WILLIAMSBURG — Skeletal remains found earlier this year in a cluster of graves in the city’s historic area have been identified as Confederate soldiers, but when and where they will be reburied is an open question, Colonial Williamsburg archaeology staff members said Wednesday.
Jack Gary, the foundation’s director of archaeology who has been leading the recovery project said, “I’m really happy we’re able to work toward identifying these guys (and) then provide some level to dignity” in their reburial.
A group of stakeholders, including the Williamsburg Battlefield Association, Civil War Trails and the Office of U.S. Army cemeteries, will determine the appropriate reburial location, probably in or around Williamsburg, Gary added.
Thus far, research has narrowed the identification of the four remains to to 21 or 22 individuals “that likely died during the period when the (Union-operated) hospital” was caring for the Confederate dead and dying after the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. The temporary hospital was next door to where the burial site was discovered adjacent to the Powder Magazine off Duke of Gloucester Street.
At a news conference, Gary said one soldier “had a wound that was likely the cause of death.
“A minié-style ball was lodged in his spine at the thoracic vertebra,” said staff archaeologist Ashley McCuistion. “This was found as the bones were removed.” This person was found in a burial pit by himself.
The three other remains were in a pit together, just a foot or so away. Just another foot away was the surgeon’s pit that contained three amputated limbs.
There were pieces of shrapnel around two of the other remains, but Gary said, “we don’t know whether that was the cause of death or not.”
Personal items also were found. One man was buried with an ivory-handled toothbrush with a snuff bottle under an arm.
“We have the feeling that these were purposely interred with him. There were some vest buttons also found in the grave.”
No uniforms were found with the remains.
Another was buried with two dollar gold coins “right next to his pelvis. “They apparently were sewed into the waistband of his pants.” He also had a musket ball imbedded in his hip, but the injury was received at an earlier time “because the bone has grown over it.”
They determined the remains where those of Confederate soldiers through analysis of the grave location and documentary research, staff archaeologist Eric Schweickart said.
Details have been put together regarding the operation of the Baptist Church hospital that was at first a Confederate hospital and later a hospital for Confederates manned by Union personnel and headed by Dr. David L. Rogers.
Also, the city undertaker Benjamin Bucktrout maintained a “Daybook and Ledger,” which included the Confederate soldiers by name he buried in the city cemetery.
