Return to story

HONORING SOLDIER ANCESTOR LIVING-HISTORY EVENT: Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Graffiti House, 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station. The 49th Virginia Infantry will be camped for the weekend. 540/727-7718.

July 5, 2008 12:15 am

SATURDAY, June 14, dawned with the promise of yet another hot day in Stafford County. But that did not deter the descendants of Confederate soldier William B. Newton from gathering at a small family cemetery at Belle Plains to honor him with an Iron Cross ceremony.

Born Jan. 11, 1840, on the property near where the cemetery now stands, Newton enlisted in the 2nd Company, 30th Virginia Infantry, along with his brothers George and Abraham on July 22, 1861. He was 21 years old.

On May 16, 1864, Pvt. Newton was wounded in the shoulder during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff. His records show that he remained in service after this incident although he was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond in early 1865. He was taken prisoner from this location on April 3 of the same year and turned over to the provost marshal on April 14. His final parole papers have yet to be located.

Newton returned home after the war and married Virginia Anne Potts on June 4, 1867. He and Virginia raised nine children at the family farm. Newton died at the age of 46 on Sept. 28, 1886. After being wounded at least once during the war he succumbed to complications of pneumonia at an early age.

His brothers also survived the war and returned to Stafford to raise their families. It was the descendants of these three brothers who gathered to honor William Newton with the Iron Cross.

The Confederate Iron Cross Grave Marker was patterned after the design of the Southern Cross of Honor medal, which was bestowed on Confederate veterans by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

One side of the marker bears the dates 1861 and 1865, which represent the beginning and ending of the war. On the same side is the Latin motto of the Confederacy Deo Vindici ("Vindicated by God"). On the other side is a laurel wreath and ribbon that is also found on the insignia of the United Daughters of Confederacy.

The marker offers families of deceased soldiers of the Confederacy a way to honor their ancestor's service in the war.

DESCENDANTS GATHER

William Newton was honored by his great-granddaughter (UDC "Real Granddaughter") Mattie Shelton; great-great-granddaughter and UDC member Jackie Descaro; great-great-great-niece and UDC President Jill Simmons and great-grandson D.P. Newton, founder and curator of the famed White Oak Museum and Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal recipient.

Also attending were Susie Masters, Virginia Division president; Sam Lougheed, past president, Virginia Division; John Sawyer, commander of the Virginia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans; Color Sgt. Joe Wright; the Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy, color guard; Charlie Embrey, commander of the Major Gen. John Bankhead Magruder Military Order of Stars and Bars Chapter; members of the Nannie Seddon Barney Chapter of the Children of the Confederacy and members of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The invocation was given by Mrs. Stuart Allison. Period music was provided by the Autumnairs.

A poignant tribute to Pvt. Newton was given by Jackie Descaro, his great-great-granddaughter, and a poem, "The Southern Dead," was read by Sam Lougheed.

From far off in the surrounding woods came the haunting sound of taps, played by Ronnie Gordon. After the ceremony, family and guests gathered for refreshments just outside the cemetery gate.

In her opening speech, UDC President Jill Simmons stated: "Nothing is ended until it is forgotten. That which is held in memory still endures and is real." Pvt. William Newton lives on in the hearts of his family and in the members of the Southern Heritage organizations who gathered on this hot Stafford Saturday to pay tribute to his life. He is not forgotten.

Donna Chasen is a member of the board of directors of the Spotsylvania Preservation Foundation and the Fredericksburg Architectural Review Board. She may be reached for questions and/or comments at
Email: saveidlewild@yahoo.com.