Henry W. Thorne was a resident of Mansfield on August 7, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he was killed in action at Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia on May 16, 1864. His death was recorded in the diary of Alfred P. Hanks.

“Thorn of our Co. was instantly killed being shot through the head”

Hanks Diary, May 16, 1864

The descriptive muster roll of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry lists his age as 25 and his occupation as farmer.  He is described as 5’ 7” tall with a fair complexion and dark eyes and brown hair.  His marital status is single. 

He may have been the Henry Thorne, born about 1837 in Massachusetts. In the 1860 U.S. census, Henry W. Thorne is living in Willimantic, Connecticut.  He is listed as 23 year old farmer in the household of Rebecca Ester.

Henry W. Thorne is buried at the Old Willimantic Cemetery in Windham, Connecticut. The other faces of this large monument and surrounding stones are for Edwin M. Thorne, a fellow soldier in the 25th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and the rest of his family. They are probable brothers. A plate of the monument is for Martha A. Thorne, born about 1802; she may be their mother.