In 1867 the bodies of 887 soldiers who had died in Chattanooga Jan. 1 to May 31, 1863 (the weeks immediately following the battle of Murfreesboro), were moved from a cemetery close to the Tennessee River, where they had been temporarily interred, to the Confederate Cemetery. A board at the head of each grave was marked with the name of the soldier, his state and his command, and a number. Col. R. L. Watkins copied the names and prepared the following list. It is probable that when the headstones were hastily made-six or seven each day for four month the names were frequently misspelled, in the case of difficult ones at least. This explanation accounts for the many peculiar and infrequent names on the list. Searchers for names should allow for variation in sound and spelling. Many of the wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro were sent to Chattanooga by train. Some of them died en route and others in the station immediately upon arrival. Homes and hospitals were filled with other soldiers who lingered, some a few days and some for months. Col. Watkins began his list with the number 142 and the date Feb. I, 1863. It is presumed that 141 men died in January and were buried in the very low ground where the water washed the graves and the wooden boards, and that the names were not decipherable when he made his list in 1867. The last number "887" is dated May 31, 1863. The list bears this inscription: "Presented to the Confederate Memorial Association March i8, 1876, by R. L. Watkins, who assisted in obtaining this record in 1867 and participated in removing the dead to the graves where they now lie. This was when the Confederate Association was first organized. Each grave was numbered and named on headboard as this list shows and was easily identified. "R. L. Watkins." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note from Bonnie White, April 2001: This cemetery is in Chattanooga, beside UTC and in very good condition. A couple of weeks ago, a Civil War era soldier was moved into this cemetery. His body had been found several years ago on the side of Lookout Mountain and forensic research showed him to have died during the Civil War. Both Northern and Southern Re-enactors were on hand to honor this comrade. To view a listing of soldiers buried here please go to: http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Grounds/7235/chattcsacem.htm

The graves are of soldiers who were wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro Dec.31, 1862, and Jan. I, 1863. Hundreds of wounded and dying men were rushed to the hospitals and private homes in Chattanooga. Everyone who had a home was asked to prepare for wounded guests as the hospitals could not care for all. Every one of the 887 names is that of a Confederate soldier wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro, who died in a Chattanooga home or hospital. The first number on Col. Watkins' list is 142 and the first date is Feb. I, 1863. There were 141 illegible names when Col. Watkins made his list. These were doubtless of men who died in January, 1863, and were buried in the section of the original cemetery which was nearest the Tennessee River and more frequently washed by it during "high water." The 887 burials were made in four months; the last, No.887, is dated May I, 1863. This was an average of more than six funerals a day and the facilities of the little village must have been severely taxed. Under the circumstances it is remarkable that the record of deaths was so carefully preserved. More info can be found at http://www.utc.edu/commdept/ConfederateCem.html I was also wrong. The soldier found in 1999 was found on the side of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, not Lookout Mountain. More info on this can be found at http://commserve.utc.edu/Funeral/funeral.html