William Austin Burgess (1837-1864) was born and raised in Belfast, but served as a Corporal in Company D, 59th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War. Burgess was severely wounded at Petersburg by a Rebel sharpshooter on July 15, 1864 and died a month later from his wounds. At the time of his death, Burgess was 26 years old and unmarried. This carte de visite photograph was taken by Belfast photographer H. L. Kilgore.