Sunday, November 20, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Free Admission

The Civic Club, corner of Pennsylvania and Ashe Streets, Southern Pines

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, there will be a presentation at the Civic Club, on Sunday, November 20, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. This talk, Who Was Their Father, marks the return of the lecture series sponsored by the Moore County Historical Association.

After the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, an unidentified, dead Union soldier was found with an ambrotype photograph in his hands, with the images of three young children. This image was the last image he saw before he died of his wounds. There were no regimental or corps markings on his uniform. He had no wallet or other identifying papers in his possession. After Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had retreated on the evening of July 4th, the Union Army of the Potomac had followed on July 5th. The unidentified soldier’s comrades had left, and there was no one to identify the man or bury his body. Members of burial details were reluctant to bury the ambrotype with his body, hoping that somehow someone would claim the image.

Civil War enthusiast, Dr. Matt Farina, will talk about the story of Gettysburg’s famous unknown soldier, how he was identified, what happened to his orphaned children and the story of the orphan’s home established in Gettysburg.