One Hundred and Fifty years after the Civil War
came to a close, we at Magnolia Cemetery stop to commemorate the tragic cost in
human lives during the War. The public is invited to join the United Daughters
of the Confederacy and the Sons of the Confederate Veterans this Saturday May
9, 2015, 10:00 AM at the Soldiers Grounds in Magnolia Cemetery for the
sesquicentennial Memorial Day Service.
South Carolina ranks third in lives lost on the
Confederate side. It has been said as many men died in captivity during the
Civil War as were killed in the whole of the Vietnam War. Here at Magnolia
Cemetery we estimate over 3,000 Confederate soldiers are buried within the
Soldiers Ground and privately owned family lots.
Many families lost more than one member to this
unprecedentedly violent war. One example of a family that suffered a great lost
would be the Huger family. Daniel Elliott Huger, II and Carolina Proctor Huger
lost three sons to this conflict. Daniel Elliott Huger, III killed in action at
Chickamauga, Stephan Proctor Huger killed in action at Shiloh and Joseph
Proctor Huger killed in action at Fort Sumpter. All were Great grandsons of
Arthur Middleton and Mary Polly Izard of Middleton Place Plantation and
Gardens. This story and many others like it can be found in Professor PatrickHarwood’s newest book IN THE ARMS OF ANGELS Charleston’s Treasure
of History, Mystery and Artistry sold here at Magnolia and many other
location around Charleston.
I encourage you to attend the service and take
the time to stroll through the cemetery and witness for yourselves the history of
Magnolia Cemetery.
