The Bedford list consists of the names of 138 soldiers, 1 sailor and 1 nurse out of the 707 buried there, both north and South.

These bodies are interred in Longwood And Oakwood Cemeteries, maintained by the City of Bedford.

Bedford was the location of 2 military hospitals, 2 churches [Episcopal & Baptist] and several warehouses served as secondary hospitals. Piedmont Institute cared for the most severe cases. Campbell House cared for less serious injuries. Tobacco warehouses near the depot cared for those who could not be accomodated by the hospials. Over 500 Confederate soldiers died in these hospitals by April 1865. Most of these were buried on Piedmont Hill which surrounded Piedmont Institue Hospital.

1875 - The Ladies Confederate Memorial Association [formed 1866] erected a monument, located in the center of the cemetery, which had been laid out in the form of a casket, with the single inscription "OUR CONFEDERATE DEAD 1861-1865"

May 1, 1921 - trustees of Longwood Cemetery gave the United Daughters of the Confederacy Square #1 in Longwood Cemetery. The monument and remains were removed by mortician Harry Carder and sealed in a concrete vault.

Masonic Lodge #95 laid a new corner stone for the monument on May 14, 1921, the date chosen in memory of "The Clay Dragoons of Bedford". On that date in 1861, they had departed Bedford under the command of Captain William R. Terry, and The Ladies Confederate Memorial Assc had chosen Terry as the name of their chapter when they became UDC on April 7, 1902. The monument was rededicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1921. Rev. S.S.Lambeth delivered the address.

"The Clay Dragoons of Bedford" became Co F, 2nd VA Cav, and they were presented a handmade flag when they went off to war by the ladies of Bedford. The flag was lost to the enemy during the war. It was located 35 years later in Trenton, NJ through the efforts of Congressman J.P.Woods and Adj Gen Jo Lane Stern of Virginia. Major William F. Graves, surviving member of the company, presented it to the William R. Terry Chapter, UDC, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1920. The flag is on exhibit at the Bedford Museum.

Most of the records of those who died in Bedford were destroyed in Richmond. A partial list was compiled by Raymond W. Watkins of Falls Church, VA from records at NARA.

The list of 140 soldiers are those known among the 500 buried at Confederate Monument, Square #1. 360 soldiers buried in Longwood and Oakwood Cemeteries have been lost to history and known only to God.

JR d:-)