Montford Area Historic District in Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Riverside Cemetery

Notable Occupants

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 27, 2022

1. Riverside Cemetery Marker

Inscription.

Riverside Cemetery. Notable Occupants. Two notable Buncombe County brothers are buried here. Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was North Carolina's Civil War governor and served as a U.S. senator from 1879 to 1894. His elder brother, Robert B. Vince (1828-1899), led the 29th North Carolina Infantry then commanded a western North Carolina military district until captured. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1873-1885., More than 250 other Civil War veterans are buried here, including Gen. Thomas L. Clingman (1812-1897), a former U.S. senator who served the Confederacy until wounded near Petersburg, Virginia, in August 1864. Confederate Gen. James G. Martin (1819-1878), a West Point graduate, was present at the last battles east of the Mississippi River and formally surrendered the western district of North Carolina., Confederate Col. Allen Davidson (1819-1905) served in the North Carolina Secession Convention and the Confederate Congress, 1862-1864. Union Col. Andrew McGonnigle (1829-1901) received the Medal of Honor for bravery at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, on October 19, 1864. His citation reads, "While acting as chief quartermaster of Gen. [Philip H.] Sheridan's forces operating in the Shenandoah Valley, McGonnigle was severely wounded while voluntarily leading a brigade of infantry and was commended for the greatest gallantry by Gen. Sheridan.", Capt. James H. Posey (1823-1917), Co. D. 5th Battalion District of Columbia Infantry, was one of President Abraham Lincoln's bodyguards., Confederate Pvt. Allen Christian Redwood (1844-1922), an illustrator and writer, provided fifty illustrations for Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. He served in the 55th Virginia Infantry and 1st Maryland Cavalry, was wounded three times and captured twice., (sidebar) , The Asheville Cemetery Company established Riverside Cemetery in 1883 as a municipal graveyard. The city of Asheville took over the ownership and maintenance of the cemetery in 1952. Many graves contain remains that were removed from other burial grounds and reinterred here.

Two notable Buncombe County brothers are buried here. Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was North Carolina's Civil War governor and served as a U.S. senator from 1879 to 1894. His elder brother, Robert B. Vince (1828-1899), led the 29th North Carolina Infantry then commanded a western North Carolina military district until captured. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1873-1885.

More than 250 other Civil War veterans are buried here, including Gen. Thomas L. Clingman (1812-1897), a former U.S. senator who served the Confederacy until wounded near Petersburg, Virginia, in August 1864. Confederate Gen. James G. Martin (1819-1878), a West Point graduate, was present at the last battles east of the Mississippi River and formally surrendered the western district of North Carolina.

Confederate Col. Allen Davidson (1819-1905) served in the North Carolina Secession Convention and the Confederate Congress, 1862-1864. Union Col. Andrew McGonnigle (1829-1901) received the Medal of Honor for bravery at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, on October 19, 1864. His citation reads, "While acting as chief quartermaster of Gen. [Philip H.] Sheridan's forces operating in the Shenandoah Valley, McGonnigle was severely wounded while voluntarily leading a brigade of infantry and was commended for the greatest gallantry by Gen.

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Sheridan."

Capt. James H. Posey (1823-1917), Co. D. 5th Battalion District of Columbia Infantry, was one of President Abraham Lincoln's bodyguards.

Confederate Pvt. Allen Christian Redwood (1844-1922), an illustrator and writer, provided fifty illustrations for Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. He served in the 55th Virginia Infantry and 1st Maryland Cavalry, was wounded three times and captured twice.

(sidebar)
The Asheville Cemetery Company established Riverside Cemetery in 1883 as a municipal graveyard. The city of Asheville took over the ownership and maintenance of the cemetery in 1952. Many graves contain remains that were removed from other burial grounds and reinterred here.

Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list.

Location. 35° 36.075′ N, 82° 34.281′ W. Marker is in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It is in the the Montford Area Historic District. It can be reached from Birch Street west of Pearson Drive when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 53 Birch St, Asheville NC 28801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 27, 2022

2. Riverside Cemetery Marker

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 original Cherokee Nation,

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: A different marker also named Riverside Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Caney (Canie) Brown House (approx. half a mile away); In Honor of Markus and Maria Reich (approx. half a mile away); Richmond Pearson (approx. 0.6 miles away); Wartime Jail (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Riverside Cemetery (approx. 0.7 miles away); Zelda Fitzgerald (approx. ¾ mile away); Buncombe Turnpike (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Asheville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 372 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on November 9, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.