Sons of Peekskill in the Civil War

Editor's Note: The following note is from the Peekskill Museum. For instructions on how to create your own, click  here.

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In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Peekskill Museum presents a program dedicated to the local men who served and those who died defending the union.

Sept. 17, 1862 was the most devastating day in American military history, with 23,000 killed, wounded and missing on both sides. Several Peekskill men participated and died in that great battle. One of those was John William "Billy" Pattison, who carried The 9th NY Hawkins Zouaves battle flag and died in action.

The day’s activities start with a memorial tribute and wreath-laying at Billy Pattison’s gravesite in Hillside Cemetery on Oregon Rd where a number of graves of the men who served and died are located. An account of Billy Pattison’s heroic death at Antietam will be given.

Activities continue in the Peekskill Museum at 2pm with presentations that cover;Legacy of the Civil War, Peekskill’s response to soldier recruitment, The 9th NY Hawkins Zouaves, The Grand Army of the Republic in Peekskill, The Battle of Antietam,

Dedications of NY 9th Regimental Monument at Antietam and Peekskill Soldier’s Monument

The assassination of Lincoln and the funeral train stop in Peekskill.

The program is a collaboration of local author & historian Tony Czarnecki, Peekskill City Historian John Curran and Peekskill Museum board member Lorman Augustowski.

The family donated (permanent loan to the museum) the bible Billy was carrying when he was fatally wounded. It includes a brief written account of his death written by his brother. The family also donated the Springfield rifle Billy's brother's carried in the Civil War. Lorman Augustowski will give a brief description of the weapon and a demonstration of how it was loaded for firing.

An Eagle Scout project by Boy Scout David Gomez, Troop 238 Shrub Oak, identifies the burial sites of Peekskill Civil War veterans.

Admission is free to museum members. a $5 donation is requested from the general public.

The Peekskill Museum is located at 124 Union Avenue. Call  (914) 736-0473 for information.