News Summary
A memorial service was held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg to honor four unidentified Civil War soldiers. Led by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the ceremony included songs, prayers, and discussions on the soldiers’ identification efforts. The skeletal remains were discovered in 2022 during an excavation, believed to be from soldiers who died after the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. Attendees paid their respects by placing Confederate flags and flowers at the graves.
Williamsburg – A memorial service honoring four unknown Civil War soldiers was held at Cedar Grove Cemetery on Friday morning, led by national officers of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). UDC President General Julie Hardaway from South Carolina and Immediate Past President General Jinny Widowski from Ohio presided over the ceremony, which was attended by UDC officers and members who traveled from various locations to commemorate the soldiers.
The skeletal remains of the soldiers were discovered in late 2022 during an archaeological excavation near Colonial Williamsburg’s Powder Magazine. It is believed that these soldiers died following the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. Initially, the remains were thought to have been buried in pits located between a hospital church and the Powder Magazine, with many bodies being exhumed and relocated to other burial sites. Some remains were overlooked until they were reidentified as Confederate soldiers three years later, prompting the memorial service.
The service included songs, scripture, prayers, and a presentation by Widowski, who discussed the UDC’s role in handling the remains. To avoid potential protests, the memorial was conducted privately and not publicly announced beforehand. Efforts are currently underway, led by Colonial Williamsburg, to identify the names of the four soldiers.
Identification Efforts
Historical research suggests the soldiers were of varying ages: one was 35 years or older, two were aged between 20-25 and 18-22, and one soldier was between 15-19 years old. Civil War historian Jeff Toalson has compiled a list of 17 potential identities for these soldiers based on available historical records. Their service records indicate they were part of infantry units from southern states including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The Ceremony
During the memorial service, UDC members placed Confederate flags and flowers on the graves of the soldiers. The attendees were invited to bring dirt from their homes as a memorial gesture to lay at the graves. The graves were marked to signify that those buried there were interred ‘with dignity.’ After initial excavations, significant artifacts were discovered, including buttons, a trouser buckle, two $5 gold coins from 1852, a toothbrush made of animal bone, and a porcelain snuff bottle.
Further examinations revealed that one of the soldiers had a bullet embedded in his spine, while evaluations confirmed that all soldiers’ limbs were intact. The excavation team undertook a thorough investigation using lists of soldiers hospitalized during the battle, which aided in identifying potential names based on their survival and death records.
Burial Practices
The careful alignment of the graves and burial practices indicated that the soldiers were interred with respect, differing from the conditions typically found in mass graves. Their remains were placed inside stainless steel boxes within a concrete vault to preserve their dignity in death.
Ongoing efforts will seek to confirm potential descendants of the soldiers, which may lead to the eventual relocation of their remains to more permanent burial sites once their identities are verified. This process reflects a commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices of these unknown soldiers are properly honored and remembered.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Press: Confederate Groups Hold Service for Unknown Soldiers
- Wikipedia: Civil War
- CBS News: Confederate Soldiers’ Remains Found
- Google Search: Confederate Soldiers Remains
- Smithsonian Magazine: Remains Found in Williamsburg
- Encyclopedia Britannica: American Civil War
- Daily Press: Bruton Parish Church Plaque
- Google News: Recent Remains Found in Williamsburg
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
