Biography

Anna Barnard was the second wife of Union General John Gross Barnard, with whom she had three children. She is mentioned as such - "Mrs. Gen. Barnard" - in Fanny Adeline Seward's 1862-1863 diary. Fanny was not impressed with her "as much of a woman" but does relate the story of Mrs. Barnard's first marriage: "the very day of her wedding day, while on their tour, the couple stopped at a hotel, in Phila, I believe. Both were preparing for dinner when the groom was stooping over his open trunk, and a loaded pistol there went off and killed him!"