I like cemeteries. They are quiet and peaceful. I will eventually be
placed in one as a permanent home for my earthly remains - I hope not
for awhile. More important is the reality that there are many stories
within a cemetery for those who seek them out. Most of the stories are
long forgotten. Many deserve to be remembered. Within the Garnettsville
Cemetery is a monument with a man beneath and a story that deserves
remembrance. The story was brought to light through a diary brought to
my attention by Tim Bowman - Commander of the General Ben Hardin Helm
Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp #1703. A copy of the diary was
given to him by Joeff
Walden, Adjutant of the Camp. Perhaps those who are regular readers of
Ancestral News will recall articles I have previously presented
regarding the now extinct town of Garnettsville. Garnettsville was a
Meade County town consumed by the expansion of Fort Knox in 1941-42. The
town rested atop a hill above Otter Creek. Nothing remains of the town
but fading memories and the Garnettsville Cemetery where some of the
earliest settlers in the area, and residents of the town are buried.
Though Garnettsville is no more, an active cemetery associated tends the
cemetery that is still active. The association meets on the first Monday
in July every year. The meeting is as much a home-coming as an
association meeting. Though growing fewer in number each year, one time
residents of the town often attend the meetings and share memories. It
is within this cemetery that John S. Graham found final rest many years
ago. His story is presented herein through his diary. His story will be
presented with the last chapter of his life presented first. Additional
portions of the diary will be presented in future editions of Ancestral
News. The contents of the diary will be presented just as transcribed
from the original with no correction of grammar or spelling. A copy of
the diary was presented to Tim Bowman (Commander, General Ben Hardin
Helm Camp - Sons of Confederate Veterans - Camp 1703) by Camp 1703
Adutant, Jeoff Walden. Tim Bowman provided me with a copy.
We begin his diary on July 6, 1862. These are the last few pages of his
diary. John Graham is camped at Vicksburg.
| Sun. July 6. |
I am still at vicksburg. They send
our rations to us. We are staying in the woods with nothing but a
blanket to protect us from the wether. |
| Mo. July 7. |
I was on guard last night right on the bank of
the river. |
| Tu. July 8. |
One of the yankee boats came up within full
view of our batteries to day but not a gun was fired. |
| Wed. July 9. |
We started to camp early this morning and have
spent the day in camp. |
| Th. July 10. |
The regiment started to town soon this
morning. I was left in camp to cook rations. |
| Fri. July 11. |
I got out with the rations last night and
started to camp after rations for to day and got out this evening. |
| Sat. July 12. |
I went to camp this morning and back to town
this evening. |
| Sun. July 13. |
We started to camp this morning and have been
in camp all day. We had preaching in camp to day. |
| Mo. July 14. |
We have stayed all day in camp until late this
evening. We were ordered to town and placed on guard on the bank of the
river. |
| Tu. July 15. |
We remained on the river until 4 oclock this
morning and we fell behind the bank. About 6 oclock the gun boats began
firing. Our boat, the Arkansas, drove the yankee fleet 12 mi. down the
Yazoo River and passed the fleet. One of their boats folowed her until
it got in reach of our cannon and we turned them back. My company was on
the bank of the river and they fired a few shots at us. It was a hard
fight. |
| Wed. July 16. |
We started to camp last night at dark. The
shells were falling very fast. Two houses were burned in town. |
| Th. July 17. |
We stayed in camp all day to day until late
this evening. We started to town. |
| Fri. July 18. |
We have been on the river all day to day. |
| Sat. July 19. |
We remained on the river until late this
evening when we started to camp. |
| Sun. July 20. |
We had preaching in camp to day. |
| Mo. July 21. |
We went to town this evening. |
| Tu. July 22. |
We are still on guard in town. The boats were
fighting this morning. Five men were killed on the Arkansas and seven
wounded. One of the yankee boats passed down. |
| Wed. July 23. |
We have spent the day in camp. |
| Th. July 24. |
We started to the river late this
evening. |
| Fri. July 25. |
The fleets have both all left. We started to
camp late this evening. |
| Sat. July 26. |
We were ordered to draw two days rations and
cook them by 10 oclock. We marched to the top of the hill at the
railroad and lay all day on the ground. At night it began to rain very
hard. |
| Sun. July 27. |
We lay all night in the rain. We started on
the cars soon this morning. Passed through Jackson at two O-clock and on
down the New Orleans and Jackson RR. |
| Mo. July 28. |
We traveled all night last night. This morning
we stopped at Tangipahoa where we stay all day. I do not know the cause
of this delay. This a swampy looking place. We are 30 mi. in
Louisiana. |
| Tu. July 29. |
We remained on the cars until almost night and
we were ordered off into the pine forest of Lou. It began to rain as
soon as we were off. We had no shelter but our blankets. |
| Wed. July 30. |
We have been in the forest to day. We had
brigade inspection to day. |
| Th. July 31. |
We arose early this morning and marched
through Tantgifahoa and on toward Batonroughe. We march 13 mi.
today. |
| Fri. August 1st. |
We have marched 12 mi. today. It is very warm.
