(January 29, 2011)
Monument to CSA Battle of
The CSA dead from the Battle of Galveston were buried in the potters field
of this cemetery. The exact location of the individual graves is no longer
known. (There have been some terrible hurricanes). With one notable
exception, Union dead have been reinterred in the US National Cemetery in
The monument was dedicated by the Magruder Camp of the United Confederate
Veterans (UCV) to honor their fallen comrades in the Battle of Galveston,
January 1, 1863.
(January 29, 2011) The
Illustrious John "Prince John" Bankhead Magruder
He re-captured Galveston shortly after taking command of the region.
Galveston was free of Union occupation for the rest of the conflict.
Surrender was signed in Galveston on June 19, 1865.
(January 29, 2011) Magruder
(January 29, 2011) Galveston
Cemetery-Camp Magruder 106 UCV Plot Marker
This plot is located in the potters field cemetery and was purchased by
the men of the Camp John B. Magruder 106 UCV. Many of these men served in
Galveston so they knew their comrades were buried in the potters field
cemetery of the Galveston Cemetery, but the exact location had been lost.
Keep in mind there were hurricanes and subsequent elevations of the
cemetery soil on the grounds.
Some modern VA markers are located in this plot for those known to be
buried in the potters field whose exact location has been lost.
(January 29, 2011) Cenotaphs
Camp John B. Magruder 106 UCV plot with cenotaphs. In addition to the CSA
troops who died in the Battle of Galveston, there were others who died
during the CSA military occupation of the largest city and most important
port in Texas at that time. The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), United
Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), and other groups have worked to
discover the names of the dead and mark their graves. The SCV Camp in
Galveston even retains the name of the United Confederate Veterans Camp.
(January 29, 2011) 292 CSA
Graves in Galveston Cemetery
The marker gives a great explanation of the number of CSA soldiers buried
in the cemetery, but it should be understood these cemeteries are all
linked together, so to go from the Hebrew Cemetery to Catholic Cemetery or
Soldiers Rest is really just to walk and notice a change in the grave
styles. Notice the cenotaphs below the monument.
Galveston was at one time the richest and largest city in Texas, so the
number of troops quartered here was always quite large. After the
Hurricane of 1900 the city declined. (Worst loss of life in a natural
disaster in the history of the USA to-date, estimated at 8,000+ dead but
we will never know the exact number and some estimates are higher).