Alvin S. Prather (1838 - 1862)

Born 1838 in Prather, Utica Township, Clark, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Died 31 Dec 1862 at about age 24 in Battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

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Biography

Alvin was born in 1838. He was the son of Sion Prather. He passed away on December 31, 1862 in the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Mistaken for a Confederate soldier because he was partially clad in civilian clothes, he was killed by his own men.

From back of photo in antique hinged Bible in Lois Mauk's possession: "Alvin Prather, brother of Jeff and Dave. Killed at Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Died December 31, 1862. Age: about 24 years. Grave unknown. After a furlow home to see his sick father [Sion], he returned to the battlefield, partly in civilian clothes. He was buried among the Southern men."

Alvin had been home in Indiana on furlough to visit his family and went back in civilian clothes. He was mistaken for the enemy and killed by his own men. The grief within his family at Prather, Indiana was intense. Many male children born in the years that followed the Civil War Battle of Stones River were named Alvin or carried Alvin as their middle name in remembrance of him.

Cpl. Alvin S. Prather, Company B, 81st Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was killed in action at Stones River, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 31 December 1862. He is probably buried as an "Unknown" as he has no marker at Stones River.

Sources

• Listed as 22 on 1860 Clark County Census, still living with his parents.
• Killed at Battle of Stones River; Baird's History of Clark County, Indiana, 1909.