For The Union Dead - Part II

Captain William Boggs was the commander of Company A of the 33rd New Jersey. At Citico Creek on November 23rd, he and his company were ordered forward to serve as skirmishers in front of the regiment's advance. Skirmishers were typically small groups of troops that advanced first to feel out the enemy. In this case the Confederates were there in force, well protected and firing at close range. Boggs went down with bullet wound in the arm.

Boggs was evacuated from the battlefield to a Union hospital. While a wound in the arm does not seem serious, given the level of medical knowledge in the 1860's any would was serious. Boggs eventually died of his wound on December 19th most likely due to infection. Unfortunately for the participants, "germ theory" was unknown in the 1860's allowing for horrible sanitary conditions that claimed more lives than enemy bullets.

Along with his fellow officer, Samuel Waldron, Boggs body was returned to Newark for burial. Like Waldron, Boggs left a wife and, in his case three children. Boggs funeral took place on Janaury 17, 1864, a few days before that of Waldron. Boggs was also buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Newark. Boggs was in his early 30's at the time of his death, he had previously served with the 13th New Jersey.