Photo from the Warren Observer A family member holds the testament that Siggins carried into battle in a story published in the Warren Observer in 1955.

This is one of those – the Civil War death of Porter Siggins at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek outside Atlanta in 1864.

Siggins was born in May 1840 in Youngsville.

According to Schenck’s History of Warren County, Porter was the son of Judge William Siggins (he was justice of the peace for some years) and his wife, Polly Wilson. Both were “from the north of Ireland” and they had 12 children – eight sons, four daughters.

By the time that Schenck’s book was written in the late 1880s, just three sons and two daughters were living.

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The grave of Pvt. Porter Siggins at the Youngsville Cemetery. Siggins was killed in the 1864 Civil War Battle of Peach Tree Creek when a bullet pierced a Bible in his pocket and entered his heart.

“His youngest son, Porter, served during the late war in the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and rendered distinguished assistance to the Northern cause — taking part in nineteen engagements,” Schenck reported.

According to the muster rolls for Co. D of the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Porter enlisted on Nov. 22, 1861 for three years. He had been wounded at the Battle of Antietam in Sept. 1862.

The site “Antietam on the Web” indicates that Porter was wounded by “gunshot to the right shoulder and arm in action” during that battle, which was the bloodiest single day in American history.

“He was initially treated at the Smoketown field hospital near Sharpsburg, then at a US Army hospital in Frederick, MD from 6 October to 26 November, when he was returned to duty,” that site stated.

Flash forward to July 1864 – after Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg – to Sherman’s March to Atlanta.

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton A closer look at the remaining legible panel of Siggins’ grave.

It was there on July 7 that he was one of 11 men – including Col. George Cobham – killed in action.

The Warren Mail reported the death on Aug. 6.

“Judge Siggins, of Youngsville, lost his son Porter Siggins in the battle near Atlanta,” the report indicated. ” We understand the fatal shot passed through his testament in a side pocket.

“He was an exemplary and faithful young man who never drank liquor or used profane language, but always did his duty.”

His company commander, Capt. William Alexander, wrote home to his father and the Mail published the letter.

“It is with a feeling of deep sadness that I write to you of your son Porter’s death. He was instantly killed in the battle of the 20th by a shot through the heart. I buried him beside three more of his comrades who fell at the same time. I had his grave plainly marked, so that if at any future day you may wish to remove his remains, the grave can be easily found.

“Porter was much beloved by all the company and he will ever be held in remembrance by us all, and we would respectfully tender to you, and the mourning friends of Porter, our heart felt sympathies in this your hour of great affliction.”

His family did return his remains to Warren County. He’s buried at the Youngsville Cemetery.

He died at the age of 24.

It’s a notable grave that caught my eye when I was in the cemetery for something unrelated.

Time has taken its toll on the sandstone monument. The text can hardly be read in places.

That appears to have been a challenge when family members were looking for the grave in 1955. That’s detailed in a story in the Warren Observer under the headline “Youngsville Edition Helps Kin Find Forgotten Soldier’s Grave.”

“In the May 26th issue of the Youngsville Edition – Warren Observer, there appeared the accompanying picture of the tombstone which marks the location of the Porter Siggins’ grave,” the report starts. “From the information which was chiseled years ago into the surface of the stone, the Garner Wilcox family, of Pittsfield, recognized as a kin the Civil War victim and searched the Youngsville cemetery until the grave was located.

“For many years, the Wilcox family had a box of family momentos which included a mutilated testament.”

This appears to have been the testament that was pierced by the bullet that took Siggins’ life.

“Inside the back cover was penned this inscription, ‘Presented to Porter Siggins by Miss Biddle of Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 7, 1863,'” the Observer reported. “The holy book reveals plainly the course of the bullet which snuffed out the life of the owner who carried (it) in his pocket over his heart.”

That edition includes a photo of Janet Wilcox holding “the valuable book which indicates plainly the scars of battle. The Civil War soldier was Janet’s great-great uncle. The only other known descendants of Porter Siggins are Gordon Wilcox, of R.D., Youngsville; Annabelle Reynolds, Sixth ave., Warren; and Iva Langdon, of Milwaukee, Wis.”