Seven Rebels’ gravesites in southwest Arkansas designated cemetery

Since 1862, seven Texas Confederate soldiers had lain buried and unknown near what was the Spring Bank ferry near Doddridge. The ferry on the Red River connected Miller County and Lafayette County in southwest Arkansas.

Then, Texas Archeological Steward Bob Vernon of the east Texas town of Atlanta found the soldiers using Google Earth, a satellite search engine.

Earlier this month, about 100 people turned out for a ceremony dedicating the graves’ site as a cemetery.

The John B. Barton Camp 1664 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans of Arkansas’ Miller County, led by Frank McFerrin, held a campaign to build the cemetery and park, with fencing and place markers at the seven graves.

The seven soldiers of the 13th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) died from measles and typhoid fever, and are buried at Camp Blair, as the cemetery site was called.

Their regiment, under the command of Col. John H. Burnett, was ordered to Arkansas to assist in the defense of the state. Later, the regiment marched into Louisiana to help there, as well.

The 13th consisted of about 850 cavalrymen, their mounts and at least two dozen wagons loaded with their gear.

Their camp on Spring Bank hill overlooking the Red River was named Camp Blair for Riley J. Blair, the 1st Regimental sergeant major.

A measles epidemic delayed the regiment’s movement through the Red River country for about six weeks. After crossing the river by Blanton’s Ferry in what’s now Miller County, 23 more soldiers died and were buried in the Walnut Hills community. Other deaths were recorded after the regiment left the Red River country.

As part of Maj. Gen. John G. Walker’s Texas Division, the 13th soldiers were dismounted at Walnut Hills and served as infantry for the remainder of the war. The 13th participated in actions in Louisiana at Lake Providence, Fort DeRussy, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, and in Arkansas at Jenkins Ferry in Grant County.

The majority of the unit’s 145 fatalities during the war were from disease. Only 11 soldiers died from enemy fire. Those at Blair Camp were buried and forgotten until recently.

The seven Texans are: • James W. Gillespie and Kinchen K. Stokes of Orange County.

• H. Jackson Rawls, James W.A. Smith and Charles W. Wright of Tyler County.

• Henry H. Tucker of Anderson County.

• Samuel B. Gilliland of Angelina County.

Members of the Barton Camp will provide upkeep for the cemetery. They say they hope one day descendants of the seven Texans will be found and return occasionally to visit their ancestors’ graves in Blair Cemetery.