Gravestone from Civil War Veteran

How many times have you driven by the Lake Ronkonkoma Cemetery on Hawkins Avenue and not really noticed it?

Sometimes we forget that there were people here way before we were. Recently, I took a walk through the grounds looking for something interesting to photograph for the "From the Lens ... Sachem in Pictures" segment for Sachem Patch.

I found an interesting headstone over the final resting place of one of our fellow residents that died a very long time ago while fighting for our country during the Civil War.

After doing some research, I found out some information about how Captain Edward J. Carmick died on the field of battle on a spring day in April 1865. The following information is from the book "History of the One hundred and Twenty-Fourth Regiment: N.Y.S.V." by Charles H. Weygant.

For about two hundred yards all went well. Then just as we entered a piece of woods and the darkness if possible began to grow more dense, unseen briars tore our clothing and flesh, tangled vine stripped us up. The earth beneath our feet grew spongy, and at every step we sank deeper and yet deeper into the mud and water. And our further advance in that direction was rendered impossible by a swale of swamp which though of no great width was under existing circumstances absolutely impassable.

At the juncture bullets from the enemy's pickets began to whistle among us. But this fire was returned with such promptness and effect that their thin line fled for protection to their main works, which were near at hand. Then their artillery, posted on a high ridge some two hundred yards away, opened a terrific fire and presently a battle line added a continuous shower of hissing leaden bullets to the thundering storm of iron shot and shell.

We kept up a rapid fire in return and the roar and racket soon became so terrific that General de Trobriand, fearing the enemy would sally forth and overpower my command, hurried the 73D N.Y. and 110th Penn. to our assistance. The engagement continued some fifteen minutes after the arrival of our support, when an aide rode out and recalled us.The most serious obstacle encountered was the swamp, for their shells and nearly all of their bullets passed harmlessly over our heads.  

However, some of the latter were aimed only too well, for on returning we carried back a number of seriously wounded, the dead body of as brave a soldier as ever fell in battle upon Virginias bloody soil, Captain Edward J. Carmick of Company F. At early dawn, we buried him by the roadside with eyes moistened with tears and hearts filled with sorrow, marked his grave.

Eleven months afterward, I received from his mother this letter.  "Ronkonkoma, Lakeside Lakeland, Long Island, March 2, 1866"   Colonel Weygant,  "Dear Sir:- As you were the Colonel of the 124th N.Y. State Vols. at the time of the death of my beloved son Captin Edward J. Carmick, an officer under your command, who was killed in front of Petersburg on the night of April 1st 1865. I take the liberty of addressing you.....He was a most kind dutiful and affectionate son, and his death will be to me a life long sorrow; for it has deprived me of my greatest happiness in life, as he was dearer to me than life itself; and had you, sir, known all of his noble qualities you would not, as you may now think a mothers love causes her to eulogize her lost son more than he deserved.

There was great sympathy and perfect confidence between us, and he never deceived me in his life. While in the Army, which was nearly four years, he kept up a frequent correspondence with me, and you sir, do not seem a stranger to me, as he often spoke so kindly of you. He thought you a brave officer and appreciated everything you may have done for his benefit. On the 27th of November last, I visited his grave at the junction of the Boydton and Quaker Roads, eight miles out from Petersburg, Va. I found his grave as it had been described to me. General Gibbon, who was in command there, kindly furnished me two teams and men sufficient to disinter him, and I had his remains put in a metallic coffin that I carried out from New York for that purpose.

On opening the grave I found his body in an excellent state of preservation and could easily recognize him. A head board with his name cut on it with a knife was firmly nailed to a tree under which he reposed. Oh, what a satisfaction it was to me to find my darling boy had been buried by kind friends, and as you probably gave orders for his burial so carefully,and for all and every kindness you may have shown him in life, and for kindly caring for his remains in having deposited where I could recover them. I could not rest satisfied until I visited his grave myself. I brought home his remains and had them buried with funeral services on the 10th of Dec. last near his home.

I regret, sir, that I was unable to see you when I visited your regiment at Hart's Island when it was there waiting to be discharged-you being absent at the time. Yourself and the officers of your regiment will always seem near to me as the brothers in arms of my beloved son. Had he lived I believe he would always have felt a warm friendship for you and them.                                                                                                 " I am very respectfully,                                                                                                 " Evelina L. Carmick"