Although not much about Lewis L. Miller is known, the parts of his story that can be told, allow the reader to understand just what heroes of the Civil War dealt with and left behind to serve their country; Lewis L. Miller was one of these heroes.

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            Born on August 17th, 1840 to father, John W. Miller and mother, Emily M. Miller, Lewis was the third and final son that the couple would have. His two brothers, John L. Miller (4 years) and Francis G. Miller (2 years), welcomed their baby brother to their home in Franklin Massachusetts’s on a street right off of what now is known as Summer Street. Twenty one years later, in 1861, Lewis became a private in Company E of the 12th Massachusetts infantry Regiment, a lone man in the sea of volunteers, fighting to protect their country, the Union.

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            Lewis participated in many battles with his regiment and trying to complete their part of the Anaconda Plan, taking over the Confederates Capital, Richmond Virginia. His first real battle was the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9th, 1862, one year later. Under the command of Major General Nathaniel Banks, Miller and his fellow troops clashed with the Confederates (led by Major General Thomas J. Jackson) at Cedar Mountain. The Union held the upper hand in the battle until the Confederates counter attacks which was what defeated the Union, leaving them with fourteen hundred casualties.

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            Miller’s next battle was 13 days later on August 22nd, 1862 at Rappahannock Station, where for three days Miller’s army led by Major General John Pope fought the Confederates in a bunch of small fights along the Rappahannock River. However the results of the battle are reported to be inconclusive.

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            Miller’s third and sadly final battle was from August 28th to August 30th, 1862. This battle was known as the Second Manassas, or Second Bull Run. On August 28th, Confederates attacked Miller’s group at Brawner Farm, the battle lasted a few hours but ended up as a draw. The Union's leader, Major General John Pope attacked the same Confederates the next day along an unfinished railroad. The day after that, August 30th, 1862, when Miller was the young age of 22, the Union army attacked but were destroyed in the largest, mass assault of the war. Union troops retreated, but the damage had already been done, among the 13,830 union casualties lay Private Lewis L. Miller. During the battle, twenty-two year old Miller received a fatal ball wound to his thigh that would eventually kill him.

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            An informant named Saul B. Scott informed both John W. Miller and Emily M. Miller of their youngest son's death. Today, one hundred and forty-two years later, Lewis L. Miller's grave can be found in Franklin's very own cemetery.

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            Only twenty-two years, one month and fifteen days old, Private Lewis L. Miller gave his life for his country, and will forever be remembered as not only a courageous and brave young soldier, but also as a courageous and brave son of the United States Military.