PVT George M. Carper

PVT George M. Carper was born in 1830 or 1832 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the 4th of 8 children of Jacob and Eliza (Keller) Carper. The family had been in Frederick County since at least 1790 and originated in Germany. George's father farmed for himself before he began working for others to support his family. George also became a farmer, working first for others and then for himself. 

Still unmarried when the Civil War began, George enlisted in K Company 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment on 7 Mar 1862. George would have fought with the unit at the First Battle of Kernstown, been at McDowell and Front Royal, fought at the First Battle of Winchester, Port Republic, Sevens Days, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Grovetown, 2nd Manassas, Chantilly, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 2nd Winchester, Stephensons Depot, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and The Wilderness. PVT Carper was killed in action on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House. 

We believe that PVT Carper is buried at the Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery but is among those who were not identified and are not named on the roster.

George had 3 brothers. William Harvey Carper served as a PVT in H Company 7th Virginia Cavalry Regiment and was wounded in the arm at Sappony Church, Virginia. Jacob Carper served as a PVT in K Company 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment and died of typhoid in 1862 at Saint Charles Hospital, Richmond, Virginia.