All Rights Reserved Last updated: 31 Aug 2001 

The Procuniar\ier-Bragunier-Brockunier
Family Genealogy
Copyright 1997 © 2003  by David Charles Procuniar

To see a list of our family who served in the Civil War Click  HERE  
To see a list of our family who served in the Revolutionary War Click  HERE

David Procuniar 1839-1864

Contents:
Biography   Civil War Diary 1862-1864;  Company C 61st Regiment
Muster Roll for David Procuniar;  Cities where David went with the 61st 
Also a record of David's Death & Disbursement

     



















































David Procuniar Enlisted ...March 14, 1862 in the 50th O.V.I. Went first to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio and on May 1st 1862 parts of three Regiments were consolidated into one Regiment called the 61st O.V.I.


David Procuniar's Civil War Diary March 1862-October 1863

THE FOLLOWING IS A MANUSCRIPT OF DAVID PROCUNIAR'S DIARY,
Word for word with mis-spellings & all.
MARCH 14, 1862 UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 1863.

The inside cover of this diary reads as follows:
This memorandum is the property of Isaac W. Smallwood
Bought of Daniel Murphy the 12th day of February, 1863)

Note:
The family story handed down from one generation to another was that Daniel Murphy found David's diary among David's things at the hospital and sold the diary to Isaac W. Smallwood.  Isaac contacted David's father in 1865 & offered to sell the diary to  Samuel.  It is not known how much Samuel paid Isaac Smallwood for the diary but that diary has been in the Procuniar family for over 138 years.

Diary of David Procuniar of Dayton, Montgomery County., Ohio
Enlisted on the 14th of March, 1862, at Dayton for the 50th O.V.I.

On the 25th of the same month went to Camp Chase near the City of Columbus, Ohio, about the 1st of May. Three parts of Regiments were consolidated into one, and called the 61st O.V.I.

On the afternoon of May 27th our Regiment left Camp Chase and went to Columbus, where we got into the cars, and went to Bellaire.

Next morning we got there and crossed the Ohio River there and got into the cars of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail R and soon started (as we thought) toward Washington City.

Nothing of any consequence happened on the way, but we seen many nice sights along the Rail Road, and next morning early we stopped for a short time at the town of Piedmont, VA and at about 10 o'clk A.M. we arrived at New Creek Station without accident or anything strange occurring, but we had some pretty cold and hard sleeping on the floor of the freight cars in which we rode.

At New Creek we got out of the cars and stopped until evening, when we started on foot toward Romney.

After going a few miles we halted for the night in the woods and built fires and made ourselves as comfortable as possible.

Early next morning we were up and on the march again, and went eleven miles. We then stopped for dinner, and at 1 o'clock we again started on the tramp through a heavy rain, and not very light mud, and got to Romney at 5 in the evening.

We stopped in town, and each Company occupied an empty house - as there was plenty of them there then.

Next day we rested ourselves and looked around a little and, on the following day - Sunday June 1st, we left Romney for Moorefield - 25 miles, or more distant.

After going about seven miles, we encamped for the night, and this night it rained considerable on us. We stayed here until afternoon waiting for our wagons and tents to come up, and at 4 o'clock we were going again.

After going six miles we again halted for the night in a field. Some more rain fell to night, but at 8 A.M. we were once more jogging along toward Moorefield, and after several little stoppages, and a pretty hard time getting thro the mud toward night we arrived near our destination and again put up our tents and tried to make ourselves comfortable. This was June 3d. On the night of the 7th six companies of the Regiment were ordered to go to a town 12 miles off, called Petersburg, to help to hold it from an expected attack from the rebels.

So, near midnight we started for that place going over fences, fields, and roads and into mud up to knees.

Next morning we got to the town, after fording a creek near there but found no signs of any rebels about the place. While the Regt was encamped at Petersburg their first exploit was to "clean out" an extravagant Settler.

We stayed hear until June 17th when we returned to Moorefield, and before we got there we had to ford the South Branch of the Potomac three times up our middles in water.

