The Mysterious Graves at Vicksburg Battlefield National Park
The question of unmarked trenches and graves at the Vicksburg Battlefield National Park has long been a topic of interest and curiosity among historians, archaeologists, and ordinary enthusiasts of American history. During the Civil War, soldiers from both the Confederate and Union sides were often laid to rest in temporary graves, many of which remain unmarked to this day. These gravesites serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict, particularly at a place where both sides buried their dead during truces.
Unmarked Burials and Their Occurrence
During the Civil War, it was not uncommon for soldiers on both sides to be buried alone or in small groups in trenches, especially during times of temporary truces. These fields of graves were often left unmarked, as marking them required resources that were often scarce during wartime. Subsequently, these unmarked graves have occasionally been discovered during the course of construction or other developments in areas known to be battle sites.
Efforts to reinter these remains have been made to honor the fallen. It is a common practice to reauthenticate and reinter the remains, often with military honors. In cases where reinterment would be logistically challenging or where family wishes are present, the graves may be left in place. Many areas with numerous unmarked graves have been left undisturbed to preserve their historical and memorial significance.
Ft Wagner’s Fallen Soldiers
The event of soldiers from both sides being buried on the beach at Fort Wagner in South Carolina, as depicted in the film, is particularly noteworthy. However, the site has since eroded, and the remains were exhumed shortly after the war and reburied at Beaufort National Cemetery. Notably, the final resting place of Colonel Shaw, who was a prominent figure and a Union regiment commander, was left at the Beaufort National Cemetery, reflecting the wishes of his family. Traditionally, it was believed that this was what both the soldiers and Colonel Shaw himself would have desired.
Efforts to Reinter the Fallen
Following the end of the war, federal, state, and private organizations began an organized effort to locate and reinter the fallen soldiers. At the Vicksburg Battlefield National Park, approximately 17,000 Federal soldiers were reinterred in the Vicksburg National Memorial Cemetery, with about 13,000 of them being unidentified. Additionally, 5,000 Confederate soldiers from Vicksburg were reinterred in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in the city. The efforts continued even long after the war, with the Quartermaster General overseeing graves registration surveys of all known battle sites.
Modern Commemorations
On Memorial Day 2003, the remains of Confederate soldiers from the Battle of Petersburg were interred with full military honors at the Poplar Grove National Memorial Cemetery. This event was captured through a series of photographs by a dedicated volunteer photographer, one of whom even gained a brief moment of recognition from a respected event photographer.
The oath of these unmarked graves serves as a poignant reminder of the Civil War’s human toll. The Vicksburg Battlefield National Park, with its many stories and graves, continues to educate and honor those who gave their lives for their respective causes.