Rock Island Prison
This Federal prison, on an island on the Mississippi between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa opened in December 1863. It held as many as 8000 Confederate soldiers who lived in 84 poorly heated barracks.
Source: Encyclopedia of the Civil War; Bowman, John S.; 1992.
History of Rock Island Confederate Cemetery
The Confederate Cemetery is the last burial site for Confederate soldiers who were prisoners of war at Rock Island Barracks during the Civil War. The first group of prisoners arrived at Rock Island Prison Barracks on December 3, 1863. There were 5,592 that had been captured at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge by General Grant's Army. They were congregated at Louisville, Kentucky and part of the journey to Rock Island was made by barge, river packet and railroad. When they arrived at the prison, it was 30 degrees below zero and it was found that 94 of the prisoners had smallpox. The smallpox epidemic which followed was responsible for the death of the majority of the soldiers buried in this cemetery. Other causes of death were the cold northern winters, inadequate food and housing, and the scourge of disease.
During the ensuing months until the end of the war in 1865, additional Confederate prisoners of war were brought to Rock Island from the battle areas in the south. Total number of prisoners were 12,215 enlisted men. There were no officer prisoners.
During the period of its exsistence, 1,961 confederate veterans died and were buried in the Confederate cemetery. Eleven bodies have since been removed to their home state. All graves have been identified and marble markers with the soldiers' names and the names of the units with which they fought appear on these markers.
On Memorial Day these veterans receive the same honor that is paid to Union dead. The flag of the United States and the flag of the Confederacy are flown at half-staff from separate flagpoles; and each grave is decorated with a small Confederate flag. An honor salute of three volleys is fired and taps are sounded in salute to the memory of the 1,950 Confederate soldiers here at reat.
Source: Rock Island Arsenal Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois
The 6th Tennessee Graves
Grave #516
Jas. N. McClellan
Co. G 6 Tenn Reg
C.S.A.
02/18/64
Grave #38
Joseph Exum
Co. G 6 Tenn Reg
C.S.A.
01/21/64
Grave #92
C.L. Johnson
Co. G 6 Tenn Reg
C.S.A.
12/30/63
Grave #---
Asbury Bledsoe
Co. H 6 Tenn Reg
C.S.A.
01/10/64
Tennesseans in the Civil War has them listed as follows:
Jas. N. McClellan under
J. N. McClelland - Private G Co. 6th Inf.
Joseph Exum
Private G Co. 6th Inf.
C.L. Johnson under
Christopher L. Johnson - Private G Co. 6th Inf.
Asbury Beldsoe under
Franklin Asbery Bledsoe - Private H Co. 6th Inf
Keokuk National Cemetery
A friend of the 6th found another grave of a member of the 6th Tennessee. This time the grave is located in the state of Iowa, at Keokuk National Cemetary.
That grave is:
R.E. Peebles
Co. A 6 Tenn Reg
C.S.A.
05/05/62