South Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Confederate Soldiers Rest

Photographed by Ken Smith, March 28, 2009

1. Confederate Soldiers Rest Marker

Inscription. Confederate Soldiers Rest is located in the Fowler Section of Historic Elmwood Cemetery. Over 1000 Confederate Soldiers and Veterans are buried here. An article in The Memphis Daily Appeal on 27 June 1861 stated that this plot was dedicated to the Southern Mothers' Society. A second article dated 25 September 1861 stated "This Company, at the commencement of the war, very liberally donated and set apart a lot of ground for the purpose of burying, free of charge, all soldiers who may die honorably in defense of our liberties. In the center of the lot is a circle of twelve feet in diameter, for the erection of a monument, which our patriotic citizen will no doubt raise to the memory of the brave soldiers who have fallen in defense of our Country". The first soldier buried in Confederate Rest was William Thomas Gallagher in lot 159, Fowler Section, Grave 20 on 17 June 1861 barely a month after the war began. The last burial was of Confederate Veteran John Frank Gunter on 01 April 1940. In 1886 the Confederate Historical Association collected funds and 945 numbered headstones were placed at the head of each grave.

(Back):
While

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

going through old cemetery records years later a small notebook was discovered that contained the names and matching headstones numbers of these 945. It was now possible to identify the exact spot where a specific soldier or veteran was buried as well as the date of his burial and his confederate unit. Confederate Monument The monument in Confederate Soldiers Rest was unveiled on 05 June 1878. A crowd of almost 5000 people was in attendance at the dedication. Plans for the Monument were originally begun by the Ladies Confederate Memorial Association, later known as the Confederate Historical Association. The $5000 cost of the Monument was raised by a committee chaired by N. B. Forrest. On the front of the monument are the words "Confederate Dead". On the back of the monument is the following inscription: "Illis Victoriam Non Immortatitatem Fata Negaverunt" which translated: "The Fates Which Refused Them Victory Did Not Deny Them Immortality".

Erected 2006 by N. B. Forrest Camp 215, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites •

Photographed by Ken Smith, March 28, 2009

2. Confederate Soldiers Rest Marker

War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 1, 1940.

Location. 35° 7.397′ N, 90° 1.595′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in South Memphis. It can be reached from South Dudley Street when traveling south. This marker is in Elmwood Cemetery. As you pass the office turn left and go toward the back corner of the cemetery, where the interstate crosses the railroad tracks. Marker will be on your right at the next intersection. This will be Fowler Section. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 824 South Dudley Street, Memphis TN 38104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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

Photographed by Ken Smith, March 28, 2009

3. Confederate Soldiers Rest Marker

Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain Kit Dalton (a few steps from this marker); No Man's Land Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Phillips Cottage (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elmwood Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Marion Scudder Griffin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Robert R. Church (approx. ¼ mile away); LeMoyne-Owen College (approx. half a mile away); LeMoyne Owen College (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed by Ken Smith, March 28, 2009

4. Confederate Soldiers Rest Marker

Back corner of cemetery where Interstate cross over the train tracks.

Confederate Soldiers Rest "Confederate Monument" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Smith, March 28, 2009

5. Confederate Soldiers Rest "Confederate Monument"

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,070 times since then and 148 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 14, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.