Rufus Buxton enlisted November 1, 1861 as a private in Company B of the 76th Ohio Voluteers and was later promoted Sergeant. He grew up in and around Alexandria in Licking County, Ohio. His father David was born in Vermont and was a hotel owner in Alexandria and a farmer.
Rufus fought bravely with his regiment during the Civil War, including at Shiloh and Arkansas Post. He was instantly killed by lightning in February 1863 at Young's Point, Louisiana:
"On Saturday night of February 14th there came up a terrific storm of rain, wind, and thunder. The men had to go out in the pelting rain to hold the guy ropes of the tent to keep them fromblowing away. The lightning struck with fearful brilliancy...(in) the middle of the night a bolt struck the pole of the sergeants' tent of Company B...(they) were lying side by side with their heads toward the pole that was struck. That stroke of lightning killed instantly Sergeant [Rufus] B. Buxton...the two who were killed outright were buried near the camp." (From the diary of Charles Dana Miller in "The Struggle for the Life of the Republic" (2004)).
Rufus was buried in a temporary grave near camp about a mile from the Mississippi River and was later interred at Vicksburg National Cemetery according to the Roll of Honor. However, there is no record that his remains are there currently. Once disinterred from a national cemetery, the soldier is no longer registered as having been buried there. Many families arranged for removal and re-burial of a soldier's remains after the war. Rufus' family likely arranged for his reinterrment in his hometown.
Rufus fought bravely with his regiment during the Civil War, including at Shiloh and Arkansas Post. He was instantly killed by lightning in February 1863 at Young's Point, Louisiana:
"On Saturday night of February 14th there came up a terrific storm of rain, wind, and thunder. The men had to go out in the pelting rain to hold the guy ropes of the tent to keep them fromblowing away. The lightning struck with fearful brilliancy...(in) the middle of the night a bolt struck the pole of the sergeants' tent of Company B...(they) were lying side by side with their heads toward the pole that was struck. That stroke of lightning killed instantly Sergeant [Rufus] B. Buxton...the two who were killed outright were buried near the camp." (From the diary of Charles Dana Miller in "The Struggle for the Life of the Republic" (2004)).
Rufus was buried in a temporary grave near camp about a mile from the Mississippi River and was later interred at Vicksburg National Cemetery according to the Roll of Honor. However, there is no record that his remains are there currently. Once disinterred from a national cemetery, the soldier is no longer registered as having been buried there. Many families arranged for removal and re-burial of a soldier's remains after the war. Rufus' family likely arranged for his reinterrment in his hometown.
Rufus Buxton enlisted November 1, 1861 as a private in Company B of the 76th Ohio Voluteers and was later promoted Sergeant. He grew up in and around Alexandria in Licking County, Ohio. His father David was born in Vermont and was a hotel owner in Alexandria and a farmer.
Rufus fought bravely with his regiment during the Civil War, including at Shiloh and Arkansas Post. He was instantly killed by lightning in February 1863 at Young's Point, Louisiana:
"On Saturday night of February 14th there came up a terrific storm of rain, wind, and thunder. The men had to go out in the pelting rain to hold the guy ropes of the tent to keep them fromblowing away. The lightning struck with fearful brilliancy...(in) the middle of the night a bolt struck the pole of the sergeants' tent of Company B...(they) were lying side by side with their heads toward the pole that was struck. That stroke of lightning killed instantly Sergeant [Rufus] B. Buxton...the two who were killed outright were buried near the camp." (From the diary of Charles Dana Miller in "The Struggle for the Life of the Republic" (2004)).
Rufus was buried in a temporary grave near camp about a mile from the Mississippi River and was later interred at Vicksburg National Cemetery according to the Roll of Honor. However, there is no record that his remains are there currently. Once disinterred from a national cemetery, the soldier is no longer registered as having been buried there. Many families arranged for removal and re-burial of a soldier's remains after the war. Rufus' family likely arranged for his reinterrment in his hometown.
Rufus fought bravely with his regiment during the Civil War, including at Shiloh and Arkansas Post. He was instantly killed by lightning in February 1863 at Young's Point, Louisiana:
"On Saturday night of February 14th there came up a terrific storm of rain, wind, and thunder. The men had to go out in the pelting rain to hold the guy ropes of the tent to keep them fromblowing away. The lightning struck with fearful brilliancy...(in) the middle of the night a bolt struck the pole of the sergeants' tent of Company B...(they) were lying side by side with their heads toward the pole that was struck. That stroke of lightning killed instantly Sergeant [Rufus] B. Buxton...the two who were killed outright were buried near the camp." (From the diary of Charles Dana Miller in "The Struggle for the Life of the Republic" (2004)).
Rufus was buried in a temporary grave near camp about a mile from the Mississippi River and was later interred at Vicksburg National Cemetery according to the Roll of Honor. However, there is no record that his remains are there currently. Once disinterred from a national cemetery, the soldier is no longer registered as having been buried there. Many families arranged for removal and re-burial of a soldier's remains after the war. Rufus' family likely arranged for his reinterrment in his hometown.
Inscription
Killed instantly by lightning in Camp before Vicksburg February 15, 1863. Aged 25 yrs.
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