John Burns

During the Battle of Gettysburg, John Burns, a citizen of Gettysburg who was over seventy years of age, shouldered his musket and offered his services to Colonel Wister of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Colonel Wister advised him to fight in the woods, where there was more shelter, but Burns preferred to join the line of skirmishers in the open fields. When the troops retired, he fought with the Iron Brigade and was wounded in three places.

Pennsylvania · United States