While here our 2nd Lieutenant resigned and our first Lieutenant was promoted to a Captaincy in Co. I.

The same day we got to Moorefield we also left there and started over the mountains toward Strausburg some 56 miles from here.

We had a pretty hard tramp of it up the mountain roads, but we seen many beautiful sights of the country, while on the mountain tops.

On the 21st of June we got to Strausburg. This is a good sized town, but the houses are nearly all old wooden ones. The Shenandoah River runs close by here. There were many troops here under command of Gen'l Fremont at this time. 

We encamped here a few days and, on the 24th we went a few miles further, to a little village called Middletown. Here we were in a Brigade commanded by Gen'l Clauserets, a french officer.

We were shortly after changed to the command of Gen'l Bohlen. We had a very nice camp here and stayed here until July 7th when we started on the march again, going toward Gordonsville. On the first days march many of the men gave out on account of the heat, and dusty roads.

Next day we passed through the town of Front Royal, and on the following evening we encamped in a field, and on the next one we encamped in a wheat field in sight of the town of Louray.

Early next morning we started on the tramp once more, and in the afternoon of July 11th we encamped in another wheat field (as we had done the night before) near the village of Sperryville.

Here we stopped for six weeks, and were drilled, and inspected, and maneuvered around to our hearts content. On the 8th of August we left Sperryville for Culpepper to reinforce Gen'l Banks who was then engaged with the rebels. The weather was very warm at this time and we were 24 hours going as many miles..

We got to the scene of action after the battle was over but we were got into position, so that if the rebels made another attack we would have a share in it. They did not come out again, however, and we came back from the battlefield a couple of miles, and stayed here until the morning of the 12th, when we went after the retreating rebels, who had left last night.

The battle here was a very severe one to both Unionists and rebels. We seen many dead and wounded here and as we passed over the ground lately occupied by the enemy we seen four dead rebels lying, side by side, and all of them were partly decomposed and smelled very disagreeable. After going 5 or six miles we again halted and stayed here until the morning of the 19th at 2 o'clock we started on the back track through Culpepper and toward Warrenton.

On the night of the 20th we stopped at White Sulphur Springs. Next day we went out toward the Rappahannock River as we heard heavy artillery firing in that direction.

That night we slept in the woods, not far from the River, and early next morning we were again moving in the direction of the firing again heard this morning.

At ten o'clock we got to the river and our artillery opened on the enemy, who were in sight on the other side of the stream. At about five o'clock P.M. our Regiment and Brigade crossed the river, but, soon the rebels came out in such overwhelming numbers that our brigade had to run back to this side of the river again on the double quick.

The rebels put their heads out of the woods, but our Jackass Battery soon caused them to disappear again.

Several of our Regiment got killed, or wounded at this place, which is known as "Freeman's Ford." Our Brigadier General Bohlen was killed here, among the rest. This was the 22nd of August.

Next morning we found that the rebels had moved up the river further during the night, and we moved further up also, and, near night got within sight of them again, and our artillery opened on them again. Darkness soon ended the artillery firing, but the infantry kept skirmishing in different places all night.

Next morning early we were at it again, our Regiment supporting a Battery for a few hours when we were ordered to double quick it past Sulphur Springs under rebel artillery fire from the opposite side of the river. That was soon done and the Regiment went on a few miles and had a fight with some of the enemy at Waterloo Bridge and then retreated toward Warrenton. That night we slept in the woods and did the same the next night.

Early, on the morning of the 25th we got into the town of Warrenton, and on the morning of the 27th we again started in the direction of Bull Run. That night we again slept in the woods, and early next morning we were once more on the march.

Today we overtook a good many rebel stragglers prisoner and at five o'clock in the afternoon we got within sight of the enemy at Bull Run and our artillery opened on them immediately- night soon closed the firing for the time, but early next morning the artillery again opened with a loud noise and continued all day with more or less fury - the rebs having to fall back all day. Our Regiment was skirmishing all day today and at night we slept near the battle field.

