Anna P. Erving,
Union Nurse

Submitted by Sue Greenhagen
"Mrs. Erving, back in the early 1900s, lived next door to my grandmother's house in Newburgh, NY. My mother, who was born in 1909, would go over to "Annie" Erving's house, and Annie would tell her stories about her service in the Civil War. One story that made a lasting impression on the little girl was the time Annie got to meet and shake hands with President Lincoln. Annie died when my mother was only 10 years old, but she never forgot the old Army nurse who lived next door."

Annie Erving Photo Gallery
Mrs. Erving's reminiscences about the Battle of Antietam.

from the Newburgh [N.Y.] Daily News, Dec. 15, 1919:
     ARMY NURSE DIES
     IN HOME SUNDAY
  Mrs. Anna P. Erving, an army
nurse during the civil war, died in
her home on South Plank Road
on Sunday afternoon. She had been
ill for a long time, and the past four
or five weeks had been cared for by
Mrs. Mary J. Roach, another woman
resident of this city who had ren-
dered service for her country as a
nurse.
      Native of Maryland
  Mrs. Erving was a native of Ha-
gerstown, Md., and at the outbreak
of the civil war tendered her ser-
vices to look after the sick and
wounded of the Union forces. At the
battle of Gettysburg, Pa., during the
three days' fight she was one of the
most devoted of the women attend-
ing the unfortunates and it was
while she was thus employed on the
field and in the hospital that she
nursed back to life Charles Beck of
this city, whom she met again in
later years, the friendship between
them being very warm and dear.
Mrs. Erving came to Newburgh
about 20 years ago, and has since
been a resident of the city.
   Prominent in W. R. C.
  She was a member of the Wo-
man's Relief Corps of Fullerton Post,
and was also prominently associated
with the National Corps of Civil
War Nurses, attending their meet-
ings at Washington annually. Mrs.
Erving was also associated with the
National Corps of Patriotic Instruc-
tors and as such has frequently
appeared in public gatherings in
Newburgh in the presentation of
national colors, and in other ways
upholding the principles of patriot-
ism.
    Funeral on Tuesday
  Mrs. Erving is survived by a
brother, Marion H. Zerbe, of this
city; two grand-children, Edward F.
Wilson and Edna I. Mapes; and sev-
eral nephews and nieces living in
the West. Fullerton Post, G.A.R.,
and S.W. Fullerton Woman's Relief
Corps will conduct their funeral ser-
vice on Tuesday evening, the relig-
ous service being conducted by the
Rev. J. Marshall Chew on Wednes-
day afternoon. The interment will
be made in St. George's cemetery
under direction of Murtfeldt & Cal-
yer.

Maintained by Sue Greenhagen.
E-mail: greenhsh@morrisville.edu