Adjutant Sylvester R Burch

Adjutant Sylvester R Burch, Brevet Captain U. S. V., was born near Dresden, Ohio, March 1. 1842; removed to Iowa in 1858; enlisted in Captain Stibbs' company, D, 12th Iowa, September 11, 1862. He served with his company continuously at Benton Barracks and Fort Henry; was sick when regiment went to Donelson, but returned to duty, and was, with his company, captured at Shiloh. was promoted Corporal January 10, 1863; re-enlisted December 25, 1863; promoted Sergeant Major of regiment June 1, 1864; Adjutant February 10, 1865, and Brevet Captain June 25, 1866. He was mustered out with the regiment January 20, 1866, and returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he farmed two years, and then removed to Olathe, Kas., and kept a hotel eighteen years; was twice elected Mayor; was appointed Postmaster in 1880, and in 1890 was Supervisor of Census; was afterward employed in Census office at Washington, and is now employed in Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

SOURCE: David W. Reed, Campaigns and battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 254