By Linda Cunningham Fluharty
(Photo by Norman Davis)
The Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to more men of the The First West Virginia Cavalry Regiment than to any other West Virginia regiment in the Civil War.
Captain Hugh Patterson Boon was among the fourteen cavalrymen of his regiment to receive the nation's highest military award. A monument in his honor was placed at the main entrance to the Washington Cemetery in Washington County, Pennsylvania on May 12, 2001.
See Event Program
Captain Boon's feat was the capture of an enemy flag at the battle of Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865. "I cut down the color-bearer and captured the colors of the Tenth Georgia Infantry; but I admit I felt scared when I realized what I had done..."
The monument honoring Boon is the last of the seven placed in Washington County, Pennsylvania cemeteries as a tribute the county's Medal of Honor recipients.
The project was under the leadership of Edward Snarey, a member of both the V.F.W. and the American Legion in Washington County.
In addition to the commission and placement of the monuments, Mr. Snarey did exhaustive research on each soldier and his family in order to locate the living relatives and include them in the event honoring their family's military hero.
At Saturday's unveiling ceremony, speakers spoke eloquently about local legend, Hugh Boon, and the others who fought so valiantly to preserve the Union during the Civil War.
Thomas W. Seybert, of Washington County, was the illustrious spokesman for the Boon relatives. He is a direct descendant of Hugh Boone's brother, James Milholland Boone.
Kenneth Boone and Rawley Boone, other descendants of of James M. Boone, were chosen by the family to unveil the monument.
Boones in attendance, but not listed on the program, were Joan Boone Morrow and Norman Davis. Joan has no idea "if" or "how" she is related to Hugh Boon, but she descends from Captain Boon's uncle, John Boon. Norman, a long-time researcher of the Boone family, is a descendant of Hugh's brother, James M. -- Others were Jim Boswell and Rawley & Dorothy Boone.
As shown in the program, a number of Captain Boon's relatives were in attendance. However, no descendants were present because it is not known if any exist. Hugh and his wife, Hannah J. Cooke, had only one child, Mattie, who married J. Wilbert Wallace. They are said to have had a child but nothing else is known at this time.
Hugh, Hannah and Mattie are buried in the WALLACE Family plot at the cemetery. At some point, a footstone was added to Hugh's grave, noting his war service, the regiment and his Medal of Honor.
Enjoy this pictorial account of the dedication ceremony.
(Photos by David Aeberli & Norman Davis).
The following info provided by Tom Seybert:
Picture No.1. -- Leading the procession is Bill McVeigh playing the Bagpipes... He is a member of the Washington Pa. American Legion Post 175... Following him is the Claysville, Pa. American Legion Post 639, Color Guard followed by the Boone relatives in attendance... with the Claysville American Legion Honor Guard bringing up the rear.
Picture No. 2. -- Claysville Pa.(James Hunt) American Legion No. 639 Color Guard.
Picture No. 3 -- Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 American Legion, Washington, Pa. Color Guard and Bagpiper Bill McVeigh standing in front.
Other units in attendance but not pictured were -- Canonsburg, Pa. VFW 191, Color Guard, and the Glyde, Pa. American Legion Post 897 Color Guard. Also the Washington American Legion Post 175 Honor Guard was behind the shelter and monument and gave the 21 Gun Salute.
