Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Barnard. Husband of Mary.
Private Abner Barnard enlisted in CO D, 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV in 1862, and fought at the Battles of Port Gibson, Big Black River Bridge and the assault on the Railroad Redoubt at Vicksburg on 22 May 1863. When his regiment reached the base of the redoubt they tumbled into a trench almost ten feet deep. From their positions commanding the fort, the Confederates pinned down the 22nd with rifle fire and began rolling fused grenades down into the trench. Sergeant Joseph Griffiths of Company G called for volunteers and 15 soldiers stepped forward, including Private Barnard. Making a human ladder, these 16 soldiers succeeded in getting out of the trench, up the wall and into the redoubt where they planted the regimental colors and the United States flag. They fought there for approximately one hour until they exhausted their ammunition. Only Sergeant Griffith and 3 other soldiers escaped alive. Private Barnard died inside the fort from a gun shot wound. He left a wife, Mary (Brown) Hittle and two young sons, Frank and James Barnard in Lovilia, Iowa. Private Barnard is in all likelihood interred in the National Military Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the stone at Eddyville is likely a memorial stone only.
This brave action of Sergeant Griffith and the 15 volunteers was mentioned by General Grant in his 1885 memoirs. For his courage that day, Sergeant Griffith received a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant and an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Private Barnard's younger brother Calvin served as a Corporal and a Veteran Volunteer with the 6th Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Dallas Georgia, losing his left arm, but surviving the war.
Private Abner Barnard enlisted in CO D, 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV in 1862, and fought at the Battles of Port Gibson, Big Black River Bridge and the assault on the Railroad Redoubt at Vicksburg on 22 May 1863. When his regiment reached the base of the redoubt they tumbled into a trench almost ten feet deep. From their positions commanding the fort, the Confederates pinned down the 22nd with rifle fire and began rolling fused grenades down into the trench. Sergeant Joseph Griffiths of Company G called for volunteers and 15 soldiers stepped forward, including Private Barnard. Making a human ladder, these 16 soldiers succeeded in getting out of the trench, up the wall and into the redoubt where they planted the regimental colors and the United States flag. They fought there for approximately one hour until they exhausted their ammunition. Only Sergeant Griffith and 3 other soldiers escaped alive. Private Barnard died inside the fort from a gun shot wound. He left a wife, Mary (Brown) Hittle and two young sons, Frank and James Barnard in Lovilia, Iowa. Private Barnard is in all likelihood interred in the National Military Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the stone at Eddyville is likely a memorial stone only.
This brave action of Sergeant Griffith and the 15 volunteers was mentioned by General Grant in his 1885 memoirs. For his courage that day, Sergeant Griffith received a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant and an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Private Barnard's younger brother Calvin served as a Corporal and a Veteran Volunteer with the 6th Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Dallas Georgia, losing his left arm, but surviving the war.
Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Barnard. Husband of Mary.
Private Abner Barnard enlisted in CO D, 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV in 1862, and fought at the Battles of Port Gibson, Big Black River Bridge and the assault on the Railroad Redoubt at Vicksburg on 22 May 1863. When his regiment reached the base of the redoubt they tumbled into a trench almost ten feet deep. From their positions commanding the fort, the Confederates pinned down the 22nd with rifle fire and began rolling fused grenades down into the trench. Sergeant Joseph Griffiths of Company G called for volunteers and 15 soldiers stepped forward, including Private Barnard. Making a human ladder, these 16 soldiers succeeded in getting out of the trench, up the wall and into the redoubt where they planted the regimental colors and the United States flag. They fought there for approximately one hour until they exhausted their ammunition. Only Sergeant Griffith and 3 other soldiers escaped alive. Private Barnard died inside the fort from a gun shot wound. He left a wife, Mary (Brown) Hittle and two young sons, Frank and James Barnard in Lovilia, Iowa. Private Barnard is in all likelihood interred in the National Military Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the stone at Eddyville is likely a memorial stone only.
This brave action of Sergeant Griffith and the 15 volunteers was mentioned by General Grant in his 1885 memoirs. For his courage that day, Sergeant Griffith received a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant and an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Private Barnard's younger brother Calvin served as a Corporal and a Veteran Volunteer with the 6th Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Dallas Georgia, losing his left arm, but surviving the war.
Private Abner Barnard enlisted in CO D, 22nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV in 1862, and fought at the Battles of Port Gibson, Big Black River Bridge and the assault on the Railroad Redoubt at Vicksburg on 22 May 1863. When his regiment reached the base of the redoubt they tumbled into a trench almost ten feet deep. From their positions commanding the fort, the Confederates pinned down the 22nd with rifle fire and began rolling fused grenades down into the trench. Sergeant Joseph Griffiths of Company G called for volunteers and 15 soldiers stepped forward, including Private Barnard. Making a human ladder, these 16 soldiers succeeded in getting out of the trench, up the wall and into the redoubt where they planted the regimental colors and the United States flag. They fought there for approximately one hour until they exhausted their ammunition. Only Sergeant Griffith and 3 other soldiers escaped alive. Private Barnard died inside the fort from a gun shot wound. He left a wife, Mary (Brown) Hittle and two young sons, Frank and James Barnard in Lovilia, Iowa. Private Barnard is in all likelihood interred in the National Military Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the stone at Eddyville is likely a memorial stone only.
This brave action of Sergeant Griffith and the 15 volunteers was mentioned by General Grant in his 1885 memoirs. For his courage that day, Sergeant Griffith received a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant and an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Private Barnard's younger brother Calvin served as a Corporal and a Veteran Volunteer with the 6th Iowa Infantry Regiment, USV and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Dallas Georgia, losing his left arm, but surviving the war.
Inscription
Co D 22 Iowa Vol
Gravesite Details
Fell in the battle of Vicksburg
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
