Seymour Beach Conger, Major, United States Army

Seymour Beach Conger
Major, United States Army

The commander of the squadron at Gettysburg was Captain Seymour Beach Conger.

Born in Plymouth, Ohio, on September 25, 1825 he was a farmer near Lexington Ohio and recruited Company A, becoming its Captain on November 22, 1862. Reaching the rank of Major, Conger was killed on August 7, 1864, near Moorefield West virginia.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

No photograph of Conger is known to exist.

Companies A and C of the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry would serve in Devin's Brigade until November of 1863, when they were ordered back to the Department of West Virginia. Returning to Wheeling, it joined the other companies in the regiment and reorganized under Conger. The following year, through continuous recruitments, the roster of the 3rd would be completed and would constitute a full regiment of cavalry.

Conger would live unscathed through the action at Gettysburg, but would be killed on August 7, 1864, as a Major, near Moorefield West Virginia while the regiment was attached to the Army of West Virginia. He is today interred at Arlington National Cemetery. General Averell, lamenting Conger's death, wrote in his official report, "...with our
exultations is mingled a profound grief at the loss of Major Conger, 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, who found death as he had always wished, in the front of battle, with heart and hand intent upon the doing of his duty. Brave, steadfast and modest, when he fell this command lost one of its best soldiers, and his regiment and general a friend. The men who followed him in the charge will never forget his glorious example..."

Photo Courtesy of BufordsBoys.Com
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC CAVALRY CORPS
FIRST DIVISION
Brigadier General John Buford
3rd West Virginia
(2 Companies - A & C)
Captain Seymour Beach Conger
Strength: 5 Officers, 59 Enlisted
Losses: 1 wounded, 1 captured, 2 missing

Seymour Beach Conger
Born - 25 September 1825 at Plymouth, Richland County, Ohio
Died - 7 August 1864 Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia
Buried August 1864 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
CONGER, MARY A W/O SEYMOUR B
DATE OF DEATH: 12/04/1913
BURIED AT: SECTION EAST SITE 774 W DI
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
SEYMOUR BEACH CONGER, MAJ 3RD WV CAV

Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson

Posted: 23 June 2002 Updated: 22 February 2003 Updated: 19 July 2003 Updated: 5 September 2005 Updated: 12 January 2008

SB Conger Gravesite PHOTO June 2003

MA Conger Gravesite PHOTO June 2003

Photos By M. R. Patterson, 28 June 2003