Harry (aka Bull Runnings) sent me this image just yesterday. The shot is of a headstone in a cemetery in Beaver County, Pa., near the Pennsylvania/Ohio line.
Now, to some, looking at this headstone might evoke a response like, “Yes, so, it’s a Confederate soldier’s headstone. So?” Yet, it just isn’t that simple.
For one, note the metal G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic… indicating, of course, Union veterans) marker that was placed next to the headstone (it’s reversed here). O.K., so was he one of those who was a Confederate and then opted for the Union later? Hard to tell just looking, but sure, somebody might walk away with that as a possibility, but, I did some digging… and I can’t find evidence that he served in blue. Maybe someone else knows, and if so, please feel free to let me know.
O.k., but that isn’t it… as for the Confederate part of this whole thing… if all someone did to order this headstone was to send in a copy of this guy’s service record along with the application, I’m stunned… no, actually, I’m a little more bothered by this than “stunned.” You see, James Stinson Drake (of Henderson County, North Carolina?), as the stone suggests, did serve in Co. A, 25th N.C., but the nature of his service is quite shaky. There is, in fact, only one card in his service file and it states that he was “captured” as a “deserter” on 10/11/64. Another notation on the card shows that he was going NORTH to “Grant Co., IN.” There isn’t a record of the date of his enlistment or anything else… zip, nada, zilch. It seems to me that one of the criteria for ordering headstones (Union or Confederate) should be that the soldier served honorably… and that only makes sense as it is, after all, part of the eligibility criteria for ordering headstones for modern veterans… no headstone issued to those whose “character of service results in a bar to veterans benefits.” Well, with all of one record in this guy’s service record, and that record not speaking too kindly in terms of “honorable” service, it isn’t looking too favorable… yet, it’s clear, the headstone was approved and delivered. Somebody might say, “well, the VA should be more critical of the applications.” Well, quite honestly, I think accountability starts with the person making the application.
I’ll be candid… if this is all that was used to order this headstone 1) it’s an injustice to the man and the history behind the man in this grave, and 2) it’s a pathetic waste of Veterans Administration funds. Let’s see, how many mentions of abuse of the VA’s headstone program does this make in this blog regarding Civil War soldiers?
Again, if somebody knows the full scoop on this guy and it isn’t as bad as it looks, please let me know.
Michael C. Hardy
March 31, 2009
Cenantua:
Some thoughts…
Drake’s service records reads like this (taken from Vol. 8, NC Troop books):
Drake, James S.
Place and date of enlistment not reported. Wounded slightly at the battle of the Crater, near Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Captured by the enemy on an unknown date. Took the Oath of Allegiance at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, on or about October 12, 1864.
I whole-heartily agree with you assessment: Drake should not have a government tombstone. The stone also appears to be in poor shape, having sunk into the ground. And, as you well know, whatever descendant of Drake who placed the stone would not have even been able to join the SCV under Drake’s service record.
I do find the GAR markers interesting. I was in cemetery in Kentucky a few years ago, and all veterans, regardless of war (or side), had this same time of GAR marker. Also, the MacPherson Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Lt. Gen. Theophilis Holmes is buried, among other Confederates, all have GAR markers, with American flags flying year round.
So, it is just not well meaning Confederate descendants that get the whole concept of honor wrong.
cenantua
March 31, 2009
Thanks for commenting, Michael. I had hoped that you would knowing what you do about the area from which it appears he came. Quite honestly, I feel that it may not have been a descendant who ordered the headstone but someone who just realized the guy was a Confederate soldier… and didn’t pay attention to anything else that appeared in the service record.
I also find the GAR monument very interesting. The G.A.R. marker is overused as well, and placed on the graves of soldiers killed in the war. While it might be a tribute of respect, the fact is that any soldier killed in the war could have never been a member of the G.A.R. since it was formed after the war.
About the American flags flying over graves of Confederate soldiers… I know exactly what you are talking about. The local American Legion flags the flag of Confederate veterans every year with US flags and I think it is rather quirky to do that.
You are correct, a lot of people get the concept of honor a bit distorted.
cenantua
March 31, 2009
By the way, that info about him at the Crater. I wonder why doesn’t it show up in his service record on Footnote.com? Is it gleaned from a source other than the CSR?
Michael C. Hardy
March 31, 2009
I’m not sure where the information originally came from. It was added as an addenda in a later printing of Volume VII of the NC Troop books. No sources was given. Period newspaper? Hospital record? The Troop books are great resources, but not everything is right. Today I was talking with someone about John M. Teague of the 7th NCST. He died in Lynchburg on August 30, 1862, of disease. The next line in his entry states that he was on the Roll of Honor for gallantry at Sharpsburg on September 17. Yes, I know, we Southerners can do a lot with a little, but raising someone from the dead is not one of our many talents. There was another John Teague in the 7th NCST, probably the John Teague they were referring to.
cenantua
April 1, 2009
Aw, I should have know that is where the other info came from (the NC Troops books). Great series, but, as you point out, with flaws. I used it some when writing about the Danville Artillery. I had a few men listed in the roster who were North Carolinians. Thanks for the info, Michael. I love to get the “rest of the story” as much as possible when looking at each soldier.