Joshua Hunter Delo and Susan Richards

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Husband Joshua Hunter Delo ¹

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           Born: 15 Oct 1841 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 31 May 1862 - Fair Oaks, Henrico Co, VA
         Buried: 

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         Father: Daniel Delo (1799-1877) 2
         Mother: Christiana Loughner (Abt 1807-Abt 1877) 3

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Susan Richards ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Abraham Richards (      -      ) 1
         Mother: 

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Children

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1 M Joshua Stanley Delo ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1913
         Buried: 

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2 F Mary Hunter Delo ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1913
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Joshua Hunter Delo

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He clerked for his father in the prothonotary's office until 1862, when he enlisted under Captain B. J. Reid, in Com­pany F, of the Sixty-third Regiment Pennsyl­vania Volunteers, Colonel Hays commanding. In the beginning of the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines he was killed while as first ser­geant, he was forming the company for action; he was buried on the battle field. Following is the last letter he wrote to his wife, also extracts from various sources giving testimony as to the esteem and love in which he was held by friends and associates:

12 Miles from Richmond, Henrico Co., Va.. May 28th, 1862.
Dear Wife:-When I last wrote, we had just re­turned from a picket, having been relieved by the 87th Regiment New York Volunteers. They in turn were relieved by the 57th Regt. Penna. Volunteers on yesterday morning. By custom they should have been relieved by the 105th Regt. Penna. Volunteers, but were not, for what reason I cannot tell. Nothing worthy of note or interest has occurred since being on picket. I am in the enjoyment of excellent health today, and have been for sometime past for which I am thankful to my Heavenly Father.
An order was issued on day before yesterday that all knapsacks and contents were to be sent to the rear, keeping nothing but our woolen blankets, and shelter tents. We are to be encumbered as little as possible in view, I suppose, of approaching conflict. I kept my Bible and likenesses of both mother and yourself, all of which I shall carry with me. We had a delightful shower of rain this afternoon which has effectually cooled the scorching rays of Old Sol.
Evening-The sun is about setting, the beautiful rays flashing in the heavens, and painting the clouds with a beauty and richness the art of which a painter might court to possess. John is very sick, and has been for several days, hardly being able to walk. He will have to go to the hospital. I hope that his sickness will not be of a very serious character. The health of the company generally is good, that also of the regiment. I do not know when we will leave our present camp. I hope and trust that this war will speedily come to a close, as I am tired of it, yet my love for my fallen and bleeding country is such, that unless I have to be discharged on account of sickness or disability, or death should take me, I will remain and share all its privations, hardships and toils, and while I am fighting for my country, may I also fight the battle of the Cross.
May 29th, 1862, 6½ a. m.-I am in the enjoyment of very good health, as also that of the company. I had a very delightful conversation with Rev. Dr. Marks on last night. He says he will give me a certificate of membership, and a letter to Rev. Mont­gomery, today. I want to send it as soon as possible, for if there was any danger of Mr. Montgomery leaving this world, I want him to know it before he leaves, as his prayers and supplications are at last answered. I am very sorry to hear that the usually very quiet place of Clarion was so excited that a riot almost occurred. I hope that that riot will be last that Clarion shall ever behold. As it is time for company drill I must close, and I want my letter mailed in time. My love to father, mother and the boys, also to Pages. My most sincere love to you and the children, kiss them for me. I remain as ever your loving and affectionate husband,
Joshua H. Delo.

Battle Field of Fair Oaks, Va., June 4th, 1862.
My Dear Friend:-My heart almost fails me when I take my pen to speak of what you already know-the early but glorious death of your son, Sergeant Joshua H. Delo, who fell fighting bravely for the flag of his country on the bloody battle field of Sat­urday last. It is natural that you should grieve-as well as all who were connected with him by family or social ties. In that grief I sympathize with you deeply. But let it be a source of just pride to you that he has acquitted himself well and fell honor­ably in the very front of the battle. * * * At dusk we were obliged to fall back, our ammunition being exhausted, and there being evident danger of being surrounded and cut off by the superior num­bers of the enemy. We got all our wounded that we could find with us, but could not bring off the dead. The next day, Sunday, the rebels returned to the attack, but when they approached our lines Hooker's division on the left and Sedgwick's and Richardson's on the right, who arrived late in the afternoon of Saturday, met and repulsed them at every point. Our division being in the hottest of the fight on Sat­urday and haying lost severely and rendered great service in checking and driving back the enemy when in full pursuit of Casey's flying columns, was held in reserve in the battle of Sunday. We were kept under arms all day, and no man could leave his post. On this account and because the battle field of Saturday was still disputed ground through­out Sunday, it was impossible for any of us to go where Joshua lay, but on Monday morning there was no longer any obstacles, and I sent out a detail to bury the dead and search for three of my com­pany who were missing. * * * They could not find the body of your son. They found some fresh graves near where he had been carried to, and after considerable search in the vicinity they concluded he must have been buried by some of the other search parties then in the field. We were on the point of giving it up about dusk, when Sergeant Kuhns making another circuit through the bushes found your son. * * * His features were natural and calm. He looked as one that slept a peaceful sleep. We buried him where we found him, under a small oak tree, and marked his name on the tree and on a headboard placed at the grave. I cut a lock of his hair which I enclosed the other day in a letter which I wrote to Mrs. Reid; I suppose you have received it before this. We turned from his grave with sad hearts. We all loved him. The whole company mourns his loss. He had won. too, the respect and esteem of the regimental officers, with whom his duties as orderly brought him into frequent contact. It will be gratifying to you to learn that during the last two months Joshua became more and more impressed with religious feelings. I could notice an increasing seriousness of manner, but there are others who knew his mind more inti­mately on this subject than I did, and who assure me that he took a deep interest in religion. Present my sincerest condolence to his bereaved widow, to his mother, and all your family.
Very truly your friend,
B. J. Reid, Capt., Co. F, 63d Reg. P. V.

The following is from the obituary pub­lished in the Clarion Democrat, 1862:

In the battle of Fair Oaks, now historic, many brave men have fallen, fighting manfully the great battle of the constitution and the government, many hearthstones have been made desolate, and many hearts sad, but over no community did the spirit of mourning brood more heavily than that from which went forth the subject of this notice, when on the still Sabbath morning of the 8th inst. the news spread from house to house that he had fallen, nobly battling for the right in the front ranks of our noble army, while cheering them on to deeds of noble daring. Not twenty-one years of age, he thus fell, leaving the bright example of glorious action and a noble death, falling as brave men love to fall, if fall they must, in the din of battle, with their faces to the foe. In this example, although dead, he yet lives. He leaves behind a sorrowing companion and two orphan children, parents, relatives and friends to mourn his early death; yet for them are the con­solations of the word of eternal life, and they mourn not as those without hope-they have the comfort­ing assurance from the letters of his brave and excellent captain, himself and others, that the de­ceased died a faithful soldier of the Cross, as well as a true soldier of the republic, and for those thus dying, death has no sting, the grave no victory. Let his mourning widow remember Him who saith, “I will be the widow's portion and the orphan's stay;” his parents and relations, that the “Lord gave and the Lord taketh away,” and let all say, “It is the Lord, he doeth all things well.” G. W. L.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 247.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 243.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 246.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 249.