Confederate Cemetery
Kietchie, Desoto Parish,  Louisiana

 

Submitted by Carole Ann Hall-Zoebel on August 27, 2003.

On Nov. 14, 2002

Inventory of markers at this cemetery by:  Carole Ann Hall-Zoebel, G. C. Hall, Jr., Ruby Virginia Hall-Harper, and Henry Edgar Harper Jr. Information some of the occupants by Sidney Hall, James Hudnell Hall ,and Carol McConnell-Hall.

The cemetery is located near Kietchie, North Western Louisiana, in DeSoto Parish. Kietchie is at the crossroads of  Louisiana State  Hwy 172 and  Louisiana State Hwy 5.  The CSA Cemetery is well marked. 

At the back of the cemetery there are 4 rows with 22 mounds each that I could distinguish.  This area is marked with several white marble markers that just say CSA.  I had always been told that it was a mass grave of over 100 soldiers. However; the condition of the ground, and the location of the existing markers, could indicate separate burials. 

As you enter the cemetery there are a number of other markers and I have noted the information on them.  This was a public cemetery before it was a CSA cemetery so; there are other burials in this area.  There are public cemeteries are both sides of this area where the CSA cemetery now exist.

The CSA cemetery, Kietchie, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana

First there are two new markers:

1- PVT Major William Hall, Co H, 11 Texas Inf.  CSA, born Jan 20, 1829, died April 15, 1864. Husband of Amanda Bryant and father of Alexander.

Notes: Major was born in North Carolina the son of Elizabeth Sellers Purviance and James H. Hall.  He was one of  6 children. they lived in Tenn. from about 1831 to after 1850.  Eliza the mother and her 6 children  moved to Texas. Major was married in Rusk County Texas to Amanda Bryant on 11 Jan 1859.  Major and Amanda  had only one child. Alexander Franklin Hall,  born Feb 15, 1860.  Amanda died shortly after the birth of pneumonia and is buried in Rusk County Texas, near Tatum.  Major Hall and all his brothers, Randolph, Franklin, Joshua, and Harvey all joined the CSA in Rusk County Texas.  They all fought in the Battle of Mansfield.   His sister was Caroline Hall. 

Major died in Kietchie at the girls school, which was being used as a Field Hospital.  Randolph is the only brother that we know  who survived the war.  We found Harvey and Joshua died at the POW camp in New Orleans.  We  have no other information about Franklin at this time.

Note:  Alexander Franklin Hall is buried in the Hall/Ivy Cemetery in Caddo Parish Louisiana. He died in 1933.  Alexander was raised by his Uncle Randolph Hall (brother of Major) and his Aunt Caroline Hall (sister of Major).  Randolph died about 1922 and Caroline died after 1930. 

 

2- PVT Andrew J. Carson, CSA, LOK, 28 La. Inf. Feb. 13, 1835-April 21, 1864.

 

 

At the entrance just past the chain that divides the parking area and the cemetery area are 3 graves:

1-The first is that of George M. Anderson, son of JA and SA Anderson, died Feb.7 1861, his age is listed as, 2 yrs. 11 months old.

2-The second is that of Sara K. Anderson died Dec 23, 1862; her age is listed as, 12 yrs. 2 months

3-The third is a mound only the Marker is missing.  One can only assume another Anderson family member.  It is a small mound, suggesting a child.

 

Just past these three graves in the center is the Flagpole with the Stars and Bars Proudly flying.

 

Along the fence starting close to the Chain divider are these graves:

 

1-Charles P. son of J.A. and M.L. Patch, March 24, 1859-June 10, 1859, 2 months 16days

 

2- Two Brick places that have no markers                                                                  

 

3- Frances Bozeman wife of J.W. Hudnall, died March 1860, age 30yrs.

 

This is the wife of J.W. Hudnall, her name is Frances Bozeman, born Oct 18, 1829 and died March 31, 1860.  She is part of the Hollingsworth – Valentine family.  She was the daughter of Sarah Hollingsworth and Daniel Bozeman.  Sarah Hollingsworth’s mother was a Valentine.

 

The area where Frances is buried is a Hudnall plot and the two brick places are that of other family members.  We do not know what happened to the markers as they were once there.  One is of Frances ‘s husband, John Willis Hudnall, born Feb. 22, 1818 and died June 26, 1864, from wounds received during the Battle of Mansfield.  

 

 

4-Arthur Cornet, Sept. 12, 1830-Oct 17, 1915 “Was a true and brave soldier to the Confederacy”

 

5-Bone McMillan, 14 March 1911, age 76 yrs. “ Co I, 19th Rect. Louisiana Volunteers Inftry. Gibson S. Brigade  CSA

 

6-Wess Booten, 4 March 1907, age 75yrs

 

 

 

This story about the cemetery was passed on to me a few years ago by one of the residence of Kietchie.  It  may or may not be the exact facts.  But not to let a good story die, I will pass it on to you.

 

 “ The slaves would dig long trenches, because the men were dying so fast. It was 1864 about April, during and after the Mansfield Battle.  The soldier would just be wrapped in a blanket or some canvas.  They would be dropped in the trench, covered with lye and dirt thrown on top of them.  The smell was awful and there were insects covering every body. 

 

There were family members of some of the soldiers at Kietchie, but the weather was too hot to take the bodies away.  At every battle, there would be civilians camped around or near the military camps.    The girl’s school was being used as a field hospital.  When a soldier would die, he would be taken over to this burial area.  The burial area was down and across the road, near an existing cemetery. It was very close to the Field Hospital.  The girls school was called The Kietchie Woman’s Academy.”

 

Note:  information about this school can be found in past issues of the DeSoto Plume Quarterly magazine of the Desoto Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 925, Mansfield, La 71052.

 

 

I have visited this cemetery many times through the years starting in my youth of 5 or 6 yrs old, and on into my teens.  My great great grandfather is buried here.  And in years past our family would go and clean up the cemetery.  My grandfather would tell me the story of the Civil War and about his grandfather who died and was buried at this old cemetery.  In hindsight I wish I had listened to the stories better.  We would cut down the weeds and clean around the markers.  There would be many people there, not just our family doing the work, so I am hoping others will remember and place markers for their fallen ancestors.   There was a store down the road and my dad would buy me a pop, as we would have food along with us.  I didn’t realize how important preserving history was in those days.

 

After I was married I did not have the opportunity to visit the cemetery. Many years passed before I became interested in Family History.  In 1992 I began to research my family  and  in 1994, I took my three grandchildren to the CSA cemetery in Kietchie and told them of their ancestor buried there.  I wanted them to have this memory. 

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