Next morning the fight commenced again at 8 o'clock and we supported a battery in the forenoon, and in the afternoon were deployed as skirmished. We drove the rebels all day, but at about five o'clock they came in on our left flank and our whole force was compelled to retreat to Centreville some 6 miles distant. Our Regiment was among the last to leave the battle field.

That night we slept wherever we got the chance between Bull Run and Centreville. We stayed here next day and that night we stood in line of battle all night in the rain.

Next night Monday, Sept 1st, we started on toward Fairfax Court House, but went so slow that we only got there at about ten o'clock A.M. and got dinner and then went on toward Arlington Heights, where we got at 9 at night. We stayed about this place until the 25th of September, when we went back to Fairfax Court House, where we got 4 months pay.

We stayed encamped here until the first of November.

On Nov. 2nd we went out past Centreville and over the Bull Run battle field toward "Thoroughfare Gap", the 61st in the advance.

While going over the battle ground we seen many of the rough graves of the fallen soldiers. Some had been so poorly covered that the feet - hands, and knees were in some places exposed to our view.

We got to the Gap in the evening without anything strange having taken place. It is a pretty wild looking place; here we stayed from November 3d until the 7th and we then went about 8 miles to a village called New Baltimore only five miles from Warrenton.

We had a severe snowstorm to day and had a pretty cold time of it while we stayed here which was until the afternoon of November the 17th, when we again started back toward Centreville.

We stopped at Gainesville this night, but, early in the morning, we were again on the march and got to Centreville at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The weather was very cold at this time and we had several snow storms during the time of our stay here.

On the 10th of December we once more started on the march toward Fredricksburg about 45 miles distant. After an awful hard march through the mud, we got near Falmouth on the evening of the l5th and found that we were too late, for the battle at that place was over, and Burnsides army got defeated and next day returned to this side of the river.

On the morning of the 17th Sigels Corps moved back about ten miles to Stafford Court House, and our Brigade to Aquia Creek. We stayed in this camp from Dec. 18th until January 20th/63.

We once more started for Fredricksburg by another direction than the one we went before. In the forepart of the day the marching was pretty good, but in the evening the rain came down pretty freely, and the movement of the army became an impossibility. Rain and snow fell at times for two weeks and we had to stay almost where we stopped the first night.

On the fifth of February we started to return to Stafford C. H. We only went about half way on that day, and the next one it was awful "sloppy'. However, we got near our destination and again encamped.

Next day we received two months pay. We are still encamped here on this day March the 20th 1863.

HANDWRITING CHANGES HERE:  or David was so ill it was difficult for him to hold a pen.

Wednesday April 1st - Battalion Drill forenoon and after noon

Thursday April 2nd - Drilled all day. Skirmish drill this afternoon

Friday April 3rd - Drill this forenoon grand review this afternoon

Saturday April 4th - Cleaning weapons inspection tomorrow.

Sunday April 5 - Snowed all last night about 6 inches deep. ________ blowing very hard blowed some tree across some of the shantys nobody hurt

Monday April 26 - left camp this morning for the river rappahannock

Tuesday April 27th - Started this morning at sun up marched all day arrived at the river this evening had a fight with the rebes commenced

Saturday May 5th - lasted five days ended the 10th of May

 
DAVID'S HANDWRITING RETURNS:

Thursday June 18th encamped near Goose Creek not far from Leesburg.

On the 1st , 2nd, and 3d of July our Corps in the terrible battle at Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

HANDWRITING CHANGES AGAIN:

_______ the to ______ the 19th Come through Levettsville

In camp near Goose Creek on the 22nd

July the 26th Warrenton Jungsion

July the 27th Warrenton Jungsion

July the 30th Jungsion

October first day by fort Abban

(The next two pages are a repeat of the first two pages in the diary. The following page has:

David Procuniar
Co. C. 61 Ohio Reg.
1st Div. 3rd Brig
20 A Corps

The next page has the following names scribbled:

Chantile
August 1 1863
Jacob Procuniar (David's brother)
August 30 1863
George W. North (David's brother-in-law married to his sister Emaline)
George W. North
Jacob Procuniar"
Aona_____"
Amelia"
fou____


The next 4 pages have the following poem or song:

"THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME"

Whenever I turn to view the place; The tears doth fall and blind me; When I think on the charming grace

Of the girl I left behind me. Oh, we're a hardy band of men; We fear not death not dangers; We're for the Union to a man

A gallant set of Rangers.

Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah, for the "sixty first" 'Tis thus you'll ever find them True to their Country, flag, and home

And the girl they've left behind them.

Our officers are brave and true, As well as noble hearted, We're joined to the heart and hand

And hope to never be parted.

Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah, for the "seventy third" 'Tis thus you'll ever find them, True to their Country, flag and home

And the girls they've left behind them.

We show no mercy to the wrong, Nor rebels when we meet them, We give no quarter, nor retreat,

But with traitor's chains we'll bind them.

Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah for the "thirty third" Their wives and children we'll protect, And strive to never oppress them, And if injustice has been wrought We'll speedily redress them.

Then three rousing cheers for the "7th" We hope to never be parted, You'll find us ever brave and true, As well as noble hearted.

 Chorus:
Hurrah, hurrah for the "thirty first", And if upon the field of death, Our soldier cloaks shall winds us

Remember life was freely given, For the darling ones behind us. Ye wives and sweet hearts far at home, We pray you all to mind us, Alas, we've more of grief than joy In leaving you behind us.

 Chorus:
Then shed a tear for the gallant 12th, If thus in death you find them, Who fought for Country, flag, and home

And the girls they left behind them. Pray oft' that God may keep us safe, Whose hearts for home are swelling, That the girls we've left may welcome back Their lost to every dwelling.

 Chorus:
Then three rousing cheers, a "tiger" for the "Buckeye Boys", May oppression never grind them
But peace and union bring them back, To the girls they left behind them. The rest of this page has names as follows:

David Procuniar Esq.
Elias Lutz
Jan Montgomery
James Fink or Funk
Samuel Van Gundy
Batrill Baker
Henry Swango
April P P
James Alexzandria

(The next three pages have names and dollar amounts)

Company "C" 61st Regiment
Private David Procuniar
Company C, 61st Regiment
Ohio Voluntary Infantry (O.V.I.)

Enlisted on March 14, 1862 Died June 27, 1864 at Camp Dennison (north of Cincinnati Oh)

Aged....24 yrs 6 months 3 days; David (1839) was the son of Samuel Procuniar (1801) from Washington Co. Maryland and Catharine Miller (1808) from Huntington Co., Pennsylvania, who were married in Huntingdon Co. Pennsylvania before moving to Dayton Ohio, 1833.

61st Ohio Voluntary Infantry 876 men, Headed by Colonel Newton Schleich Organized at Camp Chase April 23, 1862 
Left for the state for Western Virginia May 27, 1862
Active service in Virginia through 1862-1863

MORE ON THE SIXTY-FIRST Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 876 men, Newton Schleich colonel, organized at Camp Chase, April 23 1862; left the state for Western Virginia May 27, 1862 ; was in active service in Virginia through 1862 and 1863, until September, 1863; then transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, reporting at Bridgeport, Alabama, October 1st; served in Tennessee and Kentucky; re-enlisted in March, 1864, furloughed, returned to Tennessee May 5th; took part in the Atlanta campaign, brigaded in Third Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps; November 15th joined in the "March to the Sea;" in 1865, while on the Carolina campaign was consolidated with the Eighty-Second Ohio Infantry, and as a distinct organization ceased to exist.

Ref: Military History of Ohio, R 977.1, S844l (Dayton Library),

Last Days

The following is the family story of private David Procuniar's last few days during the Civil War in June 1864 handed down from family to family...

