pa. Brown was a corporal in the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, which was more than 120 miles south in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia at the time of his death.

What was Brown, who had deserted on April 5, 1864, doing in Duncannon, Pa., in the south-central part of the state? Did he have relatives in town? Was his family in East Windsor, Conn., aware of his whereabouts? Did the citizens of Duncannon know he was a deserter? They apparently were touched by the young soldier because they buried him in Union Cemetery in town and placed this marker atop his grave. James enlisted in February 1864 and was promoted to corporal a month later.

Do you know more about this teen-aged soldier? E-mail me here.