Ehrhardt in Bamberg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Our Confederate Dead

Rivers Bridge State Park

Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 2009

1. Our Confederate Dead Marker

Inscription. Most of the Confederates killed here were Georgians, and most were unknown when they were reburied. But the local community remembered them as " our Confederate dead, " the fallen heroes of a common cause. The monument placed over their mass grave in 1878 resembled a large tombstone, reflecting the grief of a region coming to terms with death and defeat. It became the focal point for remembering the dead and vindicating their cause at the annual memorial services.
" In no other war in all the history of mankind has the glory of vanquished equalled in enduring fame the acclaim won by the victor."
-Dr. James C. Kinard, Rivers Bridge Confederate Memorial Service, May 9, 1941

Erected by South Carolina State Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 9, 1865.

Location. 33° 3.728′ N, 81° 5.319′ W. Marker is in Ehrhardt, South Carolina, in Bamberg County. Marker can be reached from Rivers Bridge State Park near SC-S-5-8. At Memorial Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ehrhardt SC 29081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rivers Bridge Confederate Dead (a few steps from this marker); A Tradition of Remembering, A Legacy of Preservation

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Four County WW II Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Colleton County Confederate Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); Rivers Bridge State Historic Site (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bamberg County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle Of Rivers’ Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battle of Rivers' Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ehrhardt.

Regarding Our Confederate Dead. A photo of the memorial on the marker is captioned: The memorial service at Rivers Bridge ends as it has in years past, with flowers decorating the mass grave.

"And then the gentle bands of fair woman placed pure flowers upon the graves of the gallant boys in gray."
- The Barnwell People, May 1, 1884
Background photo courtesy of The Post and Courier

Our Confederate Dead Photo of Mass Grave Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By South Carolina Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

2. Our Confederate Dead Photo of Mass Grave Marker

Our Confederate Dead Memorial Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 2009

3. Our Confederate Dead Memorial Cemetery

Our Confederate Dead image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2009

4. Our Confederate Dead

In Memory
of our
Confederate Dead
who fell in battle at
River's Bridges
Feb. 4, 1865.

Our Confederate Dead 10 headstones image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2009

5. Our Confederate Dead 10 headstones

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,746 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 26, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.