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"This Hallowed Ground"
The Restoration of the Union Cemetery, Milford, Delaware

        Along Rehoboth Boulevard, in Milford, Delaware, lies a long-neglected resting place for many area Civil and Spanish-American War Veterans and their Families, the Union Cemetery. Laid out in 1873, this cemetery was a beautiful spot up on a slight hill, with a wrought iron fence and gate; a place Milfordians could be be proud of.
        Time went by. Ownership changed many times. By the later half of the last century, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair. By 1973, the cemetery was nothing but a dense woods. Unless you knew it was there, you would never know that it was anything else. Pride had turned to neglect.
        That year, the Milford Jaycees saw the need and went in. They cut down trees, cleared brush, and sowed grass. It was a wonderful work and made a large portion of the cemetery useable again. Since that time, many other organizations came, again bringing this hallowed ground back from neglect. Many thanks are due to the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. At times, some of Milford's Scout Troops also worked there. But, each time no one was able to find a way to create a program of perpetual care. The only way for this cemetery to survive was to find someone to take on the job of perpetual care.
        Then, two years ago, Milford Troop 102 Assistant Scout Leader Chris Antonik and his son Ben approached the Torbert Camp, Sons of Union Veterans*, asking us to sponsor Ben's proposed Eagle Scout project to clean up the cemetery. We were already in the process of gathering information on the history and ownership of the cemetery, in preparation to throwing our own caps into the ring. Ben and Chris now offered a labor pool to make it happen. This important piece of Milford's history was about to be restored once again. This project, which not only involved Troop 102, and the Torbert Camp and Auxiliary, also brought in Scout Troops 95 and 112. By November, 2002, two Eagle Scout rankings had been awarded, 32 Sussex County businesses and individuals had donated hundreds of dollars in goods, services and funds, and the Union Cemetery was re-dedicated in a moving ceremony on November 9. Best of all, intermediate care is being handled by all four organizations, and we are are now in the early stages of planning for perpetual care.

Pvt. Thomas G. Chance	Co. B, 1^st Delaware Infantry
Pvt. S. T. Clendaniel	Co. F, 11^th US Infantry
Pvt. John Dillahay*	Co. G, 3d Delaware Infantry
Pvt. Herbert Finley	Co. C, 8^th Delaware Infantry
Capt. William H. Harris	Co. K, 193d New York Infantry
Pvt. T. J. Hillman	Co. B, 8^th Delaware Infantry
Pvt. Nehemiah S. Hobbs	Co. I, 7^th Delaware Infantry
Pvt. William H. Hudson**	Co. G, 3d Delaware Infantry
Pvt. J. F. Hynson	Co. B, 1st Delaware Infantry
Pvt. Elisha Paisley***	Co. I, 7th Delaware Infantry
Pvt. Henry Paisley	Co. C, 8^th Delaware Infantry
Pvt. Joseph Richter	Co. G, 3d Delaware Infantry
Pvt. William H. Voss	Co. G, 3d Delaware Infantry
* Headstone reads 8th Delaware. He was a member of the 3d Delaware until transferred to the 8th at the end of the war. Headstone reads 8th Delaware. This is a mis-print on the headstone. * No headstone present.

Pvt. George W. Hobbs

Co. B, 1st Delaware Infantry
(Torbert Guards)

George was the son of Nehemiah Hobbs, as noted in the Civil War Veteran listing, and served as a Drummer in Co. B, 1^st Delaware Militia, which was the original Torbert Guards. The Guards were so named in honor of Delaware Civil War hero and Milford native Major General Alfred T. A. Torbert. Two years ago, the Guards were reactivated by the Torbert Camp, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, as a Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) ceremonial unit. They are commanded by SVR Lieutenant Marvin Schelhouse, the great-grandson of George Hobbs.

Company G of the 3d Delaware Infantry really was the Milford area's "hometown unit", with many of the Company's members coming from there. The work of forming the 3d, for the term of three years, began in earnest in the spring of 1862. As many of the men were from the central and southern parts of the state a rendezvous was established at Camp Fisher, near Camden, where the recruits were drilled and prepared for service in the field. The regiment moved from Camp Fisher the latter part of May 1862, proceeded to Harper's Ferry, VA, and was engaged near Charlestown, the 28th, intercepting the northward march of Stonewall Jackson. Thence it was successively engaged at Sulphur Springs, Chantilly and at Antietam, MD.

In the spring of 1864 it became a part of the 3rd brigade, 2nd division, 5th army corps, and participated in all the movements of that army. At the battle of Cold Harbor, VA, Adjutant Purnell I. Pettijohn was killed, and Lieut.-Col. Darrell fell while leading a charge on the enemy's works at Petersburg on June 18. On June 26 Capt. Stewart, of Co. I, was wounded. The regiment was also in the battles before Petersburg at the explosion of the mine on July 30, and the Weldon railroad in August. Their bravery in these battles brought great credit upon Delaware and the Union. After the surrender of Lee, its recruits were transferred to the 1st Delaware Infantry and those who had enlisted in the earlier stages of its organization were mustered out on June 3, 1865, proceeding home with the 4th regiment.

The flag of the 3d Delaware Infantry appeared with its men for the last time in the huge funeral held for Major General Alfred T. A. Torbert, a resident of Milford. According to the September 25, 1880 edition of Milford newspaper, The Peninsular News and Advertiser,

The grand old flag is now in the possession of the Delaware Historical Society, in Wilmington. As noted above, four of the men buried in the Union Cemetery were members of this Company and Regiment.

ACE Hardware * Adams Kemp Associates * All Seasons Garden Center * Atlantic Concrete * Allen Mitchell, Jor Lin Bus Service
Bailey Marble Sculpting * Farmer Girl Exotic Gardens * Frances Dickerson * Dominoes Pizza * Home Depot
Richard Johnson & Son, General Contractors * Dave Kenton * King's Tire and Lube * Laurel Trading Co. * Lowes
Oakcrest Concrete * William Mears * The Milford Chronicle * Milford Rent-All * Milford Southern States * Milford Subway
Mills Brothers * Mohawk Electrical Systems * Re/Max Twin Counties * Safeway of Dover * Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. * Wal-Mart
Warfel Construction * Watson’s Auction Service * Wilkins Fuel Co. * William B. Sipple & Son Monuments * Young’s Lumber Co.


The second post hole being dug by Chris Antonik & Torbert Camp member Rich Wilson.	Rich Wilson nails in another slat as Torbert Camp member Gary Bunting holds it in place. Krystin Contant and friend help by keeping up the supply of nails.