Civil War soldier buried in Menands will finally get recognition

A Civil War soldier buried at the St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands 85 years ago will finally get recognition for his service to the country in a ceremony this weekend.

The body of former Pvt. Edward Pennefeather, Company B, 7th Artillery, was laid to rest in a family plot 85 years ago but his gravesite was never marked with a stone recognizing his service, said Ken Goldfarb,  director of communications at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. 

Pennefeather's plot will be marked with a Civil War-era replica gravestone, and a blessing and dedication ceremony in a blessing and dedication ceremony at noon this Saturday.

The ceremony will include a uniformed honor guard from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who will present the flag and fire a musket salute. 

According to the Diocese, Pvt. Pennefeather enlisted in the Union Army in Albany in 1863 and served in Company B of of the 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment from the time of his enlistment until June 16, 1864 when the regiment was surrounded by Confederate forces at the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia.

Pvt. Pennefeather became a prisoner of war and was sent to the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia. He was paroled in November 1864 and mustered out in June 1865. 

Edward Pennefeather died in 1924 at the age of 80. Recent research showed his wife's burial plot, located next to his, recognizes her as the wife of a Civil War veteran while his grave has remained unmarked, said Goldfarb.