Mystery SC soldier

[SCTiger]

Below is a broken headstone for my GGGGG Uncle James Crawford Cook, Co D 1st SCV (Hagood's) born Feb 9th 1840 died Jan 8th, 1863. I would like to replace the stone with a VA marker. The VA form 40-1330 states that the grave must be unmarked, does this include broken markers? Pvt. Cook possibly died of disease in Richmond, VA.

The marker is located of SC Hwy 601 and 8077 Taxahaw Rd. in Lancaster County, SC at the Blackmon Cemetery. Any information or ideas on repairing or replacing the stone would be helpful.

Also any information on him would help, I have done several Google and Nara searches with minimal results. I need the dates of service for Pvt. Cook for the form, if possible. I have ordered the microfilm records from the NPS.

[KentuckyReb]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Gregory:

Some time ago I was considering trying to get a replacement stone for my GG-Grandfather RF Peek of the 9th TN Cavalry (CS). He's buried in the cemetery for the old Confederate Veteran's Home in PeeWee Valley, KY. His stone is fine--I just thought I'd replace the regular, civilian-style stone with a military marker. Of course, I discovered that a grave that was already marked didn't warrant a replacement stone. But while I was asking around, I got into a conversation with a fellow here who attends my Dad's church, who happened to be going through the same process for an ancestor of his whose stone was vandalized a few years ago, broken off a couple inches above the ground by some punk with a Jeep, a belly full of beer and too much spare time. He said they had no problem with him replacing that stone. Out of curiosity, what is that symbol below 'Company D'? Is it just decorative, or is there some significance to it?

[markmason]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

I am curious to know if this is a change to the VA? I checked into this a few years ago, and I had no problem getting a VA marker. I had to fill out forms and pay $75 to get the stone, I also had to set the stone myself. My gggrandafater has a non VA marker that I set the stone next too.I do remember the VA office at my county courthouse had a book with several trypes of markers such as small brass plates to have mounted on existing headstones. YOu may try yout courthouse and check to see if you have a VA office.

I wish you luck in dealing with the our GOVERNMENT, and the red tape :sarcastic

[celtfiddler]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Unfortunately, I didn't turn up any hits on ancestry.com other than his basic service record that he served with the 1st SC Co D--no dates in the record (which you probably found in your NARA search).

I'd suggest contacting the SC State Archives and seeing if they have any volunteers that might be willing to search the records pertaining to the war for you. If you find yourself traveling to Chicago--you might want to arrange a visit to the Newberry Library (it's one of the largest genealogy libraries in the country)

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

[Dignann]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Gregory,

Although I have never ordered VA headstones, I do understand from those who have that the VA frequently requests documentation on the individual to accompany the application. I suggest ordering Cook's CSR from NARA, if you don't already have it, just to be safe.

According to A.S. Sully, comp. South Carolina Troops in Confederate Service , Vol. I (Columbia, S.C.: The R.L. Bryan Co., 1913) p.551:


Cook, James Crawford, enlisted at Lancaster, July 21, 1862; reported on muster roll of December 31, 1862, as in hospital; died in Richmond, Va., January 8, 1863.


Sully lists Cook as a member of Co. D, 1st (Hagood's) Regiment, S.C.V.

In Randolph W. Kirkland, Jr. Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Charleston, S.C.: The South Carolina Historical Society, 1995) p.73,


Cook, James Crawford -- Pvt. -- D, 1st SCVIH -- Died 1/08/63 in Richmond, Va.


Again, I would suggest getting Cook's CSR from NARA, but you also might try to get copies of these two sources through your local library's interlibrary loan department. Attaching documentation to your application can only help with your request for a stone.

I hope this helps.

Eric

[SCTiger]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Thanks Eric and everyone:

We are always looking at the big picture of preservation, but there are some small things one can do. I want to preserve the legacy of my these folks, some are relatives some aren't. Thanks for the info, I may go with the flat brass markers, they seem more resistive to the elements and vandalism versus stone work.

Micah:

I don't know what the symbols are. To me they look like two dolphins kissing and a rainbow, but, that's my modern mind at work. It may be some inter family code or Scotch-Irish symbology. After posting this intital thread I also found that his brother John E. Cook was with the 1st S.C. Cavalry and he died at the Battle of Ream's Station, his brother-in-law, Sam Faile also fought in Co. D was was married to my GG Grandmother. They are all buried together in the same cemetery along with Amos Leander McManus, 1st SC (Butler's) Regular ( See attachment) my GGG Grandfather. Also another in-law Burrell Snipes, buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Lancaster County. So I have alot of people to recognize, none received any formal markers.

[SCSecesh]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Deese,
I know that "officially" you are correct - only unmarked graves are authorized for the VA stone. While, this is a bit different (CS vs US service), providing a VA marker to someone who has served his country is the VERY least we can do!!
My Grandfather has a very nice polished granite headstone AND the granite VA marker at his foot noting his service to this country in the US Navy during WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. A friend who is a retired "Bird" Colonel expedited the application and had it installed. I'd send in the application!!

[billwatson]

Re: Mystery SC soldier

Scott Coleman over in Chester (SC) got the VA to replace 53 or 54 old stones marking unnamed Confederates in the cemetery there, back about 1993-94. In one of those quirks that makes you think maybe this country will make it no matter what, the VA feels itself duty-bound to supply stones for both Confederate and Union. Anyway, if you give Scott a call, he's in the book, he can tell you what he had to do to get replacement stones. Scott is Palmetto Battalion, 6th Regt SCVI. He also runs the little museum they've got in Chester, and probably will come up with a bunch of obscure sources to look for information about your ancestor.