Abner Wheeler Mitchell
Photographs from the collection of the Gunn Memorial Museum
Abner Wheeler Mitchell was born in Washington, CT in 1821 to Mr. Elnathan Mitchell, a farmer, and Mrs. Harriet Wheeler Mitchell. He was a well known and respected member of the Washington community.
He was drafted into the Union Army on August 1863 as a Private and assigned to Company B, 6th Infantry Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. He was 42 when drafted; however, he refused a subsitute when offered.
Abner Mitchell was mortally wounded at Deep Run, VA on August 18, 1864 and died 2 days later at the age of 43.
Even before serving in the army, Abner Mitchell experienced great tragedy. He lost his wife Lydia Leavitt and four of his five children to illness and accident in the two years prior to being drafted.
“He was shot by a ‘sharpshooter’ as he carried water to the men on the‘firing line’ A whole souled -sic.- Christian and patriot nearing military age limit , he would not send or accept the offer of the town to furnish a substitute. ‘Drafted’ was his call to this duty of service. Words
cannot express the loss to the church and town of such a noble life and character as Mr. Mitchell.”
-Samuel Jay Nettleton
He was drafted into the Union Army on August 1863 as a Private and assigned to Company B, 6th Infantry Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. He was 42 when drafted; however, he refused a subsitute when offered.
Abner Mitchell was mortally wounded at Deep Run, VA on August 18, 1864 and died 2 days later at the age of 43.
Even before serving in the army, Abner Mitchell experienced great tragedy. He lost his wife Lydia Leavitt and four of his five children to illness and accident in the two years prior to being drafted.
“He was shot by a ‘sharpshooter’ as he carried water to the men on the‘firing line’ A whole souled -sic.- Christian and patriot nearing military age limit , he would not send or accept the offer of the town to furnish a substitute. ‘Drafted’ was his call to this duty of service. Words
cannot express the loss to the church and town of such a noble life and character as Mr. Mitchell.”
-Samuel Jay Nettleton