Mace, Augustus

Augustus Mace

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company D, 77th Pennsylvania Infantry

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

December 31, 1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Augustus Mace mustered with Company D of the 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as a private. The Regiment was organized in Pittsburg in October of 1861. They fought at Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth in Mississippi. They pursued Bragg through Northern Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and eventually to Middle Tennessee. In December of 1862, they were stationed at Nashville, Tennessee and received orders to march south to Murfreesboro on December 26, 1862.

The 77th Pennsylvania left for Murfreesboro by way of Triune. They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and were positioned on Gresham Lane as the far right flank of the Union line. They were part of the first maneuvers of the battle of Stones River.

At 6am on December 31st, the Confederate troops in the area began to execute their plan: to sweep around the Union's right flank and cause the army to collapse from the side. Because of the nature of the first attacks, many of the men in the 77th PA Infantry were caught off guard in the early morning. After about an hour of fighting, the Confederate forces were able to push the 77th PA further north along Gresham Lane. They held steady, but eventually were pushed past Asbury Lane.

They received orders to regroup between the Nashville Pike and the railroad and resupply. Around noon on December 31st, they held a new position on the intersection of the Nashville Pike and Asbury Lane and remained there until nightfall.

According to US Registers of Deaths of Volunteers, Augustus Mace died due to "Vulnus Sclopet" which is a latin term meaning "Gunshot Wound." This wound was received at the battle of Stones River. He died in a regimental field hospital the same day that he received the wound on December 31st, 1862.

Augustus Mace is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5417. He is also listed in the National Cemetery Internment list as "Mage, Heig."