William Henry Christman

William Henry Christman. A United States Army private during the American Civil War, he holds the distinction of being the first soldier interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Serving with the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Christman died of disease in a military hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1864. His burial on the grounds of the former Arlington Estate marked the beginning of the cemetery's sacred tradition, though his grave is located in a less-visited section, reflecting his status as an ordinary soldier whose death inaugurated a national shrine.

Early life and family

William Henry Christman was born in 1846 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, a region that would supply many troops to the Union Army. He was the son of Levi Christman and Lydia Christman, who were farmers of German descent. The Christman family lived and worked in Pocono Township, part of the agricultural community within the Lehigh Valley region. Like many young men from rural Pennsylvania, he was likely influenced by the national call to arms following events like the Battle of Gettysburg. His decision to enlist came as the war entered its final, grueling years, a period marked by high casualties from both battle and disease across theaters like the Overland Campaign.

Military service

Christman enlisted as a private in the Union Army on March 25, 1864, in Philadelphia. He was mustered into Company C of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, a unit that had already seen significant action in campaigns such as the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Fredericksburg. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was part of the II Corps under commanders like Winfield Scott Hancock. Before Christman could join his unit in the field during the pivotal Overland Campaign, he fell ill. He was admitted to Lincoln General Hospital, one of the many military hospitals established in Washington, D.C. to handle the massive influx of wounded and sick soldiers from fronts in Virginia and Maryland.

Death and burial

William Henry Christman died of variola (smallpox) on May 11, 1864, at Lincoln General Hospital. At the time, the United States Department of War had recently authorized the establishment of a new military cemetery on the confiscated estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The property, Arlington Estate, was strategically chosen by officials like Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs. On May 13, 1864, Christman was buried in what was then known as the Arlington Mansion cemetery, making him the first military interment. His grave, number one, is located in Section 27, an area initially used for United States Colored Troops and laborers, distinct from the more prominent sections like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Amphitheater.

Legacy and honors

While not a famous figure like Ulysses S. Grant or Robert E. Lee, Christman's burial holds profound historical significance as the founding act of Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is a point of interest for historians and visitors exploring the cemetery's origins, often in contrast to the later burials of prominent individuals such as President John F. Kennedy and Audie Murphy. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Army Military District of Washington oversee the cemetery where he rests. His story is emblematic of the common soldier's sacrifice and is occasionally noted in historical works about the American Civil War and the development of national cemeteries, standing as a quiet testament to the ordinary individuals who shaped American history.

Category:1846 births Category:1864 deaths Category:People from Monroe County, Pennsylvania Category:Union Army soldiers Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery