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, who 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 to Arthur Henry Keller, Helen Keller's father. 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 in 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 February 5, 1836, died August 29, 1896

It was said that at the Battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864, Keller was severely wounded in the neck and was almost thrown into a grave, with all the Confederate soldiers that died that day, but someone heard the faint sounds coming from Mr Keller. 
Mr. Keller returned to Tuscumbia and worked at the newspaper in downtown Tuscumbia until August 29, 1896, when he passed away.

This beautiful young woman portrayed Helen Keller.

Arthur Keller and his daughter Helen 

From a distance, it 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 who were KIA during the Civil War.
So many men lost their lives during the Civil War, and many parents and siblings never knew where the body of their son or brother was buried. So hard to close the book on one'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 as the original markers.

I would like to thank Colbert County Tourism and everyone who took part in all the Civil War Walking Tours. I enjoyed them very much; they bring our past to life. It makes us stop to thank God and our countrymen for the freedom we have today.