One of my civil war ancestors was Marcellus W. Cheatham. He was commonly known as Zell and lived in Appomattox Co. He served as a private in the 18th Va. and was wounded at Gaines Mill. His wound was only a fleshwound in the ankle but he must have been severely hobbled by it. In fact, his widow stated as much in her pension application. The wound kept him out of action at Antietem and Gettysburg and, in all probability, saved him from death or serious injury in those actions. Ironically, he was killed in 1877 when a tree fell on him crushing his skull. Who knows, did the injury that kept him out of so much hot action ultimately lead to his death by preventing him from getting out of the way of that tree?

Anyway, his grave is in an untended family cemetery and the marker is a flat sandstone rock with his info carved into it. With the passing of time, the writing is barely legible. I would like to consider getting a government issue marker. Can somebody give me some details or point me in the right direction ?

Mike Lee
Lynchburg, Va.