2005
[Handbook]

From the Sullivan County Historical Society

Provided by Pvt. Bob Slaughter 15^th NYVC

90- Year old Resident of Monticello Suffered Saber Wound as Cavalryman and languished 30 days in Infamous Libby Prison - Buried Yesterday in Warwick

MONTICELLO - Just a little less than two weeks before another Memorial Day would have arrived, as a reminder of the Civil War in which he took part and was wounded, David L. Dunn, one of the last of less than a handful of veterans of that struggle, remaining in this country, was borne to his grave yesterday in Warwick. The aged veteran, who in the last year had failed rapidly, died Sunday at the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. David Dunn, on Pleasant Street. He was 90 years old.

His passing leaves either two or three Civil War veterans in Sullivan County. A check before last Memorial Day indicated only three were left then - Mr. Dunn, Samuel Andrus Lewis, of Dahlia, and Levi Van Keuren, of Monticello. Mr. Lewis died in December. But, since then it has been revealed that Charles Kniffin, of Wurtsboro, is also a Civil War veteran, at 91, and it is said another veteran lives in Jeffersonville.

Native of Fallsburg, where he was born July 31, 1815, son of William and Marie Dunn, Mr. Dunn was a farm boy of 17, attending rural schools when he began his service to the Union. He enlisted in 1862 at Goshen, was assigned to Company L of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, and went immediately to the South. In the Martinsburg area of Pennsylvania, a "Rebel" saber of one of Lee's riders slashed his left ankle, and he also spent 30 days in Civil War's infamous Libby Prison.

Last year, when a representative of The Register called on Mr. Dunn at his home here, he was not able easily to recall his service, but he was sure, and proud, that he was with General Phil Sheridan. When the struggle ended it was not for Mr. Dunn, however, to return home. In Indiana disorders in the elections were expected, and he was sent there. From that point, he was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Elmira and finally back home.

Mr. Dunn's wife, Ella, native of Glen Wild, died 17 years ago at Warwick, and his burial was beside her. Besides his daughter-in-law here, wife of a son who bore his name, are a widowed daughter, Mrs. Theodosia Lantry, of Harriman, and two sons, Charles Leslie, of Warwick, and Edwar, of Bear Mountain. There are also 17 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren.

Services yesterday, at the home of his daughter-in-law, were with Dr. W. A. Crawford, of the Presbyterian church, officiating.

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