After receiving US Mail from David's commanding officer that David was dying of Tuberculosis (an incurable ailment at that time) David's younger brother Jacob Procuniar, left Dayton Ohio to pick up David in Baltimore Maryland and bring him back home. Five stops were made at hospitals on the way home. The last stop was in Cincinnati at Camp Dennison, where David died from the effects of consumption.
Reference: .....  Mary Elizabeth (Procuniar) Curl

According to official Civil War records, Regimental camp sites created sanitary problems that went unsolved. Typhoid fever, diarrhea, and dysentery took the lives of over 70,000 Union soldiers.


COMPANY MUSTER ROLL

March 14, 1862 ....... Mustered into the service of the U.S. (Dayton, Ohio for 3 years)
(They spelled David's last name Procunear most of the time he was in the service)

May 1, 1862 Present (Procunior) Calloway

June 30 1862 Present (Procunior) Randall

May 1 to Aug 31 1862 Present (Procunier) Randall

Sept & Oct 1862 Present (Procuniar) Randall

Nov & Dec 1862 Present (Procunier) Randall

Oct 31/62 to Feb 1863 Present (Procunear) Randall

Mar & Apr 1863 Present (Procunear) A H A Smith

Apr 10 1863 Present (Procunear) Constantine

May & June 1863 Present (Procunear) Constantine

July & Aug 1863 Present (Procunear) Constantine

Sept & Oct 1863 Present (Procunear) Constantine

Nov & Dec 1863 Present (Procunear) Constantine

Feb 29 to June 30 1864 Absent (Procunear) Constantine

Sick in Hospital, in "Nashville Tenn."

Feb 1864 Absent Battery Guard (Procunier)

April to June 1864 Absent .. sick in Hospital

June 30 1864 "died Camp Dennison in Hospital, of a disease"

David Procuniar appears on returns of the 82nd Reg't Ohio Inf. Company "I"

March 1864 Gairs

March 14, 1864 Bridgeport Alabama

(transferred from 61st O.V.I. according to General Orders no. # _______)    [blank on records]

On Duty at Bridgeport Alabama on March 25 1864

April 1864 Absent on duty at Bridgeport Alabama since March 25 1864

May 1864 Loss May 9 at Trickham GA, transferred to the 61st O.V.I. May 9th

1864 at Trickham Ga.

J.B. Shert

David kept a diary during his Civil War days, (March 14, 1862 through October 1, 1863) that has been kept in the Procuniar family for over 138 years. A manuscript of David's diary was included in the 1991 Procuniar Journal (a Supplement).    DCP


Cities where David marched and fought during his time in the Union Army ....

Places where David Procuniar went during the Civil War as per his diary, March 14, 1862 through October 1, 1863

Page 01  Mar 14, 1862 Dayton ... enlisted 50th O.V.I.
Mar 25, 1862 Columbus Camp Chace

Page 02  May 01, 1862 three regiments joined to make the 61st O.V.I.
May 27, 1862 left Columbus by train
May 28, 1862 arrived Bellaire (Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road)

Page 03  May 29, 1862 arrived Piedmont Virginia at dawn
May 29, 1862 10 AM arrived New Creek Station
        evening began on foot toward Romney

Page 05  May 30, 1862 arrived Romney Station at 5 PM
Jun 01, 1862 started toward Moorefield

Page 07  Jun 03, 1862 arrived at Moorefield
Jun 07 1862 started toward Petersburg 12 miles off

Page 08  Jun 08, 1862 arrived Petersburg "cleaned out" a rich settler
Jun 17, 1862 returned to Moorefield, crossed Potomac

Page 09  Jun 17, 1862 1st Lt. reassigned, 2nd Lt. promoted to Captain
left same day for Strousburg over the mountains

Page 10  Jun 21, 1862 arrived Strousburg, near Shenandoah River
General Fremont's troops were here at the time
Jun 24, 1862 arrived at Middletown, first commanded by a French General Clauseret, then by General Bohlen

Page 11  Jul 07, 1862 marched toward Gordonsville
Jul 08, 1862 passed three Front Royal

Page 12  Jul 10, 1862 stopped near Louray (Dury?)
Jul 11 1862 stopped near Sperryville, and stayed there for six weeks drilling

Page 13 Aug 08 1862 arrived Culpepper, reinforced General Banks troops, but not in battle

