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!
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa
Jul 22nd, 2009
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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