Confederate Soldier Gets Wish

[Suzie]

Confederate Soldier Gets Wish
Confederate Soldier's Dying Wish Granted As His Remains Are Buried in South Carolina

The Associated Press



LAURENS, S.C. April 28 — Capt. William Downs Farley had one request before he died on June 9, 1863 to be buried at home, in Laurens City Cemetery. On Saturday, the Confederate soldier's dying wish was finally granted.

Farley, a South Carolina volunteer killed at the Battle of Brandy Station, was buried after a memorial service before 1,000 people in the Public Square. Many wore period uniforms and paid final respects to a native son who was one of Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's most trusted officers.

Police blocked downtown streets as a horse-drawn caisson carrying Farley's remains edged along the streets. A color guard and honor guard flanked Farley's casket.

Farley, then 27, was fatally wounded by a Union cannonball in 1863. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper, Va. Many soldiers at that time were buried near the battlefield where they fell, rather than at home.

Virginia attorney Ed Gentry, founder of the Museum of Culpeper History, spent 18 years researching Farley's background and war record, and worked to have his remains brought to Laurens.

On Saturday, Gentry poured dirt from Farley's Culpeper grave atop the casket. "Closure is an overused word," he said, "but it is certainly appropriate this weekend."

Farley joined the 1st Carolina Infantry Regiment as a private and was promoted to lieutenant by the fall of 1861. He fought at the first battle of Manassas, Va., spent time as a POW in Washington and became the chief scout for J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry.

The general's descendant, J.E.B. Stuart IV, said his ancestor and Farley had a relationship built on
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[**DONOTDELETE**]

Back about 1989 I took part in the reenactment of the 1864 Battle of the Crater. This battle took place during the seige of Petersburg but the 1989 reenactment site was about 30 miles northeast, about 7 miles east of Richmond Va.

The area where were doing our reenactment was the site of a different battle, the 1862 Battle of Savage's Station. It had been selected since it was big enough to support thousands of reenactors and visitors and it was supposed to be developed into an office park so we couldn't damage the property worse than what was going to happen to it anyway.

While trenches were being dug for our reenactment, the backhoe uncovered the remains of an unknown Confederate soldier who had been buried and forgotten since the day he fell on June 29, 1862. Work stopped and the remains were carefully exhumed. Nothing was found that could positively identify the soldier save a North Carolina button that showed him to be a Confederate. Also found with the remains were a clay pipe, a mechanical pen and a fired bullet that probably had killed him.

On the final day of the reenactment, I was asked to be part of the honor guard for this soldier's funeral procession, it was one of the most memorable things I have ever done. I will not forget marching down that long dirt lane with reversed arms to the hearse or the silence and respect that was shown to this stranger whom fate had brought into our midst. Here was someone who had given their life for their beliefs and had died far from home. I couldn't help but wonder if his family ever learned of his fate or if he had become just one more of the thousands of "missing" soldiers of the north and south.

The hearse and a small casket had been donated by a local funeral home and there was not a dry eye in the crowd as the hearse pulled away taking its precious cargo to join his comrades at Hollywood cemetery in Richmond.

No matter what one's thoughts about the War, it was heartening to see that 127 years after his death, this "unknown" soldier was no longer "missing in action".

[Suzie]

That's a great story XRdsRev! They died fighting for what they believe in, they deserve to be honored even if it is a little late.
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