John Graham Ross (1833-1863)

 


The twenty-eight photo in the album is John Graham Ross (1833-1863) - older paternal half brother of Mary Ellen (Ross) Hankins. 

John Graham Ross was born 5 July 1833 in Damascus, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, the son of John Ross (1791-1837) and Love Hurd (1790-1833). He enlisted in Company K of the 143rd Regiment of New York Infantry at Cochecton, Sullivan County, New York on 25 July 1862. At the time of his enlistment, he was twenty nine years old, 5 feet and 10 1/2 inches tall, had a fair complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. 

John Graham Ross served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted in Company K of the 143rd Regiment of New York Infantry at Cochecton, Sullivan County, New York on 25 July 1862. At the time of his enlistment, he was twenty nine years old, 5 feet and 10 1/2 inches tall, had a fair complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair. He appears as a private on the Company Muster-In Roll dated 9 October 1862, taken at Monticello, Sullivan County. He enlisted for a term of three years. 

In January 1863, Private John Ross was involved in the Court Martial case of Nicholas Tompkins, private in Company I, 143 Regiment New York Infantry at Camp Bliss, Upton Hill, Virginia. Tompkins was on trial for furnishing alcohol to enlisted men. As a witness, Ross was asked if he knew if Tompkins had done this. According to the letter in his Service Record, Ross "answered in a most insolent and insubordinate manner, saying "I refuse to answer any such a question." Ross was found in contempt of court. His was sentenced to ten days labor at Camp Bliss, and forfeited five dollars of his monthly pay. [1]

Unfortunately, John Graham Ross did not survive the war. On 21 October 1863 he was sent to the Convalescent Camp at Bridgeport, Alabama. He died on 3 March 1863 at the General Field Hospital Number 1 at Stevenson, Alabama of Chronic Diarrhea. He was buried in grave 174. [2]

According to Wikipedia, Fort Harker was established in Stevenson in 1862 to prevent the Confederates from using the railroads in the area to defend Chattanooga. There was a military hospital at Fort Harker, so that is probably where John Graham Ross died. 

John Graham Ross is now buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. A document posted to Find A Grave indicates that a replacement headstone was ordered for his grave in 1937. 

[1] Letter date 27 January 1863, Combined Military Service Record for John G. Ross, Co. K, 143 N.Y. Infantry; PDF received from Gopher Records created at the U.S. National Archives, October 2023, pages 20-22. 

[2] Record of Death and Interment, Combined Military Service Record for John G. Ross, Co. K, 143 N.Y. Infantry; PDF received from Gopher Records created at the U.S. National Archives, October 2023, page 18. 


About the Hankins/Ross Photo Album
Previous Photo in the Album: Lunette Tyler
Next Photograph in the Album: Unidentified Woman 

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