BELFAST — Join the Belfast Free Library and the Wawenoc Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on Wednesday, March 19, at 2 p.m., in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library, for a presentation by Dr. David Urquia about “The Siege of Petersburg, 1864: The Story of a Maine Soldier on the Petersburg Western Front.” 

The Siege of Petersburg was the longest military event of the Civil War. This talk will focus on the life history of an obscure soldier from Waldo County who fought and died at Petersburg in 1864. Dr. Urquia’s search for information led him to unexpected findings, including the presence of a previously undiscovered diary by this soldier, and to surprising discoveries as to this soldier’s genealogy. Excerpts from the diary will be presented. 

Dr. David Urquia is a retired Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University, with 35 years of practice experience, specializing in adult spinal surgery. His non-medical academic passion is Civil War history. 

This event is free and open to the public. It is an in-person event, with a Zoom option available. Please email spietryka@belfastlibrary.org to request the link.

The Wawenoc Chapter is the Belfast area’s chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society. It meets monthly on the third Wednesday at the Belfast Free Library. Genealogists of all abilities and skill-levels are encouraged to join. 

For more information, contact Sharon Pietryka at spietryka@belfastlibrary.org or 338-3884 ext. 25.