Southwest Quadrant in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Freedmen’s Cemetery

Freedman’s Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, January 15, 2007

1. Freedman’s Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Federal authorities established a cemetery here for newly freed African Americans during the Civil War. In January 1864, the military governor of Alexandria confiscated for use as a burying ground an abandoned pasture from a family with Confederate sympathies. About 1,700 freed people, including infants and black Union soldiers, were interred here before the last recorded burial in January 1869. Most of the deceased had resided in what was known as Old Town and in nearby rural settlements. Despite mid-twentieth-century construction projects, many burial sites remain undisturbed. A list of those interred here has also survived.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-109.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1864.

Location. 38° 47.68′ N, 77° 2.962′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in the Southwest

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Quadrant. It is at the intersection of South Washington Street (Local Route 400) and Church Street, on the right when traveling south on South Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 South Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Graves Under South Washington Street (here, next to this marker); Former USCT Burial Ground (a few steps from this marker); First Catholic Church in Virginia (within shouting distance of this marker); Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial

Wider view of the marker and the future park area. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, May 13, 2007

2. Wider view of the marker and the future park area.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); 1955 Gas Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Corner of Building Erected in 1960 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Regarding Freedmen’s Cemetery. Until recently a gas station stood on the site, but it has been razed and archaeological work is now being conducted prior to establishment of the Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial Park on this site.

This site also boasted a very early projectile point, and as such is important to American Indians.

Also see . . .
1. City of Alexandria Press Release. “Freedmen were enslaved African Americans who fled north during the Civil War in pursuit of freedom. Thousands of Freedmen sought refuge behind Union lines in towns like Alexandria. They lived in crowded barracks and shantytowns hastily constructed to accommodate their swelling numbers. For many, the Freedmen's Cemetery was their final resting place.” (Submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota.)

2. Freedmen's Cemetery.

Updated Freedmen’s Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 1, 2015

3. Updated Freedmen’s Cemetery Marker

“When the Civil War broke out, enslaved African Americans had a better sense of where the conflict would lead than did the combatants themselves. Many predicted, as the inevitable outcome of an armed conflict between North and South, the "Jubilee," the end of slavery, when families would be reunited in freedom.” (Submitted on April 3, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

3. Alexandria [Va.] National Cemetery (Soldiers' Cemetery). At first, Black soldiers who died in Alexandria were buried at Freedmen's Cemetery, established for "contrabands" (liberated slaves) in February 1864. This appears to have been instituted at the insistence of the Superintendent of Contrabands, Black clergyman Reverend Albert Gladwin.

African-American soldiers recuperating at L'Ouverture General Hospital were outraged, and in December 1864 more than 440 of them signed a petition demanding that Soldiers' Cemetery be opened to Blacks: "To crush this rebellion, and establish civil, religious, & political freedom for our children, is the hight [sic] of our ambition. To this end we suffer, for this we fight, yea and mingle

Site construction explanation signage. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, May 13, 2007

4. Site construction explanation signage.

The City of Alexandria will develop this site into Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial Park. Freedmen’s Cemetery (1864–1869) served as the burial place for about 1800 African Americans who fled to Alexandria to escape from bondage during the Civil War. Investigations have confirmed that intact burials remain on this property. The goal throughout the project is to insure than no burials are disturbed during park development. The memorial park will honor the memory of the Freedmen, the hardships they faced, and their contributions to the city.

our blood with yours . . . as soldiers in the U.S. Army. We ask that our bodies may find a resting place in the ground designated for the burial of the brave defenders of our countries [sic] flag."

The petitioners prevailed. ... and Black soldiers joined their fallen White comrades at Soldiers' Cemetery. Those already buried at Freedmen's Cemetery were re-interred. ... (Submitted on April 3, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. "Contraband and Freedmen's Cemetery"; Clovis Point; Mario Chiodo, sculptor; "The Path of Thorns and Roses"

Sculpture recently installed at the "Place of Remembrance" in the restored image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, August 19, 2013

5. Sculpture recently installed at the "Place of Remembrance" in the restored

"Contraband and Freedmen's Cemetery"

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 4,624 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on August 19, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 3. submitted on August 12, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on July 17, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota. 5. submitted on August 24, 2013, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.