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Louisa in Louisa County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Oakland Cemetery

Confederates at Rest

— The Battle of Trevilian Station —

 
 
Oakland Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008
1. Oakland Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Here in Oakland Cemetery, beneath small, rectangular stone markers, rest as many as 60 Confederate dead from the Battle of Trevilian Station. Most of them were never identified.

Immediately inside the gate are the graves of the three Towles brothers, all of whom served in Company A, 4th Virginia Cavalry, and died of battle wounds. Sgt. Robert C. Towles was mortally wounded on the morning of June 11, 1864, the first day of the Battle of Trevilian Station, and died in Louisa Court House five days later. The Rev. John Towles had the remains of his other two sons, J. Vivian and James H. Towles, disinterred from other battlefields and buried here.

Also here is the grave of Lt. Col. Joseph L. McAllister, commander of the 7th Georgia Cavalry, who was killed in action while defending Trevilian Station on the afternoon of June 11, 1864. He had refused to surrender and was cut down in a hail of Union bullets. Trevilian Station was the first battle for the 7th Georgia Cavalry, which suffered 38% casualties on the first day, including nearly all of the regiment's officers. Capt. John P. Hines, commander of Company H, rests
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next to his commander.

(captions)
Sgt. Robert C. Towles —Courtesy of Keith Kehlbeck
Lt. Col. Joseph L. McAllister —Courtesy of Carolyn Clay Swiggart

 
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesWar, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 11, 1864.
 
Location. 38° 1.732′ N, 78° 0.698′ W. Marker is in Louisa, Virginia, in Louisa County. It is at the intersection of West Street (County Route 666) and Purcell Drive, on the left when traveling west on West Street. Located at the entrance gate to Oakland Cemetery. This is stop nine of the driving tour of Trevilian Station Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Louisa VA 23093, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World,
Trevilian Station Battlefield Driving Tour Stop Nine image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008
2. Trevilian Station Battlefield Driving Tour Stop Nine
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: Decisive Confederate Victory (here, next to this marker); Second Louisa County Courthouse Threshold (approx. half a mile away); Patrick Henry's Home (approx. half a mile away); Louisa Court House (approx. half a mile away); Confederate Memorial (approx. half a mile away); In Memory of All Veterans (approx. 0.6 miles away); John Mercer Langston Birthplace (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881-1960) (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisa.
 
Regarding Oakland Cemetery. This is one of several markers interpreting the Battle of Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864. See the Battle of Trevilian Station Virtual Tour by Markers linked below for additional related markers.
 
Also see . . .
1. Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation. The foundation has worked to preserve
Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008
3. Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial
"Love Makes Memory Eternal"
This monument is dedicated
with affection, reverence
and undying remembrance
to the memory of the men
who gave their lives at
The Battle of Trevilians
June 11-12, 1864
And who lie buried here
The Mineral Chapter
United Daughters of the Confederacy
1982
the remaining sections of the battlefield. A detailed self-guided driving tour of the battlefield is offered. This marker is at stop nine of the tour. (Submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.) 

2. Trevilian Station. American Battlefield Trust (Submitted on September 16, 2024.) 
 
Confederate Burial Plots image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008
4. Confederate Burial Plots
As mentioned on the marker, simple rectangular stones mark these graves, compared to the more elaborate head stones nearby.
The Towles Brothers Grave Site image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Swain, January 12, 2008
5. The Towles Brothers Grave Site
Inscribed "Sons of Rev. John & S.E. Towles," this obelisk marks the resting place of Robert C. (1843-1864), J. Vivian (1839-1863), and James (1845-1864) Towles. All served in Company A, 4th Virginia Cavalry, and all were killed in battle. Based on the dates of death, J. Vivian met his end during the Bristoe Campaign in the fall of 1863. James was killed during the early phases of the Overland Campaign of 1864. And Robert was mortally wounded at Trevilian Station.
Towles Brothers Gravestone image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bradley Owen
6. Towles Brothers Gravestone
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,618 times since then and 68 times this year. Last updated on September 16, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 20, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.   6. submitted on September 12, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 5, 2026