2015 ~ Saturday, April 25, Tuscumbia Oakwood Cemetery Confederate Soldiers Tuscumbia, Al

Today I went to the Civil War Walking Tour of Oakwood Cemetery where I missed the speech about Colonial Deshler.
I was just in time for the reading about Colonial William Johnson, he served in Rodney's 4th Alabama Cavalry during the Civil War.
William's brother Major Dick Johnson was mortally wounded at a battle in Moulton, Alabama.
His brother JE Johnson died a POW at Rock Island Prison in Illinois.
William and Dick are buried in Tuscumbia's Oakwood Cemetery but their brother JE is buried in Illinois.

There are Civil War markers for all three men in this cemetery.

Major Dick Johnson KIA  July 9, 1864, & his brother JE Johnson who died  in the Rock Island Prison in Illinois

Three brothers fought in the Civil War but only one came home. The Civil War caused much grief for the Johnson Family

Colonial William Johnson Tombstone

Our next visit was Arthur Henry Keller the father to Helen Keller he enlisted in 1861 as a private in the Confederate Army.

 He was detailed as a quartermaster-sergeant under Dr. D. R. Lindsay, of Twenty-seventh Alabama, stationed at Fort Henry. 
He had charge of the stores, and after they were destroyed at Florence, he was assigned temporarily to the staff of Gen. Sterling Wood. 

Arthur Keller Family Cemetery but Helen Keller is buried Washington's National Cathedral

In July 1862, he joined General Roddy’s cavalry as a private, and in September of that year rejoined his old regiment as quartermaster at Vicksburg, with which he remained until July 1864, when he was made paymaster of General Roddy’s division of cavalry, a position he held to the close of the war. 

Captain Arthur H Kelley F & S Alabama Infantry in the CSA born Feb 5, 1836 died August 29, 1896

It was told that at the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864, that Keller was serverly wounded in the neck and was almost throwned in a grave, with all the Confederate soldiers that died that day, but someone heard the faint sounds coming from Mr Keller. 
Mr Keller came back to Tuscumbia worked in downtown Tuscumbia at the news paper until August 29, 1896, when he passed away.

This beautiful young woman portrayed the part of young Helen Keller

Arthur Keller and his daughter Helen 

From a distance was pointed out that Bob Wheeler a color bearer was killed at the Battle of Franklin.

Bob Wheeler CO B 35 Alabama Infantry CSA

Our last stop was the graves of the Unknown Soldiers that were KIA during the Civil War.
So many men lost their lives during the Civil War and many parents, sibling never knew where the body of their son or brother was buried. So hard to close the book on ones's life when we do not know where they were laid to rest or how they died.

Grave of Unknown Soldiers

All the markers have been replaced with new markers and were ordered at the same place the original markers.

I would like to thank the Colbert County tourism and everyone that took part in all the Civil War Walking tours. I enjoyed them very much, it brings to life the history of our past. It make us stop thank God, & our country men for the freedom we have today.