In the quiet hills of Cocolamus, nestled in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, my third great-granduncle, John Varner, was drawn into the tide of history.

It was December 1863, a moment when the nation teetered on the edge, and the thunder of war echoed from coast to coast. At just 26 years old, John was drafted into the Pennsylvania Infantry. He lived a modest life on a small farm with his wife, Margaret, and their three young children: Barbara, age five; William, age two; and Levi, a newborn just two months old.

With the draft notice clenched in his hand and the weight of duty heavy on his shoulders, John bid farewell to his family and set out for Camp Curtin in Harrisburg, the main jump off point for Pennsylvania Soldiers.

From there, his path led south to the rolling hills of Virginia, where he joined the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry. Soon, he was swept into the relentless march of the Army of the Potomac, as General Grant launched the Overland Campaign a brutal push to end the war.

John fought in some of the most harrowing battles of the Civil War. He endured the chaos and carnage of the Wilderness. At Spotsylvania Courthouse, he took part in Upton’s Charge, engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat amid rain, mud, and blood. Later, at Petersburg, he faced the grim reality of trench warfare, an eerie foreshadowing of the battles that would define World War I.

Today, many pass by the quiet cemetery in Bunkertown, Juniata County, where John and Margaret rest. Their headstones stand on a gentle rise overlooking the serene farmland near McAlisterville. Yet few, if any, know the story of the man buried there, the sacrifices he made, the battles he endured, and the family he left behind.

Tragically, not only has John’s story faded into obscurity, but his headstone now lies fractured and neglected, a silent testament to how easily history can be forgotten.

This scene plays out across the country. The struggles of countless soldiers like John Varner are lost to time and indifference.

I began this project to preserve their stories, to give voice to the forgotten and offer a place for families seeking to reconnect with their past. Through this work, I hope to honor their legacy and ensure that their sacrifices are never again overlooked.

-Ben Varner-