Tinbridge Hill in Lynchburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Confederate Section
Old City Cemetery
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
1. The Confederate Section Marker
Inscription.
The Confederate Section. Old City Cemetery. In this area are buried over 2200 Confederate soldiers from fourteen states, most of whom died in Lynchburg’s numerous military hospitals during the Civil War. From the first burial on May 19, 1861, until the last on September 19, 1868, undertaker George A. Diuguid handled over 2700 individuals, always keeping precise records, regardless of whether the body was sent home, sent to another local cemetery, or buried here., Included in the number were 187 Union prisoners who died in the hospitals and were buried alongside the Confederates. In 866 they were removed by government order to a federal cemetery near Norfolk, Virginia., At least eleven of the burials were in “Negro Row” , slaves who perhaps went to war with their masters, worked or died in the hospitals. Recent evidence indicates that several local citizens were also buried within the Confederate Section in unmarked graves, completely unrelated to the war effort., There were also 99 victims of smallpox who died in the Pest House, most of whom were buried in the large open area to the right of the main walkway. For some reason, seven of these victims were buried outside the Confederate Section over the western hillside of the cemetery. Still others “were buried”, but it is not known where., Immediately after the Civil War a group of ladies organized to see that the soldier’s graves were enclosed and that an annual “Decoration Day” was held in their memory. Know today as the Southern Memorial Association, the organization is responsible for the peaceful, orderly scene within the Confederate Section: the monuments, Speaker’s Belvedere, Veteran’s Bench, and most importantly, the individual markers indicating where each soldier is believed to be buried. Using the original Diuguid funeral records, this enormous task was begun in 1896 but not completed until 1915, 50 years after the Civil War ended. The efforts of these ladies over their long history insures the living memorial to all those buried here., Instructions for finding a soldier’s grave, Find the soldier’s state, name, section number and row from the lists on this kiosk. Refer to the diagram of the Confederate Section to locate the grave; but note that section, grave and row numbers are in regular sequence, thus each lot has its own order., Additional information may be found at Jones Memorial Library and in the book Behind the Old Brick Wall., (sidebar) , Yankee Square was the area originally designated for Union burials. Most of the Union prisoners were buried alongside the Confederates and Yankee Square was instead used for most of the smallpox victims., (caption) , Note the several position variants in: , . Grave numbers (top) , . Row numbers (left side)
In this area are buried over 2200 Confederate soldiers from fourteen states, most of whom died in Lynchburg’s numerous military hospitals during the Civil War. From the first burial on May 19, 1861, until the last on September 19, 1868, undertaker George A. Diuguid handled over 2700 individuals, always keeping precise records, regardless of whether the body was sent home, sent to another local cemetery, or buried here.
Included in the number were 187 Union prisoners who died in the hospitals and were buried alongside the Confederates. In 866 they were removed by government order to a federal cemetery near Norfolk, Virginia.
At least eleven of the burials were in “Negro Row” — slaves who perhaps went to war with their masters, worked or died in the hospitals. Recent evidence indicates that several local citizens were also buried within the Confederate Section in unmarked graves, completely unrelated to the war effort.
There were also 99 victims of smallpox who died in the Pest House, most of whom were buried in the large open area to the right of the main walkway. For some reason, seven of these victims were buried outside the Confederate Section over the western hillside of the cemetery. Still others “were buried”, but it is not known where.
Immediately after the
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Civil War a group of ladies organized to see that the soldier’s graves were enclosed and that an annual “Decoration Day” was held in their memory. Know today as the Southern Memorial Association, the organization is responsible for the peaceful, orderly scene within the Confederate Section: the monuments, Speaker’s Belvedere, Veteran’s Bench, and most importantly, the individual markers indicating where each soldier is believed to be buried. Using the original Diuguid funeral records, this enormous task was begun in 1896 but not completed until 1915, 50 years after the Civil War ended. The efforts of these ladies over their long history insures the living memorial to all those buried here.
Instructions for finding a soldier’s grave
Find the soldier’s state, name, section number and row from the lists on this kiosk. Refer to the diagram of the Confederate Section to locate the grave; but note that section, grave and row numbers are in regular sequence, thus each lot has its own order.
Additional information may be found at Jones Memorial Library and in the book Behind the Old Brick Wall.
(sidebar)
Yankee Square was the area originally designated for Union burials. Most of the Union prisoners were buried alongside the Confederates and Yankee Square was instead used for most of the smallpox victims.
(caption)
Note
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
2. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia
the several position variants in:
• Grave numbers (top)
• Row numbers (left side)
Location. 37° 24.929′ N, 79° 9.419′ W. Marker is in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is in Tinbridge Hill. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Taylor Street and 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg VA 24501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
5. North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virignia
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
6. Virginia, Unkown State, Buried in Negro Row, Union Prisoners
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
7. The Confederate Section Kiosk
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 26, 2014
8. The Confederate Section
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on August 31, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on May 28, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.