Quite some time ago, I recall reading, probably in Yankee magazine, that nearly every cemetery in New England, … then again, maybe that was in the Northeast, … has at least one Confederate soldier buried there. And, if memory serves me, I believe that most of these men had been prisoners of war but then at war’s end, they decided to settle in the area rather than return to their respective home states.
Now, every Memorial Day, when small representations our nations flag are placed alongside the headstones of those men and women who served in the military, an additional Confederate flag is placed alongside the headstone of Topsfield’s lone Confederate soldier!
The grave of William Buckner Taylor
Pine Grove Cemetery, Topsfield, Massachusetts
So, … why is that? In fact, why is his headstone specially marked with his Confederate service, that is, Company I, 9th Virginia Infantry?
Is this a “military” style headstone? Did he specifically request that his Confederate service be noted?
Well, I can tell you one thing, my curiosity has been aroused for several years now … it is just this year that I finally decided to do something about it. However, I’m not interested solely in William Buckner Taylor’s Confederate service. I’d like to know a little bit about the man! I mean, why did he choose to stay in this area? Did he leave family in Virginia or had they perished during the war? Did he have a family here and where are they buried? What kind of work did he do? What other kinds of interests did he have? And on and on …
Unfortunately, these questions cannot be answered quickly. Definitely not quickly enough for a blog entry. However, using the little bit of information from William Taylor’s headstone as well as a two hour “Google” search, here’s what I’ve got so far.
First, the obvious … William Buckner Taylor was born in 1844 which means that he would have been 17 years old when the Civil War began and 21 years of age when it ended. Taylor died in 1911 which means he would have been about 67 years of age.
I’m afraid that the biggest challenge thus far comes from the fact that the name of William Taylor (and even William Buckner Taylor) from Virginia, even those born in 1844, is VERY common! (But that fact can also make the search all the more fun!)
And now for some “background” information … there was a 9th Virginia Infantry Regiment and a 9th Virginia Infantry Battalion. If Taylor served in the 9th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Company I was at one time known as the “Craney Island Light Artillery” and he may then have seen “action” in places like the Second Manassas, Harper’s Ferry, Fredericksburg, and even Cemetery Hill in the battle of Gettysburg.
Sadly, Virginia saw the most battles during the Civil War … 123 to be exact (Civil War Battle Summaries by State). One can only speculate then that there wouldn’t have been much left of that beautiful countryside to return to, not to mention an economy in shambles. Certainly, some very compelling reasons not to return to one’s native state. In addition, like any war in any part of the world, human casualties are not limited to those in uniform. Many civilians perish as well from injury, hunger and disease. Was this the fate of William Buckner Taylor’s family?
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I must admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of American Civil War history. However, I have always loved biographies and/or personal histories, especially of those “invisible” individuals (aka, “non” celebrities or “the rest of us”). And, being able to place a person in a specific time period has alway given that “moment” in history greater significance or “substance” if you will. Well, at least, it does for me.
So, while this may be a limited beginning, I am pleased with the results thus far. Trust me, however, this is just the start!
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Note: For an update to this entry, please visit Past Entries Revisited
wow… I just found your blog and am loving it. I was searching around for some good seed info to feed my birds and stumbled upon your blog through google. I had put in “feeding new england birds.”
i will bookmark your site and return again! thanks!
linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks for visiting my blog! I checked yours out too, I’ll be returning to yours as well.
Be patient when attracting the birds, I’ve been doing this for more years than I care to admit here. Oh, and BTW, I spend waayyyy too many hours at the computer too!
But I LOVE it!
Great post. I’ve always felt an attraction to the civil war era myself. I’m reading a book “Confederates in the Attic” that you might find interesting.
[...] A blogger who by her own admission has “never been a huge fan of American Civil War history” nevertheless has devoted several hours of study (at least) to researching the lone Confederate buried in Topsfield, Massachusetts [...]
[...] July 17, 2008 by Janet Wilkins Whoa! I sure can tell by my blog stats that I haven’t been blogging for a while! I’ll give a brief explanation for my absence in a bit. But, hey, first things first! Let’s start with revisiting a couple of my past entries like the one I called A Confederate Soldier. [...]
That’s great investigative work, Linda.It’s intriguing to find out unusual pieces of information about the Civil War.From my reading, many Confederate soldiers left the army for the north to earn a living.
Common occurrences were Negroes joining the Federal army for protection and to escape slavery but what surprised me was that thousands joined the Confederate army because they were proud to fight for the South. In fact in 1865, Union General Ulysses Grant wanted Negroes to be taken prisoner before they joined up to fight for the Confederates.
Keep up the good work.
