Florence in Florence County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Our Unknown Confederate Veterans

January 15, 2026

1. Our Unknown Confederate Veterans Marker

Inscription.

Our Unknown Confederate Veterans. . Pee Dee Rifles - Camp #1419 Sons of Confederate Veterans Florence, South Carolina. This sign is placed here in honor of the life and service of 64 unknown Confederate soldiers who died in Florence, South Carolina, and were buried here in a single mass grave. These were soldiers who had served as guards at the Florence Stockade in 1864-1865 or who died at the local South Carolina General Hospital #2 (initially known as the Florence Wayside Hospital, established 1862) during the War Between the States., The Confederate Monument was erected in 1881 at the First Presbyterian Church's cemetery. Here, these soldiers were initially buried, and their graves were marked with simple wooden head markers. Time and fire eventually destroyed both head markers and written records of veterans' names. In 1905, the veterans' bodies and the monument were moved to Mount Hope Cemetery. Here, due to lost records, they were buried in a single mass grave under the monument. In more recent years, research by compatriot J. R. Fisher into the history of the 64 unknown Confederate veterans has confirmed the identity of several of these soldiers., The monument was a gift by the Florence Memorial Association (established 1878) whose purpose was to ensure that the graves of Confederate soldiers in the area were properly cared for. The Florence Memorial Association, formed by three chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy who banded together, raised the $375 for the construction of the monument and chose the site at which to place it. The dedication ceremony was held in April 1882 and the ladies of this group continued to tend the cemetery at the Presbyterian Church until the bodies were moved. The joint efforts of local chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the United Confederate Veterans, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans have all contributed to the upkeep of the monument and burial grounds and to the memory of the Confederate dead who lie here., [Captions:] Village of Florence laid out by Northeastern Rail Road. Map courtesy of the family of Eugene N. Zeigler., The original sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church was built on Church Street. It was the first church built in Florence in 1860. Photo courtesy of First Presbyterian Church, Florence., Some of Florence's most prominent citizens were members of the Presbyterian Church and veterans of the War Between the States. Many are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. Photo, circa 1904, courtesy First Presbyterian Church, Florence.

Pee Dee Rifles - Camp #1419
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Florence, South Carolina
This sign is placed here in honor of the life and service of 64 unknown Confederate soldiers who died in Florence, South Carolina, and were buried here in a single mass grave. These were soldiers who had served as guards at the Florence Stockade in 1864-1865 or who died at the local South Carolina General Hospital #2 (initially known as the Florence Wayside Hospital, established 1862) during the War Between the States.

The Confederate Monument was erected in 1881 at the First Presbyterian Church's cemetery. Here, these soldiers were initially buried, and their graves were marked with simple wooden head markers. Time and fire eventually destroyed both head markers and written records of veterans' names. In 1905, the veterans' bodies and the monument were moved to Mount Hope Cemetery. Here, due to lost records, they were buried in a single mass grave under the monument. In more recent years, research by compatriot J. R. Fisher into the history of the 64 unknown Confederate veterans has confirmed the identity of several of these soldiers.

The monument was a gift by the Florence Memorial Association (established 1878) whose purpose was to ensure that the graves of Confederate soldiers in the area were properly cared for. The Florence Memorial Association, formed by three chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy who banded together, raised the $375 for the construction of the monument and chose the site at which to place it. The dedication ceremony was held in April 1882 and the ladies of this group continued to tend the cemetery at the Presbyterian Church until the bodies were moved. The joint efforts of local chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the United Confederate Veterans, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans have all contributed to the upkeep of the monument and burial grounds and to the memory of the Confederate dead who lie here.

[Captions:]
Village of Florence laid out by Northeastern Rail Road. Map courtesy of the family of Eugene N. Zeigler.

The original sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church was built on Church Street. It was the first church built in Florence in 1860. Photo courtesy of First Presbyterian Church, Florence.

Some of Florence's most prominent citizens were members of the Presbyterian Church and veterans of the War Between the States. Many are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. Photo, circa 1904, courtesy First Presbyterian Church, Florence.

Erected by Pee

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Dee Rifles - Camp #1419, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Florence, South Carolina.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1882.

Location. 34° 10.932′ N, 79° 45.898′ W. Marker is in Florence, South Carolina, in Florence County. It is on South Dargan Street south of Cherokee Road (South Carolina Road S-21-13), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Cherokee Rd, Florence SC 29501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Pee Dee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in 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

Our Unknown Confederate Veterans Marker in front of the memorial image. Click for full size.

January 15, 2026

2. Our Unknown Confederate Veterans Marker in front of the memorial

States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Our Confederate Dead (a few steps from this marker); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henry Timrod Schoolhouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Florence High School / McClenaghan High School (approx. half a mile away); All Gave Some – Some Gave All (approx. half a mile away); Guns of the CSS Peedee (approx. half a mile away); Brooke Rifled Cannon, VI.4-inch (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Henry Timrod (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2026. This page has been viewed 53 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 19, 2026.