Page 14 Aug 12 1862 viewed dead and wounded

Page 15  Aug 19 1862 on a march again toward Warrenton
Aug 20,1862 stopped at White Sulpher Springs
Aug 22,1862 went toward Rappahannock River where artillery opened fire on enemy and their regiment, engaged the               enemy, retreated, the attacked again Freeman's Ford was the name of this place

Page 18 General Bohlen died here

Page 19 Aug 23 1862 battle continued
Aug 24,1862 Waterloo Bridge, engaged enemy again
Aug 25 1862 arrived in Warrenton
Aug 27,1862 started toward Bull Run

Page 21 Aug 28,1862 took rebel prisoners, artillery opened fire at Bull Run 5 PM

Page 22 Aug 29,1862 battle continued at Bull Run

Page 22 Aug 30, 1862 at 5 PM they retreated to Centerville

Page 24  Sep 01, 1862 started toward Fairfax Court House, then on to Arlington Heights, stayed here until the 25th
Sep 25 1862 went back to Fairfax, got 4 month's pay

Page 25 Nov 02, 1862 marched back through Centerville and Bull Run toward Thoroughfare Gap

Page 26 Nov 07 1862 went to New Baltimore, 5 miles from Warrenton

Page 27 Nov 17, 1862 went back toward Centerville, stopped at Gainesville

Page 28 Nov 18, 1862 arrived Centerville, stayed till Dec 10

Page 28 Dec 10, 1862 started toward Fredricksburg, 45 miles away

Page 29  Dec 15, 1862 arrived at Falmouth, General Burnside defeated here
Dec 17, 1862 arrived at Aquia Creek, stayed until Jan 20, 1863

Page 30 Jan 20, 1863 started towards Fredricksburg again

Page 31 Feb 05, 1863 arrived Stafford Court House, stayed til Mar 20th

Hand Writing Changes Here ...

Page 32 Apr 01,1863 battalion drills
Apr 02 1863 skirmish drills
Apr 03,1863 grand review
Apr 04,1863 cleaning for inspection
Apr 05,1863 snowed 6 inches, blew some trees down, nobody hurt

Page 33 Apr 26,1863 left for Rappahannock River
Apr 27,1863 marched all day, arrived at river, bad fight with rebels
May 05,1863 fighting again for 5 days until May 10
Jun 18,1863 camped at Goose Creek (near Leesburg)
Jul 01,1863 Gettysburg Pennsylvania battle
Jul 02 1863 Gettysburg Pennsylvania battle
Jul 03 1863 Gettysburg Pennsylvania battle

Page 34  Jul 19,1863 came through Levettsville
Jul 22,1863 camped near Goose Creek
Jul 26,1863 Warrenton Junction
Oct 01,1863 Fort Abban (Abbass?)


Information from the National Archives Trust Fund Board

Washington, DC 20408 NNRG
  Received ... November 29, 1991
  Private David Procuniar
  61st Regiment of Infantry Volunteers of the State of Ohio
  Company "C" Enlisted on March 14, 1862 Camp Chase Ohio for three years
  Captain ... Captain L.W. Iewetts
  His death notification is written on a Discharge Form (A.G.O. No. 95-First)


RECORD OF DEATH AND INTERMENT

David Procuniar No# 406
Hospital NO# 14750
61 O.V.I. Private Co "C"

Residence before enlistment Montgomery County,
Harshmanville, Ohio.

Unmarried
Age of the deceased 25 years
Height 5 ft. 8 1/2 inches, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and by occupation, a farmer.

Cause of Death ... Pulmonary Phthisis
        Phthisis is a Greek word for Tuberculosis "to consume slowly or waste away", hence the familiar  word "Consumption."   First symptoms include fever, malaise, and weight loss.   Then it progresses to coughing which first occurs only in the morning.   The cough becomes more severe as the disease progresses.   Sputum begins to be slightly bloody and chest wall pain occurs.  These complications continue until the lungs finally collapse, then death!

