Factors for Identifying the Dead
In the Civil War, an unknown soldier burial was the rule, not just an exception. Having a headstone with a name took many factors into account before arriving at a successful conclusion. Ultimately, the only way to identify the deceased was to have someone from the soldier’s own regiment provide the name and then bury the body in a separate grave. But the odds of this happening were very slim. Just think for a moment all of the circumstances that could occur before this would happen.
Analyzing the data for the 2313 unknown graves from the Civil War in Stones River National Cemetery, a general breakdown can be made as to the locations where the unknowns were located originally. For our analysis, we can break them down to five main groups.
Another large number of unknowns were recovered from the area south of Franklin along the railroad to Athens, AL. Of the 832 originally buried near Athens, Columbia, TN, Pulaski, Spring Hill and Thompson Station, 506 were unknowns. This represents about 61% of the burials. These remains were moved initially to Rose Hill Cemetery and then moved to Stones River National Cemetery.
Section I in the National Cemetery are the deceased from the Franklin, TN area. The Franklin Section can be divided into two distinct parts. There are 101 identified soldiers, all with dates of death prior to November 30, 1864. These probably died of disease or wounds from skirmishes. Of the remaining 392 burials, all from the period of the Battle of Franklin, 374 were unknowns. Over 95% of the Franklin battle deaths are buried in unknown graves.
Another large contingent of burials came from Murfreesboro locations. Although some died of wounds while in Murfreesboro, most probably died of disease. Of the 1890 Murfreesboro burials, only 298 were unknown graves or about 18%.
Taking these four large groups of burials into account, that leaves 332 unknown burials. These could be from the other groups because some of the burial records had no information about the soldier and date of death. These unknowns from other locations represent about 35% of the remaining Civil War graves.
- Thomas Zei
- Photo credit Karen Havill Bingham
In the Civil War, an unknown soldier burial was the rule, not just an exception. Having a headstone with a name took many factors into account before arriving at a successful conclusion. Ultimately, the only way to identify the deceased was to have someone from the soldier’s own regiment provide the name and then bury the body in a separate grave. But the odds of this happening were very slim. Just think for a moment all of the circumstances that could occur before this would happen.
- The body had to be identifiable. Cannon shells were not kind to the soldiers.
- If in a hospital, the medical staff had to know the name of who they were treating.
- If during battle, the deceased or mortally wounded soldier was carried back to a temporary field hospital. Whenever possible, troops would heroically retrieve bodies of senior officers from the battlefield which was a common reason for earning The Medal of Honor in the Civil War.
- The body could not by buried by the enemy or the local residents, especially in a mass grave.
- The body at the end of the day was not behind enemy lines.
- Your troops had to win the battle or not abandon the field.
- If your fellow troops did win the battle, they didn’t continue to advance after the enemy’s retreat. This would give the troops the opportunity to retrace their steps to find the wounded and deceased.
- The bodies were in weather conditions that would preserve the remains. It may be days or weeks before soldiers retraced their steps.
- The bodies were not desecrated by animals.
- If the deceased soldiers were buried in a trench, someone documented the exact order of the bodies with their names.
- Maps of graves with names with precise locations were documented.
- Grave maps were properly preserved and provided to the new cemetery superintendents.
- National Cemetery workers were able to find the graves.
Analyzing the data for the 2313 unknown graves from the Civil War in Stones River National Cemetery, a general breakdown can be made as to the locations where the unknowns were located originally. For our analysis, we can break them down to five main groups.
- The battlefield of Stones River
- The reburials from Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, TN (excluding those from Franklin, TN)
- Franklin, TN
- Murfreesboro, TN
- All other locations
Another large number of unknowns were recovered from the area south of Franklin along the railroad to Athens, AL. Of the 832 originally buried near Athens, Columbia, TN, Pulaski, Spring Hill and Thompson Station, 506 were unknowns. This represents about 61% of the burials. These remains were moved initially to Rose Hill Cemetery and then moved to Stones River National Cemetery.
Section I in the National Cemetery are the deceased from the Franklin, TN area. The Franklin Section can be divided into two distinct parts. There are 101 identified soldiers, all with dates of death prior to November 30, 1864. These probably died of disease or wounds from skirmishes. Of the remaining 392 burials, all from the period of the Battle of Franklin, 374 were unknowns. Over 95% of the Franklin battle deaths are buried in unknown graves.
Another large contingent of burials came from Murfreesboro locations. Although some died of wounds while in Murfreesboro, most probably died of disease. Of the 1890 Murfreesboro burials, only 298 were unknown graves or about 18%.
Taking these four large groups of burials into account, that leaves 332 unknown burials. These could be from the other groups because some of the burial records had no information about the soldier and date of death. These unknowns from other locations represent about 35% of the remaining Civil War graves.
- Thomas Zei
- Photo credit Karen Havill Bingham