A marker honoring a fallen soldier officially was unveiled Tuesday, Nov. 12, marking 161 years since he was laid to rest, with his descendants, historians, and veterans on hand.
More than two and half centuries ago, a historic Civil War skirmish took place in Lafayette, in which Capt. Arthur W. Marsh was killed in action.
The marker, located near the intersection of Pont des Mouton Road and University in Lafayette, was honored by Wayne Jorgenson, the great-great-grandson of Marsh. Jorgenson has been researching Marsh for decades.
“My mother was our family genealogist,” Jorgenson said. “And all she knew is that he died in Louisiana in 1862 at a place called Vermilionville. I was a little boy, and I wanted to know more about him.”
Jorgenson went on a journey to learn more about Marsh, learning as much as he could about him. Now 74, Jorgenson said he began researching Marsh while in high school.
He conducted research at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and after connecting with historian and Lafayette Parish School history teacher Jason Muller, the two were able to put all the pieces together.