JOHN
MURTHER
15th Independent Battery
Artillery
Middle Island
John Murther
15th and 32nd Independent Battery
Artillery
Middle Island
John Murther was born in New York City on
July 4, 1841. He moved to Long Island and was working on
the Middle Island farm of Sylvester Swezey when the war
broke out.
At the age of twenty-two, he was among
the many young men who answered the call to join the
Union Army. On August 26, 1862, he and two friends from
Middle Island traveled to Westchester to enlist with the
15th Independent Battery, under Captain McMahon, for a
period of three years.
When Murther joined the unit in September
the 15th Independent Battery was ordered to Maryland and
stationed at Relay House. He served with the unit through
the battles of Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, The Wilderness,
Spotsylvania, Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad.
The unit was equipped with four brass
guns, which were twelve-pounder smooth bores known as
Napoleons. These guns, and the men, saw a lot of action.
Captain Hart, who replaced Captain McMahon, was not one
to run from a fight.
After Gettysburg, the battery fought at Rappahannock
Station and Mine Run. In May, they were attached to
Grant's army and fought at the Wilderness. The 15th then
followed Grant to Cold Harbor where three of their men
died.
Union gun battery ready for action.
They then proceeded to Weldon Railroad.
The 15th, though undermanned and short of cannons, was
assigned to support the 5th Corps in the battle to
control the railway supply lines. The fighting was fierce
and at close range.
John Murther was hurt during the fight
for Weldon Railroad. On August 21, 1864, a horse fell on
his right leg. He was sent to the Corps Hospital in
Virginia. This caused him to limp badly, he had an
internal hernia, and he suffered long-term pain in his
leg and back.
Despite the injuries, Murther was
promoted to Corporal three months later. He and the
remaining men of the 15th were transferred to the 32nd
Independent Battery, where he spent the rest of his
military service.
John Murther was discharged in New York
City on July 14, 1865. He returned to Middle Island and
continued to work on the Sylvester Swezey farm. As a
result of his war injuries, however, he had a hard time
carrying out his duties on the farm. Unfortunately,
Murther had difficulty securing his disability because
there was a problem with his military records.
He married, but his wife passed away
before the couple had any children. Over time, Murther
moved between Middle Island, Yaphank and Coram. He was
residing in Coram when he died in 1911 at the age of 70.
Union troops destroying the Weldon
Railroad, cutting a vital supply line to Richmond.