John Burns of Gettysburg: A 70-Year-Old Civilian in a Silk Top Hat

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John Lawrence Burns was born in Burlington, New Jersey, in 1793, fought at Lundy's Lane in the War of 1812, and volunteered again for the Mexican War. Rejected for combat in 1861 at nearly 70, he drove Union supply wagons until the Army sent him home to Gettysburg, where he became constable. When Jubal Early's Confederates occupied the town in June 1863, Burns tried to arrest them and was jailed, then rounded up stragglers after they left.

On July 1, 1863, he walked toward the gunfire in a blue swallowtail coat and silk hat, traded his flintlock for a wounded soldier's Enfield, and stuffed cartridges into his pockets. Major Thomas Chamberlain and Colonel Langhorne Wister sent him into McPherson's Woods, where he fought beside Iron Brigade regiments until he was wounded in the arm, leg and chest. To avoid execution as a bushwhacker he buried his ammunition and told the Confederates he was looking for help for his invalid wife; their surgeons treated him. He became a national symbol, but without a pension, and died in 1872 after being found destitute in New York City.

He fought alongside the 7th Wisconsin and 24th Michigan and reportedly shot a Confederate officer from his horse.
Timothy O'Sullivan photographed him recovering at home with his crutches and rifle.
Lincoln asked to meet him in November 1863, and the two walked arm in arm to a Presbyterian church service.
Bret Harte wrote a popular poem about him the following year.
Pennsylvania dedicated his statue on McPherson's Ridge in 1903, and his grave is one of two in Evergreen Cemetery allowed to fly the flag around the clock.

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