Person:Phillip Leighton (1)

Phillip Leighton, son of Thomas Leighton and Mary Leighton (nee Wright) served as a private in Company I, 4th Michigan Infantry. The 4th Michigan Infantry was assigned to 2nd Brigade (Colonel Jacob B Sweitzer), 1st Division (Brigadier General Charles Griffin), V Corps (Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield), Army of the Potomac. Phillip was killed in action by gunshot as recorded by the regimental surgeon during the Union assault on Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, VA on 13 December 1862. Phillip may have been evacuated by fellow 4th Michigan soldiers and buried in one of six individual graves on residential plots in south Fredericksburg where the regiment reconsolidated, but was unidentified during recovery and reinterment activities in 1865. These six graves, two named and four unidentified are in Row AA, Graves 2683-2687 at Fredericksburg National Cemetery, above Marye's Heights. Phillip is among an estimated 12770 fellow unknown soldiers. His brother William, serving in Company I, 16th Michigan died of wounds suffered at Marye's Heights on 24 December 1862 and is interred in Grave 3508 at Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Their older brother John died of wounds received as a member of Company D, 33rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in New Orleans, LA on 15 April 1865 and is interred Section 81, Grave 6595 at Chalmette National Cemetery, St. Bernard Parish, LA.