Gravestone of Civil War soldier restored

WINTERSVILLE - Freeman C. Thompson was 20 years old when he won the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1865.

The corporal in the 116th Ohio Infantry was literally blown off the parapets twice before he would successfully storm Fort Gregg at the Battle of the Trenches in Petersburg, Va.

It was two weeks before the Civil War would end with Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at Antietam and according to Jefferson County historian Lyle Zerla of Dillonvale, "the conflict had turned into siege warfare."

"Tactics had finally got up with armour where men would charge into the face of cannon fire. At that point in the war it was trenches and siege tactics. The Union forces, including Corporal Thompson were fighting from trenches and attempting to take Fort Gregg which was located approximately six miles from Richmond," explained Zerla.

"Thompson was among the Ohio Infantry who helped take the fort that day as the war was coming to an end," added Zerla.

The Monroe County native would die at the age of 42 and be buried in Olive Cemetery just outside of Caldwell in Noble County in August 1887.

And in 1990, Herb Parkinson, formerly of St. Clairsville who moved to Cambridge had a gravestone placed at Thompson's grave noting the fact he was a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

"But at some point we believe someone place, a chain around Thompson's gravestone and yanked it out of the ground," said Zerla.

The gravestone would remain missing until earlier this year when a man visiting an auction found the marker at his feet.

"Bill Henderson of Valley Grove, West Virginia was attending an auction there when he stepped up to see better. He happened to look down and noticed he was standing on a gravestone that was in two pieces. Henderson immediately told the auctioneer he was taking the gravestone with him to return it to its proper site," said Zerla.

"Henderson took it to a Bellaire resident who was a member of the Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable who gave him my name and number. I picked up the gravestone and contacted Flora VerStraten of the Jefferson County Genealogical Society who called Terry Hosenfeld," related Zerla.

"Our volunteers are currently working with Shane Gamble of Boy Scout Troop 87 who is restoring half of the Pioneer section of the Two Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery as part of his Eagle Scout project. We are restoring the other half of the Pioneer section and Terry Hosenfeld is helping us repair the broken gravestones," explained VerStraten.

"I use a gray epoxy that works well in putting the broken gravestones back together. You apply it to the broken ends and use a clamp to hold it together and clean off the excess epoxy and it will be finished in about an hour," cited Hosenfeld.

The work was completed and Zerla was making plans to take the gravestone back to Caldwell on July 13.

"The Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable has taken this on as a project. We understand the government has already replaced the stolen gravestone so we will turn this into a footstone to be placed at the foot of Thompson's grave. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and we should continue to honor him," said Zerla.

VerStraten said the local genealogical society has been working at local cemeteries for the past seven years and will continue their campaign to reset markers and repair broken grave stones.

"Anyone wishing to volunteer to help us or to provide information or ask questions can contact us through our Website at jeffcochapter.com," said VerStraten.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)