Contributed by Duane Harer
There are times when we need to follow our dreams without questioning them!
I would like to share with you, a dream I had, where I was walking through a graveyard. I didn’t know what graveyard I was in, or even know why I was there. I walked up to a tombstone that had gotten my attention and discovered that it was a grave of a civil war soldier from the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When I woke Sunday morning this is all that I could remember about the dream.
It was the end of June and I had not been to church for some time, so I decided that I would go that morning. I always enjoy attending church and always feel better after attending.
Below is a picture of St. Mark’s church
There are times when we need to follow our dreams without questioning them!
I would like to share with you, a dream I had, where I was walking through a graveyard. I didn’t know what graveyard I was in, or even know why I was there. I walked up to a tombstone that had gotten my attention and discovered that it was a grave of a civil war soldier from the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When I woke Sunday morning this is all that I could remember about the dream.
It was the end of June and I had not been to church for some time, so I decided that I would go that morning. I always enjoy attending church and always feel better after attending.
Below is a picture of St. Mark’s church
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is a beautiful, quaint country church located in Snydertown, Pennsylvania. This is the church where I was baptized and learned my Love of God. The Pastor of our church is Pastor Ruth Jensen who studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA. She is truly a messenger of God and well loved by all who know her. She also has an interest in civil war history
Knowing this, I decided that I would wear my civil war re-enacting uniform to church that morning, as I knew that she would like to see it again. I arrived at church a little late that morning and could hear the church organ already playing. I quietly went upstairs and got a seat in one of the pews. The large picture of Jesus at the front of the church was greeting me with the most genuinely kindest eyes, that I have ever seen.
During the sermon I usually have a chance to sit and reflect about what is being said and what is in my mind. I began to think about the dream again and remembered that there is graveyard across the road from our church. The only times that I had been in that graveyard was to visit the grave of William Rhine, a friend from my childhood, who was like a big brother to me. He died when he was nineteen years old.
By the end of church, I had made up my plans to explore that graveyard. I talked with Pastor Ruth on the way out of church and told her about the dream and where I was headed. She smiled and wished me luck.
Upon entering the graveyard, I noticed the open area where our original church once stood. I stopped for a moment at Bill’s grave to remember him and our friendship from so long ago. I walked to the top of the graveyard to pick a good starting point. Somehow, and I am not sure how, I stepped in front of this beautiful tombstone. On the tombstone it was inscribed:
Below is a picture of Henry Markle's tombstone
Knowing this, I decided that I would wear my civil war re-enacting uniform to church that morning, as I knew that she would like to see it again. I arrived at church a little late that morning and could hear the church organ already playing. I quietly went upstairs and got a seat in one of the pews. The large picture of Jesus at the front of the church was greeting me with the most genuinely kindest eyes, that I have ever seen.
During the sermon I usually have a chance to sit and reflect about what is being said and what is in my mind. I began to think about the dream again and remembered that there is graveyard across the road from our church. The only times that I had been in that graveyard was to visit the grave of William Rhine, a friend from my childhood, who was like a big brother to me. He died when he was nineteen years old.
By the end of church, I had made up my plans to explore that graveyard. I talked with Pastor Ruth on the way out of church and told her about the dream and where I was headed. She smiled and wished me luck.
Upon entering the graveyard, I noticed the open area where our original church once stood. I stopped for a moment at Bill’s grave to remember him and our friendship from so long ago. I walked to the top of the graveyard to pick a good starting point. Somehow, and I am not sure how, I stepped in front of this beautiful tombstone. On the tombstone it was inscribed:
Below is a picture of Henry Markle's tombstone
HENRY W. MARKLE
died at 1st Division 2nd Corps Hospital
near Brooke Va. June 7, 1863 from wounds
received at Chancellorsville May 3rd 1863
Aged 22 yr. 11 mo. 2 days
He belonged to Co. C 148th Reg. P.V.
No parents near him when he fell
No sisters vowed to cheer
He fell for country’s greatest pride
Her noble volunteer
This cruel war has struck the blow
That robbed us of our son
But now to war he’ll go no more
For victory he has won
It was with tearful eyes, when I finished reading the inscription, but I was happy to have found this soldier’s final resting place 152 years after he bravely gave his life for his country.
Company C of the 148th P.V.I. sustained 77% casualties at the Battle of Chancellorsville while taking on four confederate regiments.
On Tuesday, I told my mother this whole story and she informed me that if he was a Markle, then he probably was a relative. We went to her computer and looked at the family history that she had compiled of the Markles. When she found Henry, she turned to me and smiled saying, “ You have just found your Great-Great-Great Uncle! ” His brother Joseph H. Markle was our direct ancestor.
Below is a picture of Joseph H. Markle
died at 1st Division 2nd Corps Hospital
near Brooke Va. June 7, 1863 from wounds
received at Chancellorsville May 3rd 1863
Aged 22 yr. 11 mo. 2 days
He belonged to Co. C 148th Reg. P.V.
No parents near him when he fell
No sisters vowed to cheer
He fell for country’s greatest pride
Her noble volunteer
This cruel war has struck the blow
That robbed us of our son
But now to war he’ll go no more
For victory he has won
It was with tearful eyes, when I finished reading the inscription, but I was happy to have found this soldier’s final resting place 152 years after he bravely gave his life for his country.
Company C of the 148th P.V.I. sustained 77% casualties at the Battle of Chancellorsville while taking on four confederate regiments.
On Tuesday, I told my mother this whole story and she informed me that if he was a Markle, then he probably was a relative. We went to her computer and looked at the family history that she had compiled of the Markles. When she found Henry, she turned to me and smiled saying, “ You have just found your Great-Great-Great Uncle! ” His brother Joseph H. Markle was our direct ancestor.
Below is a picture of Joseph H. Markle
On page 586, of the regimental history of the 148 Pennsylvania Volunteers you can find the names of Henry W. Markle and my Great-Great Grandfather Zachariah Truckenmiller enlisting in Robert M. Forster’s company at Bellefonte, PA on August 27th 1862. Both were wounded at Chancellorsville. One came home alive and one did not, but neither is forgotten!.
Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, as you never know where they might lead you!
God Bless all of the brave soldiers of then and of now!
Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, as you never know where they might lead you!
God Bless all of the brave soldiers of then and of now!
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