INFORMATION ON THE LIFE OF FRANK MURRAY, brother of Maria Murray Dillon, brother-in-law of Timothy Dillon…
In the first few lines where he says "encamped on old Point Comfort within one mile of fortress Monroe." Fort Monroe is near Old Point Comfort and when you read the history of the 5th NY Regiment, this all matches up with the accounts in Civil war history. It is exciting to me to see Frank send his regards to all these family members that I've tracked down in genealogy research. Tim's sister, Margaret married a James Kelly (Celley?), James Drought was married to Bridget Dillon, another sibling; finally John Dillon is Tim's brother. I'm also glad to see that Frank mentions his mother. I wasn't sure if she had come to America. I know that her name was Ellen Whitfield Murray.
Frank Murray was Maria Dillon's younger brother. He lived in New Rochelle also. At the start of the Civil War, he joined the army in the 5th NY regiment. They were known as "Duryee's Zouave's". He became ill a few months after he joined and was in a field hospital for awhile. He was killed in a battle at Gaines Mills and Savages Station. This was a famous battle where over half of his regiment was wiped out by the Confederates. My dad (Bill Dillon) said that Maria tried to have his body sent home but she was told it was not possible. It must have been so sad for the family.
From an email from Laura Dillon Lawson, November, 2011
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