From ABC 2 News, Baltimore
NORTH EAST, Md. – Atop a hill just outside North East, Maryland lays civil war veteran James D. Alexander. He fought in the famed battles of Gettysburg and Antietam; he was wounded and lost a leg in the skirmish at Spotsylvania Court House.
But while he was laid to rest almost 90 years ago, it may never have been in peace. “He was never recognized, given recognition. He was just buried and forgotten.” said John Goff. Until Goff started coming across artifacts that belonged of his great grandfather. It started when he found a soldier’s memorial given to his great grandfather when he was discharged.
Goff realized his relation was a fearless union hero who fought in this nation’s bloodiest battles to preserve the union. It was a proud historical trail. Goff’s research led him to a small graveyard with a tombstone with had his great grandfather on the wrong side of history. “Confederate States of America,” Goff said pointing to the confederate tombstone, “They got it wrong.”
Video and the reaminder of the article continue on ABC 2 news. Click on link. Great grandson rewrites Civil War wrong; government to issue correct tombstone.
Interesting story. Local lore has it that many Maryland Yankees regretted serving after the war and may have confused what side they were really on. Or changed allegiance to get a patronage job, much of Maryland remaining very pro-confederate after the war, sometimes even more so than during the war. (Even during the war loyalish Maryland units were often treated with kid gloves.) This is not to detract from Mr. Alexander, that’s just the way it was – or in this instance, could have been. However, a simple search of the National Parks System Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System reveals a James D. Alexander serving in the 8th Regiment Maryland Infantry (US), whom, judging by the regiment’s service record (though they missed Antietam by a day), I imagine to be our boy.
One more note: The tombstone in the video has Alexander’s unit listed as the 8th Maryland Infantry CSA, but there was no such unit. There was, though, an 8th Maryland USA.
Falmanac, thanks for sharing the info.