Found Death As He Would Have Wished

Union cavalry Major Seymour Beach Conger was killed in action August 7^th 1864 during a battle near Moorefield, West Virginia.

Seymour Beach Conger was born September 25^th 1825 in Plymouth, Richland, Ohio the son of Reverend Enoch and Esther (West) Conger.  He lived near Lexington, Ohio and worked as a farmer.

When the Civil War started Conger recruited for what would become Company A of the 3^rd West Virginia Cavalry.  He was made their Captain November 22^nd 1862.  Companies A and C, which he led, was a part of Union General John Buford’s Division of Cavalry, and served at Brandy Station and Gettysburg in Colonel Thomas C Devin’s brigade.  In November 1863 the 3^rd along with Conger were moved to the Department of West Virginia in Wheeling.   He was promoted to Major.  Conger was killed in action during the cavalry fight known as the Battle of Moorefield near Moorefield, West Virginia August 7^th 1864.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

After Conger’s death Union General William Woods Averell said of him, “our exultations is mingled a profound grief at the loss of Major Conger, 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, who found death as he had always wished, in the front of battle, with heart and hand intent upon the doing of his duty.  Brave, steadfast and modest, when he fell this command lost one of its best soldiers, and his regiment and general a friend.  The men who followed him in the charge will never forget his glorious example."