Finding Sgt Frith: A Civil War soldier to remember on Memorial Day

Memorial Day traces its origins to over 160 years ago, when a grieving country sought to honor the many brave men lost in the Civil War, including Sgt. Joseph Allen Frith.

Patrick K. O'Donnell is a bestselling, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. He is the author of 13 books, including his new, bestselling book on the Civil War: "The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations," to be released in May, 2024. "The Indispensables," "Beyond Valor,"  "First SEALs,", and "The Unknowns." O'Donnell served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and often speaks on espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks' award-winning miniseries "Band of Brothers" and documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, and Discovery. PatrickKODonnell.com @combathistorian 

Frith was a handsome, 23-year-old, gray-eyed farmer who joined Richard Blazer’s Scouts, Lincoln’s special forces, from the 34th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His fellow soldiers described him as "always ready for anything, and always in good humor," and he had many friends, which was indicative of the esprit de corps and cohesion within the unit.