Confederate soldiers are buried in cemeteries across Arkansas, but one of the largest concentrations I have seen is at Fairview Cemetery in Van Buren.
The burial ground is located on a rise just north of downtown Van Buren and was in use at the time of the war. Soldiers buried here include men killed or mortally wounded at the Battles of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, and Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Dripping Springs and Van Buren, Arkansas. Over 400 of the graves are of unknown soldiers.
The ridge along the northern edge of the cemetery was used as an artillery position by Union soldiers during the Battle of Van Buren on December 28, 1862. Rifled cannon placed here dueled with Confederate cannon firing on the town from across the Arkansas River.
Markers in the cemetery detail its history and a monument in its northeast corner pays tribute to the hundreds of Southern soldiers buried there. Other graves include a monument to one of the signers of the original Arkansas constitution and an unusual "mystery grave" that some claim was left behind by Hernando de Soto during the 1500s. It appears more likely, however, to date from the early days of the town's settlement as the form of the grave is similar to those found in other Southern graveyards from the same era.
To learn more about the Battle of Van Buren, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1. You can see additional photos of Fairview Cemetery in the "Online Tour" section.
3 comments:
Good evening,
It is good to see the information about Fairview Cemetery. I would like to add that not far from the gravesite of the Confederate grave markers are the headstones of 8 US Colored Troops, who are also buried at Fairview. There are other USCTs buried at Fairview and an historical group is working to place their markers as well. The USCT headstone project is mentioned on this page:
http://www.arkansasfreedmen.com/USCTCrawford.htm
Angela,
Thank you for the note. I was not aware of the USCT members buried at Fairview, but took a look at your website and you are doing great work in remembering them. I would suspect they were buried there and not at the national cemetery in Fort Smith because they died in the years after the war. By the way, there is also at least one USCT member buried at the cemetery in Dripping Springs.
Best,
Dale
Years ago, I was told that my ancestor, John Parker Bowman, a confederate, was buried in Fairview in Wm Stovall's plot. This is from his War record:
Bowman, John P. - Colonel, Co. A., Col. Bowman's Regiment, Missouri State Guard. (General Wightman's Brigade, Rains' Division (Price).
Battles: Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, and Pea Ridge. Buried in Van Buren, Arkansas.
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