Civil War Soldiers Identified in Falls Church Cemetery

A volunteer research team working with The Falls Church has identified five more Union soldiers who were buried in unmarked graves in the church yard during the Civil War. The soldiers were from the 144^th and 80^th New York Volunteer Infantry regiments stationed at Upton’s Hill. Identification was confirmed through notations made in regimental documents at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  The soldiers all died of disease, with the exception of one who was “accidentally shot.”

There are numerous unmarked and unknown gravesites from the Civil War period in the church yard, as well as a number of marked Confederate soldiers’ graves. The Falls Church was used by the Union army as a hospital and a stable from 1861 to 1865. The research team is conducting an ongoing investigation to try to identify as many of these soldiers as possible.

In 2002, while researching his book A Virginia Village Goes to War, author Bradley Gernand was able to identify 18 Union soldiers. Additional research leads were provided by Ron Anzalone, Vice Chairman of the Falls Church Historical Commission.

There are currently two markers, one for unknown Union soldiers and one for Confederates, located in the front of the church yard on South Washington Street that were dedicated on Memorial Day, 2004. The remains of the single unknown Confederate were removed years ago and re-interred elsewhere. The remains of a Union cavalry captain killed in battle were also removed to Arlington National Cemetery.

The Falls Church plans a ceremony to honor the soldiers on May 15, 2010 in cooperation with Falls Church City’s Civil War Day.

For additional information, contact Bette Marchant, (202) 736-5745, or Dick Griffin, (703) 566-1776 or (703) 408-4529.