CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS REST

HISTORIC ELMWOOD CEMETERY

Confederate Soldiers Rest is located in the Fowler Section of Historic Elmwood Cemetery. It is the final resting place for over 1000 Confederate soldiers and veterans. Many others Confederate soldiers and veterans are buried in other sections of Historic Elmwood Cemetery. Confederates of Elmwood is a book by John W. Cothern on Confederates soldiers and veterans buried at Historic Elmwood Cemetery.

Per an article in the June 27, 1861, the Memphis Daily Appeal, page 1, regarding the Southern Mothers' Society, Historic Elmwood Cemetery donated a lot for the Confederate dead. Per an article under Local Matters in the September 25, 1861, the Memphis Daily Appeal, page 3:

"Elmwood Cemetery. This Company, at the commencement of the war, very liberally donated and set apart a lot of ground for the purpose of burying, free of charge, all soldiers who may die honorably in defense of our liberties. We learn from Captain Lenow, the President of the Company, that he has enlarged the ground by changing one of the drives, which is a great improvement to it, and it is now ample for the purpose. In the center of the lot is a circle of twelve feet in diameter, for the erection of a monument, which our patriotic citizens will no doubt raise to the memory of the brave soldiers who have fallen in defense of our country. The grounds at Elmwood are continually receiving substantial improvements, and they are beautified and adorned in so handsome a manner that it reflects credit upon the taste and untiring industry of the President of the Company, who devotes so much time and attention to it."

The first burial in Confederate Soldiers Rest was William (Thomas) Gallagher in Lot 159, Fowler Section, Grave 20 on June 17, 1861. This became Grave 20, Division 1 of Confederate Soldiers Rest. The last burial was John Frank Gunter on April 1, 1940. There is one female buried in Confederate Soldiers Rest, Mary Boddie, who was an unmarried school teacher. Also, an eight year old, Charles G. Alford, is buried with his father, J. L. Alford.

As reported in an article in the June 6, 1878, Memphis Daily Appeal, page 4, the Monument in Confederate Soldiers Rest was unveiled on June 5, 1878. Some four to five thousand people were present. Efforts to erect the monument was initially started by the Ladies Confederate Memorial Association. A committee was appointed April 26, 1866 following the first decoration of graves of Confederate soldiers at Elmwood Cemetery for the purpose of soliciting contributions for the erecting of a monument to the memory of the Confederate dead of Memphis. It was completed by the Confederate Relief and Historical Association, later known as Confederate Historical Association. The total cost was $5,000.00. On the front of the monument are cut, in raised, polished letters, the words "Confederate Dead." On the back of the monument is the following inscription: "Illis Victoriam Non Immortatitatem Fata Negaverunt" (The Fates Which Refused Them Victory Did Not Deny Them Immortality).

Per an article in the March 14, 1886, the Memphis Daily Appeal, page 2, the Confederate Historical Association collected funds to improve the Confederate lot at Historic Elmwood Cemetery. This included a substantial curbing , 7 x 9 inches and 710 feet long on a brick foundation around the lot, and 945 headstones placed at the head of the graves. Other improvement were contemplated, including a walk five feet square with curbing and ornamental posts around the monument and two brass guns at the entrance.

Historic Elmwood Cemetery was founded in 1852 and is the oldest active cemetery in Memphis. There are over 70,000 burials in Historic Elmwood Cemetery. It is the burial place of mayors of Memphis and South Memphis, Tennessee governors, including Isham G. Harris who headed the state government when the War between the States broke out in 1861, United States senators, War generals and many others historic figures and public officials.

There are twenty-four Confederate generals buried at Historic Elmwood Cemetery who were either officially appointed to general rank or referred to as "General." This includes Nathan Bedford Forrest who died in 1877 and was first interred at Historic Elmwood Cemetery but was moved to Forrest Park in 1904. Also, there are two Union generals, William Jay Smith and Milton T. Williamson, buried at Historic Elmwood Cemetery. Union soldiers had also been buried at Historic Elmwood Cemetery, however, in 1868 were removed and re-interred in the Memphis National Cemetery, which was originally known as the Mississippi River National Cemetery (established 1867).

Historic Elmwood Cemetery is located in Memphis, Tennessee on Dudley Street south of E. H. Crump Avenue.