Civil War Gravesites Along the Natchez Trace
©Bert Gildart: It’s mid-April and as we continue our travels along the Natchez Trace we are overwhelmed by the splashes of dogwood now blooming. It’s everywhere, and the continuous glow of white makes driving a genuine pleasure rather than a chore. The 50-mile per hour speed zone posted along the entire Trace adds to the relaxed pace of travel, for most seem to obey the mandate.
Dogwoods backdrop Airstream along Natchez Trace
The many pullovers also facilitate driving ease and all are worth a stop. Consider the stop at Mile 268, created to commemorate 13 Confederate soldiers who mysteriously died along the Trace. How did they die? asks a sign posted by the Park Service along a portion of the Old Trace located near the first of the markers commemorating the unknown soldiers. Then, they sign provides thoughts about the mystery that will probably always remain a mystery.
Were they some of the wounded from Shiloh, who retreated here in 1862? Did they serve under the daring Nathan Forest who passed this way in 1864? Or where they guarding the headquarters at Tupelo of J.B. Hoods Army of Tennessee near the end of the Civil War?
A MYSTERY FOREVER?
We may never know continues the sign, adding that the 13 men might have died from any number of complications. The information panel continues on a note that is almost equally as sad. The original markers may have borne names, but they disappeared long ago. In 1940, Senator Theodore Bilbo arranged for marble headstones, but they were stolen. The National Park Service erected the headstones now in place.
The Natchez Trace harbors many mysteries and one is the demise of the 13 Confederates buried along the Trace
Though the dogwood certainly added poignancy to our drive, it was our stop at the markers that set the tone of our conversation for much of the day’s remainder. Foremost in our mind was the question of why here, so far from Shiloh and Tupelo. These men were wounded and we wondered how all 13 came to lie in this particular spot. Could they have been abandoned? Could they have been murdered by Union soldiers as a form of retribution?
We had many questions, but were pleased to see that imitation flowers have been placed at each grave marker, a commemoration that has been implemented since we stopped here about 10 years ago. We hope the practice continues.
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THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO:
*Alaska’s Denali National Park
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
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