PVT John Robert Athey

PVT John Robert Athey was born 26 Oct 1842 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the youngest of the 4 children of Elisha or Elias J. and Emily (Ritter) Athey. Emily died in August 1845 and John's father married Emily's sister Alsinda before the year ended. Elisha and Alsinda would have 5 children together. His father was a weaver. In 1860 his father was working as a day laborer although he would return to weaving after the war. John was living with his father and step-mother/aunt, near Brucetown, Virginia and working as a hired hand on a local farm. 

Before BG Jackson began his valley campaign he moved to Winchester in an attempt to engage BG Banks forces but Banks would not engage. While the Confederate forces were in Winchester, John's brother William enlisted in A Company 5th Virginia Infantry on 11 Mar 1862. We don't know if his older brother's example motivated 19-year old John to enlist but he apparently went to the Stonewall Brigade in camp at Mount Jackson, Virginia and enlisted in I Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 14 Mar 1862. He then fought with the unit at the first battle of Kernstown on 23 Mar 1862 only 9 days after enlisting. He was uninjured in that battle but he fell ill and was evacuated to a hospital in Lynchburg. He died there of pneumonia on 28 Apr 1862 just 5-days after his older brother. 

Like many of the soldiers who died in Lynchburg hospitals including his brother, PVT Athey is buried in the Lynchburg City Cemetery.