Unmarked Confederate grave in Gettysburg

CSA Today

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
249127_10200530811585701_893559435_n.jpg
 
What are the details? How is it known to be a Confederate grave?

--BBF

The source didn’t give details about how they made the determination of allegiance, so I don’t know how they can be absolutely sure. I have read that the type of buttons and artifact found with the remains have been used to make such identifications.

“While I am able for service I intend to stand by the cause while a banner floats to tell where freedom’s sons still supports her cause.”

Major Walter Clark of the North Carolina Junior Reserve Brigade in a letter to his mother.
 
is this a recent find?

Source didn't say.

“While I am able for service I intend to stand by the cause while a banner floats to tell where freedom’s sons still supports her cause.”

Major Walter Clark of the North Carolina Junior Reserve Brigade in a letter to his mother.
 
Any idea where this picture was taken? It could help identify the approximate unit.
 
Gettysburg dead

Following the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederate dead were buried along the roads, shoved into trenches, or consigned to common graves. The Southerners were seen as traitorous invaders and their bodies were not accorded the respect afforded the men in blue. One newspaper reporter wrote: "The poor Confederate dead were left in the fields as outcasts and criminals that did not merit decent sepulture." President Lincoln's immortal words were not spoken over their unattended, and unmarked, graves.

The Removal of the Confederate Dead from Gettysburg

The Removal of the Confederate Dead From Gettysburg
by Edward G. J. Richter
In shallow graves, in trenches, and in what were described as “pits,” the Confederate dead from the fighting at Gettysburg and vicinity lay buried. At one time, there were more than 3,300 of them resting there, but today they are gone, and sleep in the soil of their beloved Southland. This is the story of the removal of their remains to the South.

To understand the overwhelming nature of the work involved in the removal, we must first look into the circumstances and conditions of the original burials. Many of these dead had been killed outright or had died on the field of their wounds before they could be removed to a hospital, and were buried on the battlefield. Hundreds of others had died at their division or brigade hospitals, or at Union hospitals after their capture, and were buried there. Some had died in the cavalry actions at Hunterstown and Fairfield. A few more were killed or mortally wounded in the rearguard skirmishes at Fairfield and Monterey Gap as the Army of Northern Virginia withdrew over South Mountain into Maryland.

Of these Confederate dead, 1,100 were buried in marked graves and their location recorded by two Gettysburg residents, Dr. J. W. C. O’Neal and Mr. Samuel Weaver. Dr. O’Neal made a second listing in May, 1866 of Confederate graves still marked. In some cases they had been buried and their graves carefully marked with headboards by loving friends and comrades. Those buried at the various Confederate or Union hospitals also, for the most part, had their graves marked. The majority, however, were hastily buried by details from their own army or the Union army, and the graves were unmarked. Over the years from 1863 to 1871, many of these graves lost their identity, some graves being leveled or ploughed over by farmers on whose land they were located.

Wasted Valor August 2002 - Bits of Blue and Gray

What happened to the Confederate dead? If this question was asked once, it was surely asked a thousand times by visitors, especially as they walk through the Soldier's National Cemetery. When told about the sad fate of most of the Confederate dead, and how they were carelessly buried with little or no attempt at identification by Union soldiers, almost all visitors, regardless where they hail from, are shocked by this information. Quite a few people cannot understand why the cemetery does not include all of the Confederate burials (a few were mistakenly buried in it), and wonder why these men, Americans all, were not properly interred with identification and headstones. Of course most people do not realize that, at first, even the Union soldiers had only crude headboards to mark their graves, while Southerners, buried by their comrades, were likely to have the same.

Usually the strongest reaction, besides that of anguish and sadness expressed by visitors, comes when they are informed that most of the Confederate bodies were left in their makeshift graves for nine or ten years after the battle. Then, mainly through the efforts of several patriotic organizations, some money was eventually raised to pay for the exhuming, boxing, shipment south, and eventual reburial of the remains in Confederate cemeteries in Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, identified in each place with a tablet indicating only two words: Gettysburg Dead. It is my experience that this fact does more than the most vivid and dramatic accounts of the desperate and savage fighting that occurred in such places as the Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and Pickett's charge to underscore the tragic futility of war. This realization causes many, for the first time, to understand the terrible cost of war in terms of human values and the traumatic damage done the human soul.

A Fearful Verification: The men, Their Stories, Their Deaths.

Every grave had its history, and thousands were there.
Sophronia E. Buckland
Volunteer nurse at Gettysburg

The Rebels boasted that in coming into Pennsylvania they had got back into the Union- many who thus boasted occupied those burial trenches. Their boasting met a fearful verification Jacob Hoke, Chambersburg, PA. Citizen.

….the dead are laid out in long rows, with their naked faces turned up to the sun, their clothes stiff with the dried blood, and their features retaining in death the agony and pain which they died with; and presently they are dragged forth and thrust into a shallow pit, with, perhaps, the coarse jest of a vulgar soldier for their requiem, and bloody blankets for their winding sheets.
Captain D. et U. Barziza
4th Texas Infantry


Often, while collecting research on the Confederate burials at Gettysburg, some personal narrative would surface, covering a specific soldier who was killed during the battle, or died of his wounds hours, days, or weeks later. Out of approximately 160 narratives assembled, I have chosen a few to include here. These compiled biographies are, of course, only a small number of the over 4,500 Southerners who died as a result of that battle. Their intimate stories of anguish, death, and courage were usually recalled and written by comrades, military nurses, surgeons, the Union captors, and civilians.

The purpose here is to emphasize the human aspect of men suffering and dying far from home, who were now in the hands of the enemy. The impact of seeing as many 5,000 dead and dying soldiers collectively is too overwhelming to comprehend. One must see them as individuals, as people. It would seem more equitable to let every man be recognized and to have had a friend, or even a stranger, to recall their last moments. But unfortunately, that was not possible. Hopefully, these accounts will impart some notion of the price of the folly of war.

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead
 
such a sad story, they deserved more honor than that. Heck, it wasn't until the 20th century that monuments to the Confederate units were allowed on northern fields (If my memory serves me right)
 


This is the unmarked grave behind the 2nd Maryland monument on Culp's Hill. Captain William J. Miller, a relative from Wilkes County, NC was killed July 1, 1863. The 53rd NC was part of the Daniels / Grimes Brigade. D.H. Hill / Robert Roades' Division, 2nd Corps. Were they not engaged on Culp's Hill ? Would they have buried an officer in a single grave if possible ? Thanks for posting !

William J. Miller

Residence Wilkes County NC; a 24 year-old Farmer.

Enlisted on 3/25/1862 at Wilkes County, NC as a Captain.

On 4/30/1862 he was commissioned into "K" Co. NC 53rd Infantry
He was Killed on 7/1/1863 at Gettysburg, PA


He was listed as:
* Absent 6/18/1862 (place not stated) (Sick with "mumps")
* Returned 8/1/1862 (place not stated) (Estimated day)


Other Information:
born in Wilkes County, NC
 
Years ago I was told a story by a Gettysburg battlefield guide. He had been contacted by a family in Connecticut who had an ancestor that had fought and been killed on Culp's Hill. A member of his unit had written the family explaining the circumstances of his death and stating that they had buried him on the field because they were uncertain of the outcome of the battle and their ability to give him a proper burial. I can imagine that was not an unusual occurance on both sides.

In this case the letter writer gave landmarks so the family could recover the remains if they so desired. The guide said he had been able to identify the location, did a little surreptitious digging sufficient to determine there were remains present, then refilled the hole. I don't know if this is a true story or not, but I can imagine that it might be. The unknown Confederate probably had a similar burial.
 
This is the unmarked grave behind the 2nd Maryland monument on Culp's Hill. Captain William J. Miller, a relative from Wilkes County, NC was killed July 1, 1863. The 53rd NC was part of the Daniels / Grimes Brigade. D.H. Hill / Robert Roades' Division, 2nd Corps. Were they not engaged on Culp's Hill ? Would they have buried an officer in a single grave if possible ? Thanks for posting !

You are correct - Daniel's Brigade was engaged on Culp's Hill on the morning of July 3, but not on July 1. His report is attached. If buried by his comrades, it would have been an individual grave. IMO that's probably what happened in the case of the grave in this forum. If buried after the battle by the Union he would dragged to a mass grave as quickly as possible. The book A Strange and Blighted Land: Gettysburg, the Aftermath of a Battle gives a good account of how the burials on both sides were performed.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/danielgettysburgor.htm
 
such a sad story, they deserved more honor than that. Heck, it wasn't until the 20th century that monuments to the Confederate units were allowed on northern fields (If my memory serves me right)

Not exactly. The marker where Armistead fell dates from the 1880s, as does the 1st Maryland (CSA) on Culp's Hill. It was a combination of things that kept Confederate markers off the field. It was a Union victory and on Northern soil, and the southern states had little interest and not much in the way of resources to commemorate that. Granted, tho, Union veteran groups ran the show for a long time.
 
I don't think there are any known graves left on the battlefield, except of course in the National Cemetery. Undoubtedly there are remains never found, but when they are found, they are exhumed and given proper burial. I think the last one found at Gettysburg was in the 1990s at the Railroad Cut.
 
You are correct - Daniel's Brigade was engaged on Culp's Hill on the morning of July 3, but not on July 1. His report is attached. If buried by his comrades, it would have been an individual grave. IMO that's probably what happened in the case of the grave in this forum. If buried after the battle by the Union he would dragged to a mass grave as quickly as possible. The book A Strange and Blighted Land: Gettysburg, the Aftermath of a Battle gives a good account of how the burials on both sides were performed.

http://www.civilwarhome.com/danielgettysburgor.htm


Captain Miller was captain of Company K. His brother Thomas was a 1st Lieutenant. His uncle, Thomas Land was a 3rd Lieutenant. Thomas was also a writer. He wrote a poem, " Return To The Tented Field " Where he mentions a " dear nephew " among the fallen at Gettysburg. I posted it some time ago. http://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-poem.77154/
 
Captain Miller was captain of Company K. His brother Thomas was a 1st Lieutenant. His uncle, Thomas Land was a 3rd Lieutenant. Thomas was also a writer. He wrote a poem, " Return To The Tented Field " Where he mentions a " dear nephew " among the fallen at Gettysburg. I posted it some time ago. http://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-poem.77154/
I was not a member when you originally posted it. It is an inspirational poem.

Daniel's Brigade fought northwest of Gettysburg on July 1 , above the Railroad Cuts. Colonel Owen filed a report of the 53rd's role at Gettysburg.

Report of Col. William A. Owens, Fifty-third North Carolina Infantry.

July 19, 1863.
Sir: In the engagement at Gettysburg, Pa., my regiment took part in the field as follows:

On July 1, I moved from Little Creek to within 2 miles of Gettysburg, and was in line of battle at or about 1 o'clock, when we advanced through an open field, coming in sight of the enemy on the crest. The line moved forward some 200 yards, when I moved by the left flank some 300 yards, under fire. I again moved to the front some 50 or 100 yards, when I was ordered to take my regiment to the support of Gen. Iverson. I again moved by the flank, and brought them into line on the left of the Third Alabama, which was on Gen. Iverson's right. I next moved to the right of the Third Alabama, and moved forward through a wheat-field to within 50 yards of some woods in front. The Third Alabama fell back, leaving my left exposed, and I ordered my regiment back some 50 yards, it at this time being exposed to a fire on both flanks. I changed my front to the right, to face the enemy on the right. I afterward moved my regiment back to the position on the right of the Third Alabama, which was then going off to the left. I fronted, and moved forward to the woods, where I joined the right of the Twelfth North
Carolina Infantry, and moved on through the woods to the railroad embankment, where I halted, and moved by the left to the edge of the town, where I halted and remained during the night.
 
I was not a member when you originally posted it. It is an inspirational poem.

Daniel's Brigade fought northwest of Gettysburg on July 1 , above the Railroad Cuts. Colonel Owen filed a report of the 53rd's role at Gettysburg.

Report of Col. William A. Owens, Fifty-third North Carolina Infantry.

July 19, 1863.
Sir: In the engagement at Gettysburg, Pa., my regiment took part in the field as follows:

On July 1, I moved from Little Creek to within 2 miles of Gettysburg, and was in line of battle at or about 1 o'clock, when we advanced through an open field, coming in sight of the enemy on the crest. The line moved forward some 200 yards, when I moved by the left flank some 300 yards, under fire. I again moved to the front some 50 or 100 yards, when I was ordered to take my regiment to the support of Gen. Iverson. I again moved by the flank, and brought them into line on the left of the Third Alabama, which was on Gen. Iverson's right. I next moved to the right of the Third Alabama, and moved forward through a wheat-field to within 50 yards of some woods in front. The Third Alabama fell back, leaving my left exposed, and I ordered my regiment back some 50 yards, it at this time being exposed to a fire on both flanks. I changed my front to the right, to face the enemy on the right. I afterward moved my regiment back to the position on the right of the Third Alabama, which was then going off to the left. I fronted, and moved forward to the woods, where I joined the right of the Twelfth North
Carolina Infantry, and moved on through the woods to the railroad embankment, where I halted, and moved by the left to the edge of the town, where I halted and remained during the night.


Many Thanks !
 
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