David died in Dennison Ufagen'l Hospital, Camp Dennison, Ohio
Dr.  AP Varian .... Surgeon U.S. Volunteer in Charge

Note: Regimental camp sites created sanitary problems that went unsolved. Typhoid Fever, Diarrhea, and Dysentery took the lives of over 70,000 Union soldiers.

Inventory of effects for David Procuniar:
Knapsack 1 Socks 1
Haversack 1 Handkerchief 1
Canteen 1 Suspenders pr 1
Great Coat 1 Combs 2
Blanket 1 Brush 1
trousers pr 1 Pocket Book 1
Blouse 1 containing ....
Wool Hat 1
Pocket Knife 1
$3.00 greenbacks
$1.05 Postal Currency
39 cents postage stamps

total $4.44

All of David's Effects were sent to his father Samuel Procuniar in Harshmanville, Ohio

David Procuniar #406 was "taken home" for Interment! (Form A.G.O. No. 104) June 30, 1864
buried in the Dille Cemetery, Montgomery County, Mad River Township, Dayton, Ohio


Note:  Anything not copyrighted in this publication can be reprinted with permission from the author David C. Procuniar. (It is appreciated if a credit line be given) Certain advertisers and writers may retain copyright on material which will be clearly marked as such. You must contact them about use of their material. Information in this publication was/is obtained from correspondence, newsletters and miscellaneous sources, which, in many cases cannot be verified 100%. In cases where you need to write the author for material, please send along a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope).

© Copyright  2001 David C. Procuniar … Reprinted with permission …
David Procuniar 1839-1864
David Procuniar's cemetery stone in the Dille Cemetery, Dayton, Montgomery County, Mad River Township, Ohio
David Procuniar 1839-1864

David was born on December 27 1839 on his father's farm in Montgomery County Ohio. David worked on his father's farm as a laborer until he enlisted in the Civil War. The War wasn't going very well for the North in January 1862 and by then Stonewall Jackson had advanced into the Ohio Valley and threatened the safety of the Capital. Ohio's Governor Todd issued a proclamation for 74,000 new troops. (Ohio was ordered to overthrow Stonewall Jackson) Not enough men enlisted, so the "DRAFT" was ordered on September 15, 1862
          (Reference ..... HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OHIO 1882)

David being very patriotic enlisted on March 14, 1862 in Company "C" 61st Regiment, Ohio Voluntary Infantry. David carried a diary with him during his tour in the Civil War and our family has the original diary. A typed manuscript of this diary was included in the Procuniar Genealogy that was given to the Wright State University Archives in July 1991 & a manuscript is included on this web site below:
David died on June 27, 1864, even though  it says June 30, 1864 on his cemetery stone; he died of "Tuberculosis" at  Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio & is buried in the Dille Cemetery on Valley Pike in Dayton, Ohio.  The picture on the right  was taken by this author at the Dille Cemetery in 1989.
The DAR has refurbished the 1792 home built by a German Pietist named Waldshmidt that is located on the grounds where Camp Dennison once stood.  That Historical Home is about a hundred yards south of the  Camp Dennison Civil War Museum which just opened this spring (1998) During the Civil War, the area became an army garrison named after  Ohio's governor, William Dennison.  It was used as a training garrison  at first but after so many soldiers were injured, Dennison was turned into a hospital to care for the seriously injured.   After the war, residents tried to change the name of Dennison to dispel the military image, but are now very proud of their history.

Please visit the Camp Dennison Civil War Museum Web Site .. I visited Camp Dennison Civil War Museum in June of 1998 which proved to be very interesting!  I was asked to supply a picture of David Procuniar and a picture of his cemetery stone that has "Died at Camp Dennison" written on it.  Also they requested a copy of David's Diary!    David C. Procuniar July 1,1998

Private David Procuniar
Company C, 61st Regiment Ohio Voluntary Infantry (O.V.I.)
Enlisted on March 14, 1862
Died June 30, 1864 at Camp Dennison (north of Cincinnati Ohio)
Aged....24 yrs. 6 months 3 days
Click the above icon to go to that website!