Frank M. Welch – First Lieutenant, United States Army

His private memorial in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery reads:

Frank M. Welch
First Lieutenant, 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry
October 27, 1841 – February 10, 1907

Those familiar with Civil War history will recall that the 54th Massachusetts was the first all-black Regiment which served in the war. They were led by white officers and were eventually virtually destroyed in the storming of Battery Wagner, South Carolina. Their story is portrayed very well in the movie “Glory.”

His wife, Hattie Welch, is named on his stone, but there are no dates for her.

WELCH, FRANK M

• 1ST LT 54TH MASS INF
• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF DEATH: 02/10/1907
• DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
• BURIED AT: SECTION OFS  SITE 123-A
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

WELCH, HATTIE W/O FRANK M

• DATE OF DEATH: 01/01/1936
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/06/1936
• BURIED AT: SECTION WEST  SITE 123-A
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIDOW OF FRANK M. WELCH  1ST LT 54TH MASS
• COL INF US ARMY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard