Grave Marker

[Stonewall77]

A friend of mine and I found a stone that is marked with Confederate Dead March 13 1865. The marker was found in Dinwiddie in Virginia and was placed on top of a mound of dirt. The marker also looks like it has a bullet lodged in one side of it. I did some research and found that there were battles in the area around that date but not on the date and most were after the date. My question is, is there any research that can be done to find out if this is a real Confederate grave? The site will never be excavated and the exact location will never be revealed so that if it is a true grave site it's occupant may continue to rest in peace. We inspected it for cut marks that would be a give away of it's age and found what looks to be chisels marks on the edges.

 

[AndyHall]

. . . and was placed on top of a mound of dirt.

That would be a cautionary flag to me -- an actual stone from that period, lost all these years, would almost certainly be buried, and there would be no visible indication of a grave (i.e., a mound). The used of the word "dead" on a headstone seems odd, as well.

You need to contact the land owner immediately, if this is on private property, and the state historical agency if it's on public land. They can do a great deal to protect the site, depending on the laws in that jurisdiction.

 

[Nathanb1]

Unfortunately, after battles and skirmishes, people were left behind and people sheltered them...sometimes until they died. This is from the diary of a woman who was staying with her grandmother in Tennessee during the war (she was just a young girl, about 10 or 12)

Some of the soldier boys would slip home to see the loved ones and sometimes when the news come that the enemy was coming and they in a hurry would forget to take all of their things and then I would go with cousins to hide them in the woods. One of my aunts and uncles, who was so feeble, and one morning my cousin and I went out at a back door and bullets were whissing over the house and near us. My aunt then saw the men that were shooting at a Union soldier who was passing. Union army was moving to Scottsboro, Alabama and these soldiers were stragglers, stopping on the way to take the farmers' horses and anything they wanted. My uncle knew the men and begged them not to hide and waylay the soldiers near his or any other citizen's home. They never heeded his words, but took off the horses the soldiers were driving and turned loose when the shooting began. Then come and hide to be ready for the next.

In a short time, one lone soldier come by and not knowing his danger. Then again they began shooting and the soldier fell to the ground. The men run to him, took his gun and belt of cartridges and the horses on to the hiding place in the mountains. Poor Aunt said, "Come, children, we will go to the man. He is some mother's boy." He was shot in his body and was groaning so pitiful. It was cold misting rain and we went and got quilts to put under and over him. None of us able to carry him in the house. Uncle was old and gray. Then he saw two more soldiers coming and called them as they were turning to fly back after seeing the man on the road. Uncle got them to come and carry him in. My cousin and me had to carry the soldier's guns and keep close to them.

The wounded man lived an hour or more. He was a fine looking young man and my aunt set by him and she asked him of his home and parents. He said his mother was all he had and she lived in Ohio. His name was Thomas Baker. He was a Union soldier, 25 years old. His mother's home was in Star County, Ohio. Soon he was dead. There was no more to come but very old men and cripples. They made a rude coffin to put him in and set up, thinking the soldier's companions would be sure to come. His body froze for the weather turned so cold. After 2 days and nites, waiting, they took him to old Beach Grove Cemetery and buried him there. Over 20 years later his remains were taken to a soldier's cemetery.

 

[JWheeler331]

Im curious as to what made you think......here is a stone on what appears to be a grave......lets take it.

The stone looks strange but I have seen stranger.

 

[Glorybound]

Unfortunately, after battles and skirmishes, people were left behind and people sheltered them...sometimes until they died. This is from the diary of a woman who was staying with her grandmother in Tennessee during the war (she was just a young girl, about 10 or 12)

That excerpt describes better than most any other battle account I've read, or maps, drawings, photos etc. the true horror and heartbreak of the civil war - of any civil war really - ordinary people trying to do what was right by them, in the midst of circumstances they hardly could have imagined would happen in their lifetimes. Thanks for the post, Nate.

 

[John Hartwell]

Im curious as to what made you think......here is a stone on what appears to be a grave......lets take it.

Without the land owner's permission, that would be "Lets steal it." Return it to its proper owner without delay. I know, those of us with a special interest in the war, often think that gives proprietary rights -- or gives some right to assert our own ideas of "preservation" (on my mantle!)

jno

 

[Stonewall77]

That would be a cautionary flag to me -- an actual stone from that period, lost all these years, would almost certainly be buried, and there would be no visible indication of a grave (i.e., a mound). The used of the word "dead" on a headstone seems odd, as well.

You need to contact the land owner immediately, if this is on private property, and the state historical agency if it's on public land. They can do a great deal to protect the site, depending on the laws in that jurisdiction.

When I say "placed on the mound" it was stuck in the dirt buried up to the bottom line of carved words. It is on private property and the land owner knows about it. We cleaned it up to get a good picture of it but you can still see the dirt line where it was buried. We have discussed trying to find out more about it through local sources but, are cautious to do so since we don't want the site disturbed. I also thought the the use of the word "dead" was odd but, I also wonder how many solders there were with no identification. I have also heard of instances like Nathan posted where citizens helped wounded solders and wondered if this could be one of those times. The site is located in what is a wooded area now with no houses or remains of houses that would have been around in that time period within at least a half mile.

 

[Stonewall77]

Without the land owner's permission, that would be "Lets steal it." Return it to its proper owner without delay. I know, those of us with a special interest in the war, often think that gives proprietary rights -- or gives some right to assert our own ideas of "preservation" (on my mantle!)

jno

The stone was cleaned and placed back where it came from. We are in no way trying to do harm to the site. We have more respect than that...

 

[Littlestown]

Unfortunately, after battles and skirmishes, people were left behind and people sheltered them...sometimes until they died. This is from the diary of a woman who was staying with her grandmother in Tennessee during the war (she was just a young girl, about 10 or 12)

Wow, Nate, thank you for the diary entry. That would be Stark County Ohio. I am going to do some research and see if his family ever recovered the body, or, knew where he was buried.

 

[AndyHall]

When I say "placed on the mound" it was stuck in the dirt buried up to the bottom line of carved words. It is on private property and the land owner knows about it. We cleaned it up to get a good picture of it but you can still see the dirt line where it was buried. We have discussed trying to find out more about it through local sources but, are cautious to do so since we don't want the site disturbed. I also thought the the use of the word "dead" was odd but, I also wonder how many solders there were with no identification. I have also heard of instances like Nathan posted where citizens helped wounded solders and wondered if this could be one of those times. The site is located in what is a wooded area now with no houses or remains of houses that would have been around in that time period within at least a half mile.

Fair enough.

 

[John Hartwell]

The stone was cleaned and placed back where it came from. We are in no way trying to do harm to the site. We have more respect than that...

Excellent! My compliments.

jno