Jerry Cronan – Private, Confederate State of America Army

Jerry Cronan

Born in Canada, Cronan served the Confederacy and was killed at the Battle of Spotsylvania. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery, shortly before it became a cemetery for Union soldiers, thus having a double distinction of being a Canadian and a Confederate buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Less famous than the others, but truly unique is the life of the late Jerry Cronan. One of 40,000 Canadians who had fought in the American Civil War, Confederate Private Jerry Cronan died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Spotsylvania. He is the only Canadian Confederate who is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Shortly after he was buried, Arlington became a cemetery for Union soldiers. Thus, Private Cronan has a dual claim to fame, as a Canadian and as a Confederate buried among the victorious enemy.

Courtesy of the National Library of Canada

CRONAN, JERRY
E 10TH LA INF CW

• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF DEATH: 06/02/1864
• DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
• BURIED AT: SECTION CONFE  SITE 49
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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