Memorial Service for Five Williamsburg County S.C. Soldiers

On Saturday April 19, 2008 at 2:00 pm, a memorial service will be held in honor of five young Williamsburg County soldiers of the SC 10th Infantry Company H. These men lie in a mass grave containing over two thousand unnamed Confederate Soldiers in Evergreen Cemetery ’s Confederate Circle in Murfreesboro , Tennessee .
On December 31, 1862, the 10th and 19th South Carolina Infantry, under the command of Confederate General A. M. Manigault, charged United States gun batteries on Nolensville Pike in The Battle of Murfreesboro. A letter from Capt. James Lee of the SC 10th Co. H & I written after the battle states, “ Through the roar of guns that filled the air with crashing, bursting shells came General Manigault’s command, “Advance! Capture Nolensville Pike. ” Our men cheered and wheeled the 10th SC Regiment to center field, pushed vigorously forward into the face of the enemy’s fire and drove them to the far side of the Pike. On the hill, the Yankees concentrated their gun batteries on the 10th and 19th SC Regiments. Up the hill we dashed and pressed in hot haste and drove them three miles beyond capturing their battery of Napoleon guns. From the effects of the gun fire, trees were debarked for 20 feet from the ground. Large trees were cut down by rifle balls. Visitors marveled that any living being could have existed.”
The Battle of Murfreesboro had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides of any large battle during the war 1861 - 1865.
Capt. John. R. Nettles, Sergeant S.F.R. Goodwin, Private Reuben W. Kirby, Private J. M. Matthews died of their wounds as prisoners of war. Private Thomas Jordan was killed in action. These men joined Company H and fought to preserve and protect Williamsburg County from an invader, just like their great grandfathers did during the Revolutionary War.
In the 1870’s The Daughters of the Confederacy had the remains of all Confederate dead removed from the battlefield and buried in Evergreen Cemetery . Today, just over one hundred of the two thousand soldiers have been identified. Now, after one hundred and forty five years, The Sons of Confederate Veterans will be able to place tombstones and a Southern Cross of Honor in honor of these Williamsburg County soldiers. No longer will their sacrifice be forgotten.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is an honor society for preservation of the Confederate Soldier’s true history.
The service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Murfreesboro Tenn. The Murfreesboro Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp No. 33 of Murfreesboro Tenn. will be holding the service along with members of The General Ellison Capers Camp 1212 of Moncks Corner, SC. We invite you to attend and honor these men with us.

Michael W Kirby
Moncks Corner, SC