Well, thank you Robert, however, I wasn’t really aware that that many slaves had fought for the Confederacy or that Grant wanted to take them prisoner to prevent them from joining the Confederacy. I do know that as the Civil War became a reality and Lincoln (reluctantly) signed the Emancipation Proclamation, thousands of slaves would make their way north for protection AND to join Union forces to fight for their own freedom. According to a book titled “Sources of the African American Past” by Roy E. Finkenbine, ultimately 180,000 blacks served in the Union Army and another 30,000 blacks served in the Union navy. This number represents “one-tenth of all U.S. [Union] military personnel in the conflict. Thousands of other African Americans worked for the Union army as scouts, teamsters, nurses, cooks, and laborers, …” (p. 72)
On the other hand, during the Revolutionary War, many African Americans served on the British side because the British promised them freedom from slavery whereas the Colonists would not. And, after the British lost the war, those African Americans who had remained loyal to the British, were given their freedom as promised.
Janet (not Linda)
Well ah do declare. I think an apology is in order Janet ma’am. I saw Linda’s reply to your blog and I just thought that your name was Linda.
I will try to find out what I can about William Buckner Taylor when I get a spare moment. But in the meantime I will blog what I already know.
General Grant knew that throughout the Civil War, the Federal Army numbers were always greater than that of the Confederates. In the battle of Chancellorsville, the Federal Army under General Hooker was much larger than General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia but Stonewall Jackson’s surprise attack demoralized the Union army and they never recovered. Grant knew that through battles and gradually strangling the Confederate army’s supplies, they would eventually capitulate which they did at
Appomatox in April 1865. If the Confederate forces were reinforced by black recruits, the war would be drawn out. That is why he was concerned that the blacks did not join the Confederate army.
No apology was necessary, Robert. I do thank you for the information you have provided, that was quite interesting. As I mentioned in my entry, I’ve never been a huge fan of the American Civil War and, thus, haven’t studied the period well. I was a history major at Tufts University, but my concentration was in Asian studies. Although, I did take a fascinating course with Dr. Gerald Gill. Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly during the summer of 2007.
In regards to William Buckner Taylor, if you click on the link to my entry called “Past Entries Revisited,” you will see that a great deal is already known about Mr. Taylor. All was provided by Cynthia Buck-Thompson, a Civil War Living Historian.
However, any additional information is greatly appreciated. And, if or when you are able to provide additional information, know this, I insist on giving credit where credit is due!
That’s a lot of research on William Buckner Taylor by Cynthia Buck – Thompson.She shows a lot of dedication.
If Taylor was captured at Five Forks on April 1, 1865, then he was present in the last days of the siege of Petersburg. The events leading up to April 1, 1865 were:
On 29th of March, Confederate General Robert E Lee discovered that the Federal army under General Ulysses Grant was “about to make a decisive attack on the Confederate right, on the White-Oak Road and if that attack succeeded, Lee was lost.” …John Esten Cooke p233.
General Lee with 17,000 men proceeded to take position behind the works extending along the White-Oak Road, in the direction of Five Forks, an important position beyond his extreme right.General Grant commanded a force four times that of Lee so “it seemed scarcely possible that the Confederates could offer serious resistance.
On 31st of March, Lee made a furious onslaught on the Federal front near the Boydton Road. The force opposed to him was too great and he fell back to his works, and the fighting ceased, only to be renewed at Five Forks.
On the next day, 1st of April, a more determined struggle ensued for the possesion of Five Forks where Lee had stationed the remnants of the divisions of Pickett and Johnson. These made a brave resistance but were finally broken to pieces and scattered in confusion, the whole right of the Confederate line and the Southside Road falling into the hands of the enemy.
“6,000 prisoners , besides artillery and small arms in large quantities falling into our hands.”…..General Grant’s Memoirs p362.
William Buckner Taylor was most probably one of the 6,000 prisoners taken.
What i found most intriguing was General Lee’s calmness at the face of hopelessness on 2nd of April as described by Cooke p236…
“General Lee watched with attention, but with perfect composure, this
determined advance of the enemy; and, although he must have realized
that his army was on the verge of destruction, it was impossible to
discern in his features any evidences of emotion. He was in full
uniform, and had buckled on his dress-sword, which he seldom
wore–having, on this morning declared, it is said, that if he were
compelled to surrender he would do so in full harness. Of his calmness
at this trying moment the writer is able to bear his personal
testimony. Chancing to hear a question addressed to a member of his
staff, General Lee turned with great courtesy, raised his gray hat in
response to the writer’s salute, and gave him the desired information
in a voice entirely measured and composed. It was impossible to regard
a calmness so striking without strong sentiments of admiration, and
Lee’s appearance and bearing at this moment will always remain vividly
impressed upon the writer’s memory.”
Robert
Hi, if you go to the Civil War soldiers and sailors system database you’ll find a sergeant in company H named William B. Taylor from the 9th VA. infantry. I wonder if this was the same man? Great blog. Interesting story and gravestone in Topsfield, MA. Keep me posted.