Starting the year off with a cemetery trip
Richmond, VA
Who knows why I chose this particular destination today. For whatever reason it popped in my head as the perfect spot to start this year of photo trips. A trip back has been on my mind of over a year now, since my weekend visit in October 2007. There’s so much to it and so much to be found. I could probably stay for hours, or make multiple trips and not to come close to exploring the whole thing.
The rural garden cemetery, established in the late 1840′s, has a little of everything. It authors, statesmen, veterans from various wars and successful business are mixed up with the everyday Virginian. The cemetery even holds one of the country’s founding fathers, John Randolph.
At the entrance is a simple map etched into a piece of granite pointing the way to numerous notable residents, and I tried to make a sketch, but it didn’t really help. Oh well, I found enough interesting pieces within the ground for one trip.
United States Presidents
John Tyler and James Monroe
Monroe and family
Two United States Presidents rest in the cemetery, Virginians John Tyler and James Monroe. Tyler, the country’s 10th President, was the first for a couple of things. One, he was the first Vice-President to succeed to the Presidency after William Harrison died a month after his inauguration. He actually set the precedent for such situations, leading to the Twenty-fifth Amendment. Two, he was also the first to have impeachment charges brought against him by Congress for use of his veto power too often for the likes of his party. On a more positive note, to some extent, during his term, Texas, amidst controversy, and Florida were added to the Union.
Our fifth President, Monroe, whose grave is marked by an impressive 12-foot iron ‘bird-cage,’ was much more well liked. His term is actually considered the “Era of Good Feelings.” His most notable contributions were the Monroe Doctrine and Missouri Compromise. The doctrine, an important piece of early foreign policy and one that has remained relatively unchanged, simply put, declared any attempt of Eastern countries to meddle with the colonies and/or territory in the Western Hemisphere would be considered an attack on the US and dealt with as such. The Missouri Compromise brought the former Louisiana Territory into the Union, under the compromise that it would be non-slave states, except for Missouri.
Confederates
As one might expect in the middle of the Confederate Capital, the Civil War and particularly the Confederacy are well represented within the cemetery walls. Over 18,000 Rebels, including the ordinary enlisted men, middle-ranking officers, and well-known generals, are resting here.
Confederate Memorial Pyramid
A huge granite pyramid, built of slabs dredged from the nearby James River, sits among most of the Confederate soldiers, honoring those now resting nearby, both known and unknown. The monument was built by the Hollywood Memorial Association, a branch of the Daughters of the Confederacy.
Confederate Soldiers
J.N. Wheat
Around 18,000 enlisted men are buried in the northwest corner of the cemetery. They were gathered from nearby battlefields, including those of Seven Pines, Malvin Hill, Gaines Mill and Cold Harbor. The cemetery’s Register of Confederate Soldiers buried in the cemetery, after some were lost in a fire, now includes over 10,000 individuals, including J. Wheat, a Civil War vet who fought with the 6th Virginia Cavalry Regiment.
~Gettysburg Casualties~
Pvt. Jefferson Jessee
In addition to local veterans and casualties, about 2,000 Confederate soldiers were exhumed from the Gettysburg Battlefield and interred into what is called “Gettysburg Hill” among their brethren. As many of the exact location of the burial sites for the known interments are unknown, so their gravestones are arranged together near the top of the hill side. Among those brought home from Pennsylvania was the 37th Virginia Infantry, Company E Color Bearer, Jefferson Jessee, who was killed carrying his flag in a charge on Culp’s Hill. A marker also sits amid the white government issued headstones denoting the area as the ‘probable resting place’ for BG Richard Garnett, killed leading his Virginia Brigade during Pickett’s Charge on the final day of the battle.
Confederate Leaders
Confederate MG J.E.B. Stuart and his wife
Confederate Lt. Edwin and BG William Starke, Virginia officers
Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his daughter, Winnie
There are a significant number of Confederate officers, including around 25 generals of various notoriety, scattered throughout the entire cemetery. J.E.B. Stuart, the famous Confederate cavalry general who circled John McCellan’s Union Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula Campaign and considered Robert E. Lee’s ‘eyes and ears’ throughout the war, is buried with his wife near the middle of the grounds. The West Point grad was killed near the end of the war during the Battle of Yellow Tavern. William Starke and his son, Edwin, both war casualties are buried relatively near the Confederate enlisted. After marching his Louisiana Brigade north from Harpers Ferry with Stonewall Jackson, the eldest Starke was killed during the Battle of Antietam while leading a division, which he inherited during the fighting, in the West Woods. He was one of six generals, three being Confederate, killed during the battle. The younger Stake, a Confederate officer, was killed in action during the Battle of Seven Pines.
The one and only President of the Confederacy is also buried in the Southeast portion of the cemetery. Jefferson Davis, a West Point grad, Mex-American War vet, former US Senator and House Representative from Mississippi, and President Franklin Pierce’s Secretary of War, served as head of the Confederate Government throughout the war. He’s buried with his wife, with his young son, two daughters, and son-in-law nearby.
Misc
Richmond skyline, view from cemetery
James River, view from cemetery
The cemetery is quite amazing. It’s definitely worth a visit. The green rolling hills winding along the James River are covered with exquisite tombstones. Some of the tombs have masterful works of stainglass and there are beautiful pieces of iron works of art spread throughout the grounds as well. It’s full of history and intrigue. There are a couple of urban legends attached to the cemetery as well, including that of the Richmond Werewolf. I’m sure I’ll head back for another trip at some point, as I still have yet to meander around the entire place.
Today’s Flickr set: cemetery photos
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