3_rides

Several of the graves below are not listed on the US Gen Webs page. I don't know the story on the new stones. I wonder if the remains of these soldiers have recently been moved here and from where? A little investigation shed light on their outfits. More below. The three flags (for the flag challenged) in the commemorative marker are those of the State of Mississippi, The US, and the Battle Flag of the Confederacy.

The symbol at the top of the new headstones looks like that of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This is the sort of thing they do Very Proud. Their site is here. I will be asking them about the new stones at Stewart. The symbol may be one of the Confederacy's. I'm researhing that, also. I'll ask Fagan, again.

Company D was known as the Jeff Davis Sharpshooters (raised in Marion County, MS)
More on the 7th Mississippi Infantry below. John died early in the war, 1861. Where and how?

Company F was known as Marion�s Men (raised in Marion County, MS)

William survived the war. Evidently he had a previous stone here because the US Gen Web site mentions it. It read:
Come Ye Blessed" with open gates and a star in the center
W. C. Stewart 1 Nov 1844 14 Aug 1907
"His Many Virtues Form the Noblest Monument to his Memory"
Why the new stone? So many questions.

The Twenty First Louisiana was involved with the defence of Vicksburg which began in late 1862. One of the first battles of the seige was the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou. I will bet Hampton fell there. Some familiar names pop up on the Vicksburg NPS site. General Loring and Hebert are worth reading about. Check out the NPS site. Google those generals mentioned.

George's stone is metioned by the cemetery surveyor as "new looking". How were the others missed? Maybe they were not there yet. That survey was done in 1996.

Read about the 7th Mississippi Infantry

The Soldiers at Ole' Stewart

These old graveyards are a history detective's heaven. There are so many clues that can be followed on the internet that even I can find a few answers.
When you find soldiers' graves, the place becomes a shrine. These people sacrificed above life's usual callings. Knowing some of their stories is a rewarding experience.