ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Graves of Confederate Soldiers
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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Graves of Confederate soldiers:
                  1936 Dec. 1
                  Research made by L. Blanche Bess

Cemetery Location:  22 miles southwest of Covington, Virginia, on Route #60 and 
                    #18 to the cross roads at J.P. Sizers; thence take old 
                    Fincastle-Sweet Springs  Turnpike and go by Given’s cemetery 
                    on same ridge about one-tenth mile and the graveyard may be 
                    found.
                    Alleghany County



OWNERS:

A.C. Sizer, Present owner. (1936)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Three South Covington Scout boys who were looking for Indian mounds recently, 
discovered a number of unmarked graves in the western part of Alleghany County.  
The graves are located on a ridge back of the Old David Givens cemetery.

The place has been neglected so long that it has completely grown up, and to 
such extent that good sized trees have grown since this burial place was 
established.

The Scout boys reported their discovery to the field historian who immediately 
made inquiry.  He was lucky in meeting a gentleman who had lived in this part of 
Alleghany county a good many years ago and who knew about the graveyard and gave 
the following story:

“During the  War Between the States, a number of Confederate soldiers tried to 
cross Potts Creek at the ford near the old Shawver Tavern.  The water was very 
high and the soldiers, not knowing the stream went in on the foot-log which 
washed out with them.  Whether the entire party was drowned we have not been 
able to learn, but a number of the soldiers were drowned.  The bodies were later 
recovered and taken to the home of David G. Givens where they were prepared for 
burial and kept until the graves could be dug.”

It seems strange that the bodies of men who had served their country honorably, 
and lost their lives far from home and friends, should have been buried back in 
the forest.  Mr. Reid, our informant, could not give the name of the Company nor 
the number of the Regiment, but we hope to find it and also that the graves will 
be marked.

Some of the graves are very well defined and rounded up, three in a row, while 
others seemed to be scattered, probably because some have sunken.  This 
graveyard was discovered November 28, 1936, by John Bess, Boyd Fridley, and 
Wilbur Myers, of South Covington, Troop Number 2, B.S.A.  Mr. William Reid of 
Covington, Virginia, gave the story.





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	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Joan Renfrow

	NOTICE:  I have no relationship or further information in 
	regards to this family.
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