Page News & Courier
Heritage and Heraldry
A sad tale of two Civil War soldiers, Part 2
Article of May 18, 2000
On June 5, 1931, Mr. Coffman provided his knowledge of the two silent graves in the Graves' Chapel cemetery:
"Now as I recall it, it was in March 1864, . . . I was informed that it was a North Carolina regiment came from east of the Blue Ridge crossing at Milam's Gap and rested over night . . .I think there had been a light snow which had melted, causing a small stream to flow, in which a dead man's feet were seen. This man of medium build and a blond was Sergeant Whistlberry, who evidently went to sleep on his leafy bed without complaining of any ills but died about 3 a.m. When it was reported that there was a dead man in the woods, my aged mother and I went to see him. I think this was about 10 a.m. the regiment had moved on, but two of his cousins had been detailed to give the body proper burial, and it was from them that I got my information. This was the one that is buried in the extreme Southeast corner of the cemetery, under the shade of a large red oak tree, that was the corner of the burial lot. The late Samuel M. Larkins made his coffin of poplar wood, stained red. Then with a jack plane the edges were taken off to create a finish. I think he was buried as well, or possibly a little better than most of the soldier dead. I think Mr. Larkin was allowed $5 for his work."
After a search of the Confederate military records, there has been no luck in identifying a Sergeant Whistleberry. However, the 1898 article may have provided enough details to identify the North Carolinian as Private Whortle Berry of the 1st Cherokee Regiment from North Carolina.
In speaking of the second Carolinian, Coffman wrote:
" . . . his name was Wm. F. Bruner. He was buried beside the first man and in the same manner, and also by Mr. Larkins. Bruner belonged to a Cavalry regiment . . . Graves' Chapel was used as a hospital . . . Bruner was of a dark complexion with jet black beard. I also saw him buried. He died in the church "hospital", on two of the short benches, used in the so-called amen corner, put together they made a very good bed."
After a review of the South Carolina records several months ago, I was able to positively identify Bruner. Having enlisted for the war on May 26, 1862 at Secessionville, S.C., Bruner served as a private in Co. D, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry ("Wassamassaw Cavalry") and was present on all rosters through November 1862. His record ends abruptly leaving no mention of death. However, unit records do positively show that the regiment made a trek from Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan River to New Market in March 1863. While there remains a question as to whether Coffman's recollections were precise to the year, there is no doubt that Bruner's company passed through the Page Valley.
Now, nearly 69 years since the last article about the silent graves, efforts are being made to obtain headstones from the Veterans Administration to finally give the men a proper monument. Not only will the headstones remember the soldiers, but they will also be acknowledged on the Civil War Trails marker that will be dedicated at the Graves' Chapel in November. It only took 134 years.
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