Our expert Amy Johnson Crow talks about honoring the military members in your family tree by doing a little bit of digging into military burials and headstones.

1. DNA
Honoring the Dead: Military Burials
by Amy Johnson Crow

2. Background: National Cemeteries
• The first national cemeteries were created in the summer
of 1861
• It was common for soldiers to be buried near the
battlefield, then later re-buried in a national cemetery
2

3. Example: Stones River National Cemetery
• Created in 1864
• In 1865 and 1866, the 111th U.S. Colored Troops
disinterred bodies at Stones River, Murfreesboro,
Franklin, Shelbyville, Tullahoma, and Cowan and re-
interred them at Stones River National Cemetery
3

4. Large Number of Unknowns
• Due to battlefield conditions,
many soldiers were never
identified; others lost their
identities due to poor record-
keeping.
• Approximately ½ of Union
soldiers buried in national
cemeteries are unidentified.
4

5. Government-Issued Headstones
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6. Government-Issued Tombstones
• 1861 – Federal government begins to mark the graves
of those who died in service. Original markers were
wooden boards.
• 1873 – Federal government begins issuing marble
tombstones.
6

7. Government-Issued Tombstones
• Earliest government-
issued tombstones
were for Union soldiers.
• Rounded top
• Inscribed shield; letters
in relief
• Listed:
– Name
– State
– Grave number
7
Stones River National Cemetery,
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

8. Replacement Tombstones Are a Bit Different
• The shield is only
outlined.
• Letters are inscribed, not
in relief.
• Includes regiment and
date of death.
8
Knoxville National Cemetery,
Knoxville, Tennessee

9. Confederate Tombstones
• Pointed top
• “C.S.A.” regiment
(Confederate States of
America)
9
Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery,
Columbus, Ohio

10. Spanish-American War
• Has the same inscribed
shield as for Union
veterans
• Adds “Sp. Am. War”
– Note: sometimes that
phrase is missing.
10
Maple Grove Cemetery,
Delaware County, Ohio

11. World War I and Later
• Name
• Rank
• State
• Division
• Date of Death
– Sometimes date of birth
• Emblem of Religious
Belief
11
Maple Grove Cemetery, Georgetown,
Scott County, Kentucky

12. Pre-Civil War Veterans
• Depending on when it
was placed, it is styled
either like a Civil
War/Spanish-American
War stone (with a shield)
or like a WWI and later
stone
• The marker for this War
of 1812 veteran is styled
like a modern tombstone
12
Loudonville Cemetery, Ashland
County, Ohio

13. Modern Tombstones
• Same general style since
WWI
• Modern ones have more
choices for the religious
beliefs emblem
• Can have a personalized
message
13
Ohio Western Reserve National
Cemetery, Seville, Medina County, Ohio

14. “In Memory Of”
• The Veterans
Administration uses
“In Memory Of” on
tombstones when the
body was:
– Not buried at this
location
– Not recovered
– Buried at sea
– Donated to science
– Cremated, ashes
scattered
14
Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana

15. Clues From Non-Government Tombstones
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16. Clues About Service
• Tombstones
sometime spell out
the service.
• This one notes that
Thomas Griffith was
in the 310th
Squadron of the 9th
Army Air Force.
16
Union Grove Cemetery, Canal Winchester,
Franklin County, Ohio

17. Clues for Service
• Sometimes the
service is implied
• Note the death on
this stone: “Died at
Memphis, Tenn., Oct.
16, 1862”
• Question: Why would
a young man buried
in Fort Wayne,
Indiana have died in
Memphis, Tennessee
in 1862?
17
Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne,
Allen County, Indiana

18. Look for Military Symbols
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Crossed swords & tassels
Flags, shield, rifles & cannon

19. Be Cautious About Anchors
• Anchors often used as
a symbol of hope
• Should not be taken as
a sign of naval service
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20. Military Organizations Shown on Tombstones
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Grand Army of the Republic
(Union veterans)
American Legion

21. Be Careful With Flag Holders and Metal Markers
• They can be a good
clue, but they are
also movable.
• Sometimes end up
in front of the
wrong grave.
21
Southern Cross of Honor