Little Fork Church Notes From History - September 21, 2023

Notes from History No. 6, Not a barn . . Really!

Union troops in the winter of 1863/4 gutted the church to use as a barn. Union officers donated $100 to be used to replace the pews, this became the Bruce fund. The value of $100 in 1865 is $1861.12 in 2023

Rev. George W. Peterkin writes in 1871 “An important part of my work the past two years has been the restoration of the colonial church. $250 has been spent on necessary repairs, $100 was from the Bruce Fund.

From Jack’s The Church in the Fork Page 24
September 1, 1863 13th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry under the command of Captain Patrick Kane (Kane was mortally wounded at Hawes Shop VA on June 20, 1864) relieved the 10th New York Cavalry at Oak Shade. Lt. David C. Bruce perhaps saved the reredos and when he returned home to Beaver County, Pennsylvania he sent one hundred dollars to help in repairs.

A nice article written by Sarah Kay Bierle in March 2023 for the Emerging Civil War’s Weekender suggests his name was David G. Bruce from the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Link to article, Emerging Civil War

A search inside History of the Seventeenth regiment, Pa. volunteer cavalry or one hundred and sixty-second in line of Pa. volunteer regiments, war to supline the rebellion, 1861-1865 found at History of the Seventeenth regiment, Pa. volunteer cavalry

Page 344 states David Bruce of Company A was shot through the arm on August 11th in an all day battle near White Post in the Shenandoah Valley. He is listed on page 413 as a Second lieutenant mustered in on September 6, 1862. Pr. to 2d Lt., March 10, 1865 – mustered out with Co. F, 2d reg. Pro. Cavalry, Aug. 7, 1865