Mathias Kepley was the son of Mathias and Elizabeth Younts Kepley. He, and his brother, Andrew, enlisted in the Confederate army on July 16, 1862, in Co. I, 14th Regiment, NC Troops. On September 17, 1862 the regiment, under the command of Major Gen. D. H. Hill was in the sunken road, between Piper and Roulette farms in Sharpsburg, MD. The outnumbered Confederates held off fierce Union assualts while clinging to the sides of the sunken road. Around 1pm, Confederates on the south end of the lane mistakenly withdrew, allowing the Union to gain a position in which they were able to fire down upon the Confederates. This sunken "Bloody Lane" claimed 5,500 casualties. Mathias and Andrew were both in "Bloody Lane". Andrew was mortally wounded and taken back to Shepherdstown, where he died from his wounds. Mathias died in Bloody Lane and was buried in a mass grave, location unknown.
Many Confederate soldiers were located and re-interred in the Confederate Cemetery on the grounds of Rose Hill Cemetery. It is not known if Mathias was one of the soldiers relocated.
Many Confederate soldiers were located and re-interred in the Confederate Cemetery on the grounds of Rose Hill Cemetery. It is not known if Mathias was one of the soldiers relocated.
Mathias Kepley was the son of Mathias and Elizabeth Younts Kepley. He, and his brother, Andrew, enlisted in the Confederate army on July 16, 1862, in Co. I, 14th Regiment, NC Troops. On September 17, 1862 the regiment, under the command of Major Gen. D. H. Hill was in the sunken road, between Piper and Roulette farms in Sharpsburg, MD. The outnumbered Confederates held off fierce Union assualts while clinging to the sides of the sunken road. Around 1pm, Confederates on the south end of the lane mistakenly withdrew, allowing the Union to gain a position in which they were able to fire down upon the Confederates. This sunken "Bloody Lane" claimed 5,500 casualties. Mathias and Andrew were both in "Bloody Lane". Andrew was mortally wounded and taken back to Shepherdstown, where he died from his wounds. Mathias died in Bloody Lane and was buried in a mass grave, location unknown.
Many Confederate soldiers were located and re-interred in the Confederate Cemetery on the grounds of Rose Hill Cemetery. It is not known if Mathias was one of the soldiers relocated.
Many Confederate soldiers were located and re-interred in the Confederate Cemetery on the grounds of Rose Hill Cemetery. It is not known if Mathias was one of the soldiers relocated.
