Anniversary of my death

I died 87 years ago today, at age 86, so now I have been dead longer than I was alive. You would have thought the cause of death might have related to the dysentery that plagued me for my entire life after the Civil War, but it was a tumor in my neck that did me in. My granddaughter, Margaret Saxe, and her husband paid the $115 it cost to bury me in Cumiskey Cemetery in Bradford County, Penna. (They were later reimbursed by the government.) I was the last surviving officer of the 69th PVI to pass away. Here is a picture of my grave. The dedicated lads of the modern-day 69th Pennsylvania reenactors provided me with this new headstone, as they've done for most of the other men of the regiment.

Also, this anniversary of my death is a fitting day to conclude this ghostwritten blog. It's been an honor and a pleasure telling you about my life. -- PST

The 1887 Reunion

Our reunion in Gettysburg in 1887 was a terrific event. Like the book says, it was one of the earliest battlefield reunions attended by veterans North and South, and, according to the papers, it really did spark the start of national reconciliation. Mrs. Pickett was there, and there were lots of speeches. The best was delivered by William R. Aylett. Here's what he said:

“Above the ashes left by the War and over the tomb of secession and African slavery we have created a new empire, and have built a temple to American liberty in which you and I can worship together.”

Here is a picture of the lads at our monument during the reunion. -- PST

My paperhanging boss

Apologies are due to my old boss. His name wasn't Frank Batchelder, as the book says, it was John Snodgrass. I guess the author thought people would snicker at a name like Snodgrass. I don't know where the author got that business about John's son dying of measles in camp. I guess that's more "dramatic license." John was a dear friend who always looked out for me. Here's what he said on my behalf when I was trying to get my disability pension increased because of my war wound and chronic dysentery:

I have known Patrick S. Tinen since 1859 and am satisfied to the best of my knowledge that he had no disease whatever before entering the United States service in 1861. He has been employed by me most of the time since 1865, up to present time, August 1882 doing canvassing work and attending to my work generally (paperhanging). He has been unable for weeks and months at times to attend to any business on account of wound in right arm and chronic diarrhea. I have seen the wound and know the other from long dealings and acquaintance.

And by now you're probably wondering why John Snodgrass kept me employed all those years even though I couldn't work. Well I'll tell you the secret: John was my brother-in-law, my sister Mary's husband. Hey, like it says in the book, brothers-in-law ought to be good for something.

-- PST