Articles by Josh Lange

Published August 1, 2024

Mishawaka has a long military history throughout its 191-year existence. One such example of our patriotism was how during the Civil War, not a single man from the town was drafted because so many people volunteered that it exceeded Mishawaka’s draft quota. While the Civil War seems so far away in history, the last Civil War veteran to be buried in the city died only months before America’s entry into the Second World War. This veteran’s name was James Willey Burdick.

James Burdick was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, on July 24, 1842, to Elias and Mary (Willey) Burdick. His family were farmers, with James working as a farm hand to help support their needs. Being a staunch supporter of preserving the union, James enlisted in the 82nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Company B. The 82nd saw much action during the war, and Pvt. Burdick had the scars to prove it, being injured in battle many times. In one of the battles, Pvt. Burdick lost multiple fingers on one of his hands. He first saw action during the Battle of the Wilderness between May 5-7, 1864, which was also one of the bloodiest engagements during the war with a reported 28,000 casualties. According to James, on the second day of the battle, he was shot in the chest by a bullet that should have killed him. He claimed that the only thing that prevented the bullet from reaching his heart and caused it to change course was his pocket Bible that he kept in his breast pocket.

Another battle that Pvt. Burdick participated in, was the Battle of Cedar Creek which occurred on October 19, 1864. Cedar Creek is most well-known for the poem “Sheridan’s Ride”, which tells the heroic tale of General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry charge that helped cause a decisive Union victory. The last engagement of the 82nd Pennsylvania was at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant. According to James Burdick’s great grandson, a family story passed down the generation’s recounts that sometime during Pvt. Burdick’s service, he met and was able to shake hands with President Abraham Lincoln.

After the war, James returned home to Pennsylvania, where he moved back to his family’s farm to work as a laborer. Years later, James also started a family of his own. He was married a couple times and was a widower. He had multiple children. One of his daughters, Josephine, moved to Mishawaka and was married to Joseph Lewis. After retiring, James moved to the city to live with Josephine and her husband in 1924. James lived in the area for the last 17 years of his life. He joined the Houghton Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and participated in many ceremonies and Memorial Day events. James was also one of the few remaining Civil War soldiers to go to the 75th commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg.

James Burdick passed away peacefully on April 26, 1941. With his death, the Houghton Post of the G.A.R. lost its final member, closing a chapter of history. The Daughters of Union Veterans and VFW Post 360 of Mishawaka conducted his services. James is buried in Fairview Cemetery. What is interesting about his longevity, is that there are Mishawakans still alive that may have actually known James Burdick. He claimed that his long life was attributed to never smoking or drinking. The Mishawaka Historical Museum is in possession of James Burdick’s trunk that was probably used to help him move to the city 100 years ago. Artifacts owned by him being cared for and protected help in preserving his story. James passed away 83 years ago, but his legacy lives on in his descendants and in his actions that helped preserve the union of the greatest country on earth.

James Willey Burdick being honored on Memorial Day in 1940, in Mishawaka