I am almost give out. I am not well. There is heap of the boys getting
sick. |
| Sat. August 2. |
Last night we camped on Edmont River. I was
not well this morning. I was left behind. I am now lying under a cotton
gin. |
| Sun. August 3. |
We are under Mr. William's cotton gin. He give
us fodder for a bed. We are doing very well except for something to eat.
We have nothing to eat. |
| Mo. Aug 5. |
I herd heavy cannonading down toward
Batonroughe. I do not know whether they were fighting or not. |
| Wed. Aug 6. |
Our boys had a fight yesterday. I suppose it
was a hard fight. I have not herd the particulars yet, as it is 35 mi.
from where I am staying to where the battle was fought. I moved my
lodging to day from the gin to the comissary. |
| Th. Aug. 7. |
I am on guard at the comissary. |
| Fri. Aug. 8. |
I am doing very well though I am not well
_______? |
| Sat. Aug 9. |
I am doing very well. |
| Sun. Aug. 10. |
I am still at the comissary. I am doing very
well. |
| Mo. August 11. |
At the comissary still. |
| Tu. Au. 12. |
I am at the comissary. |
| Wed. Au. 13. |
I am on guard to day on the road to keep
comissary wagons passing the post. There were some wagons passed here
the other night and it cost the Capt. some truble. |
| Th. Au. 14. |
They are moving all the sick from Greenwell
Springs back into the interior. There were several wagon loads kpassed
here last night. I think they are preparing for another fight. I am on
guard along the road and am ordered to turn all wagons and make them go
to the Greenwell Springs. |
| Fri. Au. 15. |
The wagons are ordered back for the purpose of
removing the sick. |
| Sat. Au. 16. |
The sick are passing here in large
numbers. |
| Sun. Au. 17. |
The sick are nerely all gone by. Achelles
Stith and myself drew some flour from the comissary and took it up to
Mr. Willaims and were invited up to eat peach pie but we were both on
guard at the forks of the road. So we could not go to dinner but I
sliped this evening and got as much as I could eat. |
| Mo. Au. 18. |
I was on guard last night at the forks of the
road, some one left two knapsacks where they camped. I opened them and
found a pair of pants, two shirts and three pair of socks. They came in
very good times. I went to Mrs. Williams this evening and got my pants
which she made for a coat for me. |
| Tu. Au. 19. |
I drew some flour from the commissary to day
and took it to Mrs. Williams and stayed all day to have some cloths
washed. I had a very nice dinner and some fine peaches and water
mellon. |
| Wed. Au. 20. |
It is reported that Breckenridge's Brig. is on
the road to KY, but I fear the news is to good to be true. |
| Th. Au. 21. |
I am still at the comissary. It is the opinion
of most people that our troops are on their way to KY. |
| Fri. Au. 22. |
We had peach pie for dinner. It was very
nice. |
| Sat. Au. 23. |
Mrs. Williams sent us a pitcher of milk for
dinner. It was very nice. She says we can get it every day. |
| Sun. Au. 24. |
We had a beautiful rain to day. Vegitation is
plentiful in this country. |
| Mo. Au. 25. |
I am not well. |
| Tu. Au. 26. |
This is a pleasant day. |
| Wed. Au. 27. |
NOTE: This is the last diary entry. |
The present keeper of the diary, Sergeant First Class Henra Faye
Hutchings of Elizabethtown, KY; upon close examination of the diary
noticed a thickness on the back page of the diary. It was found to
contain strands of dark hair, assumed to be those of John S. Graham. It
is said that John Graham's father went to identify his son and bring him
back home for burial. Thus John Graham came to be buried in the
Garnettsville Cemetery, close to where he lived. A gravestone was
erected that over the years fell to the ground, becoming almost
completely covered with grass and lost to time and the elements as well
as memories. John Graham would be almost completely forgotten had not
The Sons of Confederate Veterans placed a new monument to honor John and
his service in the Confederate Army.
Additional pages form the diary of John S. Graham, as well as letters,
will be presented in future issues of Ancestral News.
John S.
Graham, soon after this last entry, would give the full measure of
dedication to his cause. He died August 29th 1862.