Shepherdstown in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery / Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas

Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, September 27, 2008

1. Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery Marker

Inscription.

Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery, also, Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas. . Side A Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery. Over 114 Confederate soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) September 17, 1862, or later died of wounds in Shepherdstown, were buried here. They were from the states of VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, LA and FL. Many remain unknown. That year and each one thereafter, local townspeople strew flowers on their graves. It is believed that this was the initiation of Confederate Decoration Day (October, 1862). Later, Confederate Memorial Day was observed on the first Saturday in June. The Southern Soldiers' Memorial Association placed the obelisk monument here in 1879 and the 114 headstones in 1884. The Henry Kyd Douglas Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans erected the monument and bronze tablets containing names of 568 Southern soldiers from the area (1937). The State of WV contributed $750., A total of 281 Confederate veterans are interred here including GEN W. W. Kirkland of Hillsborough, N.C., and Shepherdstown personalities COL Henry Kyd Douglas (youngest staff officer to Stonewall Jackson).Alexander R. Boteler (both a United States and Confederate Congressman, political confidant of GEN Jackson and designer of the Seal of the Confederacy), COL Isaac S. Tanner (Chief Surgeon, Hoke's Division), COL Isaac V. Johnson, COL Wm. A. Morgan, COL Wm. Fitzhugh Lee, widow Lily Lee, and JEB Stuart's scouts; CPT Redman Burke, CPT Matthew Leopold and LT Henry Hagen., Side B Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas Staff Officer to Stonewall Jackson. At the top of the hill in Elmwood Cemetery is the grave of COL Douglas, youngest staff officer to GEN Stonewall Jackson. Born in Shepherdstown in 1838 and raised at 'Ferry Hill Place' in Maryland across the Potomac River bridge, he is noted for his classic book, I Rode with Stonewall. Considered one of the best personal memoirs of the Civil War, it is a warm and insightful recollection of the human side of Lee's commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. Douglas was an eyewitness to the significant events of the era (1859-1865). As a youth he unwittingly assisted John Brown in moving a wagonload of weapons and later attended Brown's trial in Charles Town. When Virginia seceded, he enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Infantry and later joined Jackson's staff., He participated in all the major Eastern battles from Manassas to Appomattox, was cited several times for bravery, wounded twice and taken prisoner at Gettysburg. in 1864, he served in GEN Jubal Early's staff in the Raid on Washington and was later given command of GEN A.P. Hill's light Brigade. His soldiers were the last to stack arms at Appomattox. When the war ended, he was arrested for posing for a photo in uniform and imprisoned in Washington D.C. There he testified at the trial of the Lincoln Conspirators. In later years he practiced law and served as a circuit judge in Maryland. He died in 1903. His book was published in 1940.

Side A
Confederate Soldiers in Elmwood Cemetery
Over 114 Confederate soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) September 17, 1862, or later died of wounds in Shepherdstown, were buried here. They were from the states of VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, LA and FL. Many remain unknown. That year and each one thereafter, local townspeople strew flowers on their graves. It is believed that this was the initiation of Confederate Decoration Day (October, 1862). Later, Confederate Memorial Day was observed on the first Saturday in June. The Southern Soldiers' Memorial Association placed the obelisk monument here in 1879 and the 114 headstones in 1884. The Henry Kyd Douglas Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans erected the monument and bronze tablets containing names of 568 Southern soldiers from the area (1937). The State of WV contributed $750.

A total of 281 Confederate veterans are interred here including GEN W. W. Kirkland of Hillsborough, N.C., and Shepherdstown personalities COL Henry Kyd Douglas (youngest staff officer to Stonewall Jackson).Alexander R. Boteler (both a United States and Confederate Congressman, political confidant of GEN Jackson and designer of the Seal of the Confederacy), COL Isaac S. Tanner (Chief Surgeon, Hoke's Division), COL Isaac V. Johnson, COL

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Wm. A. Morgan, COL Wm. Fitzhugh Lee, widow Lily Lee, and JEB Stuart's scouts; CPT Redman Burke, CPT Matthew Leopold and LT Henry Hagen.

Side B
Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas
Staff Officer to Stonewall Jackson
At the top of the hill in Elmwood Cemetery is the grave of COL Douglas, youngest staff officer to GEN Stonewall Jackson. Born in Shepherdstown in 1838 and raised at 'Ferry Hill Place' in Maryland across the Potomac River bridge, he is noted for his classic book, I Rode with Stonewall. Considered one of the best personal memoirs of the Civil War, it is a warm and insightful recollection of the human side of Lee's commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia. Douglas was an eyewitness to the significant events of the era (1859-1865). As a youth he unwittingly assisted John Brown in moving a wagonload of weapons and later attended Brown's trial in Charles Town. When Virginia seceded, he enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Infantry and later joined Jackson's staff.

He participated in all the major Eastern battles from Manassas to Appomattox, was cited several times for bravery, wounded twice and taken prisoner at Gettysburg. in 1864, he served in GEN Jubal Early's staff in the Raid on Washington and was later given command of GEN A.P. Hill's light Brigade. His soldiers were the last to stack arms at Appomattox. When the war ended,

Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, September 27, 2008

2. Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas Marker

he was arrested for posing for a photo in uniform and imprisoned in Washington D.C. There he testified at the trial of the Lincoln Conspirators. In later years he practiced law and served as a circuit judge in Maryland. He died in 1903. His book was published in 1940.

Erected by Grover Connell with Robert Mrazek and Thomas Low.

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 Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1859.

Location. 39° 25.701′ N, 77° 48.727′ W. Marker is in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker is on S. Duke Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is at Elmwood Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shepherdstown WV 25443, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Confederate Dead (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmwood Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial To Confederate Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Spirit of 1775 (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Confederate Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmwood Cemetery Vault

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 12, 2011

3. Colonel Henry Kyd Douglas Marker

(about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Reformed Church Parsonage (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shepherdstown.

Grave of Henry Kyd Douglas image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, September 27, 2008

4. Grave of Henry Kyd Douglas

CSA
1838 - 1903
Staff Officer
of
Stonewall Jackson

Obelisk and 114 Confederate grave stones. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, September 27, 2008

5. Obelisk and 114 Confederate grave stones.

Memorial to Confederate Soldiers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, September 27, 2008

6. Memorial to Confederate Soldiers

Five bronze plaques contain the names of Confederate Soldiers from the area.

Grave of Confederate General William Whedbee Kirkland image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2020

7. Grave of Confederate General William Whedbee Kirkland

The only Civil War general buried in Elmwood Cemetery, he was wounded three times during the War between his service from First Manassas until the Confederate surrender after the Battle of Bentonville, NC. Marriage brought him to Shepherdstown after the War.

Grave of Captain William Fitzhugh Lee image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 20, 2020

8. Grave of Captain William Fitzhugh Lee

A cousin of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, he served with J.E.B. Stuart prior to the War and they remained close friends until his death. Lee was mortally wounded at the Battle of First Manassas.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2008. This page has been viewed 5,131 times since then and 76 times this year. Last updated on July 31, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on April 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 4, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 7, 8. submitted on March 15, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.