Skeletal Remains of Confederate Soldiers Discovered in Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg where skeletal remains of Confederate soldiers were foundPhoto byWikimedia

Colonial Williamsburg's archaeological team announced that the skeletal remains discovered in the city's historic area earlier this year were identified as Confederate soldiers.

Jack Gary, Director of Archaeology at the foundation, expressed his satisfaction in providing dignity through reburial for these individuals, who have now been identified as likely casualties from the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. Initial research narrowed the identification to 21 or 22 individuals who likely perished under the care of a Union-operated hospital following the battle.

The discovery site, adjacent to the historic Powder Magazine on Duke of Gloucester Street, is of historical significance. The Powder Magazine, an 18th-century structure, was used as a military storehouse during the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Among the findings were personal items such as an animal bone-handled toothbrush, a snuff bottle, and copper buttons with glass insets. Two-dollar gold coins dated 1855 were found sewn into the waistband of one soldier's pants, and a musket ball embedded in his hip suggested an earlier injury. Another soldier's trousers contained a sewn-in trouser buckle, possibly indicating the use of suspenders.

All remains and artifacts are currently undergoing analysis at the William & Mary Institute for Historical Biology and will eventually be reburied together to preserve their integrity.

Researchers, including the Williamsburg Battlefield Association, Civil War Trails, and the Office of U.S. Army Cemeteries, will collaborate to determine the appropriate reburial location, likely in or around Williamsburg.

This discovery sheds light on the sacrifices made during a turbulent period in American history and ensures that these soldiers will receive the respect and dignity they deserve in their final resting place.

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