In the first row of graves along the roadside of Maplewood’s second section (Section B) stands the rather large monument of the Parker family, marking the graves of Isaac T. Parker, his wife Mary C. (Baker) Parker and their eighteen-year-old son George. The monument has resolutely stood the test of time, including the inscription on one side that reads: 

    GEORGE S. PARKER

    FELL AT THE BATTLE OF

    GETTYSBURG

    JULY 3, 1863

    AGE 18 YEARS                              

 

     The words are simple; the story behind them an amazing testament to the strength, courage and patriotism of one young Camillus man who bravely answered the call to serve his country during one of its greatest hours of conflict.                 

 

     George S. Parker was born on February 21, 1845 in Addison, VT and was residing with his parents in Camillus, NY when he enlisted in the 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 15, 1862. Only seventeen years old at that time, George volunteered his services to fight with the Union Army. He was a corporal in Company H of this regiment known as “The Onondagas” at the time of his death. The regiment mustered out of Syracuse at the end of August 1862 and saw much action throughout the war. 

 

     George served faithfully and was described as a gallant soldier. On July 3, 1863, while fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg George suffered a severe chest wound. According to a regiment report, during the battle a young soldier from Manlius was scratched in the neck by a Minie ball (type of hollow bullet fired from a musket). This Minie ball then struck Corporal Parker in the chest. A recollection of the events from a fellow soldier in the H Company states “Ewell's 15,000 men [Confederate soldiers] came swarming down the slope of the hill already possessed by them:  they were like a threatening storm-cloud fringed all over and sprinkled with fire and smoke…Like lightning flashes came the deadly volleys.  Of my company which was all that I could attend to, Harrington was down:  Mills was hurt:  Sidman was dead:  McHale was dead:  Parker was down…” 

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Upon reading in the papers that his son had been seriously injured in the battle, George’s father Isaac travelled to Gettysburg to attempt to help his son; upon arrival he was told that George had only survived for five days, succumbing to his chest wound on July 8th. Mr. Parker ended up bringing home his son’s body for burial. A funeral was held for George in the Presbyterian Church in Camillus and his patriotism was commended in local newspapers.

 

George was one of many Civil War veterans who paid the ultimate price for the freedom and the unity of our nation. 

 

Thank you, George, for your service and your sacrifice.

                                                                                    

Sources:

122nd New York Infantry Regiment’s Civil War Newspaper Clippings. New York state Military and Veterans Research Center. 122nd New York Infantry Regiment's Civil War Newspaper  HYPERLINK "https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/infantry-2/122nd-infantry-regiment/newspaper-clippings"Clippings : HYPERLINK "https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/infantry-2/122nd-infantry-regiment/newspaper-clippings": New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center (ny.gov)

George Samuel Parker. Find A Grave.  George Samuel Parker (1845-1863) - Find a Grave Memorial.