About
John Hughes was 21 years old when he enlisted on August 17, 1864, and was mustered in on August 17, 1864. At his time of enlistment, he had been working as an engineer. John was paid to be a substitute soldier for a man from Saratoga, New York. He served with the 64th New York Infantry, Company H. He held the rank of Private. John was killed in action on October 9, 1864.
Sources: Ancestry
But we fight our country’s battles
And our hopes are not forlorn
Our death shall be a blessing
To “Millions yet unborn.”
To our children and their children
And as each grave is filled
We will but ask our Chief to say
“Only a private killed.”
~Hanford L. Gordon