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Kennesaw Mountain’s Unknown Soldier

by Ruby Hawk on 16/07/09 at 9:06 am

He was the “unknow soldier” in Kennesaw National Battlefield Park until a historian from Marietta gave him back his name.

 
His grave has been in Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park near the Illinois Monument since the Civil War. He was buried where he fell in the battle for Kennesaw Mountain. By happenstance he was missed when the fallen were moved to the Marietta National Cemetary. A headstone was put on his grave proclaiming him the “unknown soldier” of Cheatam Hill.

Photo by author

We have hiked by this lonely site many times and seen flowers and memento’s on the grave. A split rail fence protects this soldier’s resting place. I have often thought about the grief his family felt when he never returned from the Union army. His mother must have hoped and prayed for his homecoming for many years as did the rest of his family, and how sad that they never knew where he was buried or what happened to him. I feel certain many people wondered about this fallen soldier over the long years he has lain there as the “unknown soldier” of Cheatham Hill.

A historian, and Kennesaw National Battlefield Park volunteer, Brad Quinlin from Marietta finely took the bull by the horns and wrestled that sucker to the ground. After 5 years of spending every spare moment investigating, he had a few lucky breaks and now we know the “unknown soldier” of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield was Private Mark Carr of the U.S.Army. Carr was a farmer and day labor who enlisted shortly after the beginning of the Civil War. He was from a town in the northwest of Illinois called Dixon. His army record showed he was never absent from duty for any reason. He had served his time in the Union Army and reupped. Carr was killed by Confederate fire while charging up Kennesaw Mountain.

Image via Wikipedia

Willie Johnson, Kennesaw Park historian said, “I don’t know of another instance where a volunteer devoted so much time and persistence to accomplish this kind of thing.” Quinlin says, “We used to sit around and say, how cool it would be to find the identify of the unknown.” From there he began his research that went on for 5 long years. Through a lucky break he was pointed toward detailed records kept by a chaplain and quartermaster sent from up north after the war. Here was information used to re intern Union soldiers buried at the Marietta National Cometary. Carr would have been buried with them but was missed.

Quinlin said part of his interest came from the fact that his own great great grandfather was a Union soldier who fought in the battle of Vicksburg in 1983 and wound up being buried in a anonymous grave on the battlefield. Quinlin said, “These men fought and they died, Don’t we at least owe them a name?”

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15 Comments

Moses Ingram

Jul 16th, 2009

Ruby, What an interesting piece! Imagine finding the name after all those years.

BrandonGates

Jul 16th, 2009

It’s sad, so many death… At least there will be no more unknown soldiers due to DNA testing.

Darla Smith

Jul 16th, 2009

A very interesting story.

papaleng

Jul 16th, 2009

first time to hear this interesting story. thanks for sharing Ruby

CHAN LEE PENG

Jul 16th, 2009

Interesting story to share here. Have my liked it.

Lostash

Jul 16th, 2009

Very nice Ruby. It’s good to remember these things and give the recognition.

Francois Hagnere

Jul 16th, 2009

Another interesting piece! Thank you so much.
Very best wishes,
François

Mystify

Jul 16th, 2009

A very interesting story and as always well written and well described.
Cheers Tanya

NA Staffieri

Jul 16th, 2009

Peace to Mark Carr and his decendant family members.

Daisy Peasblossom

Jul 16th, 2009

That was an incredible bit of research, and a very lucky break. Great story, Ruby.

Inna Tysoe

Jul 17th, 2009

Thanks for sharing the story about such dedication.

Inna

rizzei

Jul 17th, 2009

yeah thanks for sharing this ..interesting story..liked it:)

richard wing

Jul 19th, 2009

Very interesting and informative article. Historically important and well written Ruby. You really should have your own news column posted in US Today or NY Times. You write with a jounalistic tone of interest and care. Really good stuff!

Fantastic, It is great in the mist of what is going on in our world today that we can be grateful for these things. When so many don’t respect our solders. To be able to give our fallen soldier their name right. The birth name, brings me much to be grateful for since because of those soldiers that we have the right and freedom we have today in the United States of America.
May there be peace within the Carr family.
Well written

CutestPrincess

Aug 4th, 2009

quite interesting story Ruby…

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