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Capt, David Burhans, of Company H, Forty-third Regiment N. Y. Volnnteers, was born in the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, N. Y., June 24, 1840.
After the death of his father, which occurred on the 28th day of February, 1854, when David was but thirteen years of age, the maintenance of the family devolved upon him and his elder brother, then sixteen years of age; and most faithfully did the noble boy perform his share of this duty.
His honesty and integrity soon secured to him a situation, as a messenger to carry the reports of the proceedings of the Legislature to the New York papers. Next, he obtained the appointment of mail agent from New York to Troy. He continued in this service until the autumn of 1862, at which time he left this position for the tented field, at the head of a company, which he had raised almost entirely by his own perseverance.
On taking leave of his townsmen, they presented him, as a token of their regard, with a sword, which he carried with honor through every engagement of the gallant Forty-third. His command also presented him with a valuable gold watch.
He served with his company and regiment, in the Army of the Potomac, in succession under Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Meade, and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and other engagements previous to the battle of Po River, where he fell, in the front of that conflict, on the 10th of May, 1864.
He was a young man of unblemished reputation, and highly respected by all who knew him, for his many virtues.
