Aquia Church
Aquia Church was first used by the 4th and 5th Texas Regiments in 1861 and 1862, with several of the soldiers who camped in its vicinity carving their name into the building.
In November 1862, it was the turn of Union soldiers to set up camp around the church, including the 9th New York Cavalry and later the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Religious services for Union soldiers were held in the church. At the same time, soldiers carved their names into the exterior of the church - and in at least one case, inside the church. On the railing eading to the third floor of the church, Moses Babcock of Company D in the 6th Maine Infantry left his signature.
"The Civil War at Aquia Church," Aquia Episcipal Church
Eric Mink has identified several of the soldiers who wrote their names on Aquia Church.
- Charles McCally of Company F, 5th Texas Infantry
- Benjamin Wickliffe Bristow of Company C, 5th Texas Infantry
- George W. Starnes of Company F, 5th Texas Infantry
- George Julian Robinson of Company A, 5th Texas Infantry (who carved on ly his initials, GJR)
Mink also identified five Union soldiers:
- Charles Wilson Van Epps of Company A, 9th New York Cavalry
- Benjamin Dull of Company G, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- Peter Pass of Company G, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry
- H. Smith of the 21st New Jersey Infantry (there are 3 possible authors of that graffiti, Henry, Henry C. and Humphrey)
- William Albert Jellison of Company H, 6th Maine Infantry