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The month of May is very significant to Hampton Historical Society. It marks the start of a new season, which begins on Memorial Day. We hope you will attend our traditional Memorial Day ceremony, this year its May 31 at 10:00 AM. Hampton can be proud of the fact that we are one of the few communities that still do this. We can be even more proud of the Hampton boys that have served their country in every war since the War of 1812.
Memorial Day was originally meant to honor Civil War veterans but later came to include veterans of all wars. There are 60 Civil War veterans buried on the bluff. The names are read every Memorial Day. Included is one unknown soldier, buried near the cannon. Why an unknown soldier? We don’t know, but we think it appropriate to focus just as attention is paid to the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. All we know about our unknown soldier is that he was in the 1st US Cavalry.
Another Civil War grave is that of Henry Arcularius. He was a member of a very significant family, in our town. The family home is just over the bluff. If you are going toward Babcok/Meersman Additions, at the foot of the hill look to your right. You’ll see a large old farm house. It’s not so hard to imagine young Henry playing in the yard and in the woods out back. Another timber is very significant to Henry Arcularius. This one is far away, in the Northern part of Georgia. In September of 1863, young Henry marched with the 89th Illinois Infantry as part of McCook’s divistion of the Army of the Cumberland. The Union general, William Rosecrans had campaigned all summer against his Confederate counterpart, Braxton Bragg. Roaecrans, with some creative strategy had forced Bragg out of Tennessee without a pitched battle. He proceeded into Georgia, cautiously, through heavily timbered, sparsely settled country. He didn’t know it but Bragg was drawing him into a trap. The two armies stumbled into each other near a sludgy little creek called Chicamauga. Neither general had planned to fight in this difficult ground but great battles sometimes just happen, without intent.
September 18 it started. The country was so heavily wooded that the officers had little control and the fight deteriorated into a struggle between individual groups of soldiers. It was on this day during fierce but indecisive battle that Henry Arcularius was killed. Apparently his parents had his body transported home to Hampton for burial. Not unusual in the Civil War, but tlhe only one in Hampton as far as we know. The next day Rosecrans would commit a major strategic mistake that allowed the Confederates to break through and route 2/3 of the Union army. The remaining 1/3, commanded by George H Thomas, refused to be routed and though beset by assault after assault, in the end fighting with the bayonet. Thomas withdrew the next day so the rebels could count it as a victory, but at terrible cost. It gave Thomas his famous nickname: The Rock of Chicamauga.
If you visit Hampton Cemetery on Memorial Day you might notice two flags by the Monument, not decorating graves. They are placed there at the request of Maniel Smith, another veteran of the 89th in honor of two “buddies”, Moses Beaver and Elijah Youlin, who fell at the battle of Stone River and are buried on that field. Stone River is sometimes called Stone’s River, or Murfreesboro, take your pick. It is also referred to as the New Years Eve battle because it took place December 31, 1862 – January 2,1863. Rosecrans was in command (this was 9 months before Chicamauga) and Bragg was the rebel commander. Both armies were ready to go into winter quarters, Bragg at Murfeeboro, Rosecrans at Nashville. Rosecrans decided to make one more move against Bragg. He moved south and engaged the enemy with his army astride Stone(‘s) River. Fierce fighting ensued on the last day of 1862, and some more on the first day of 1863. The Federals got the best of it but suffered heavy losses, among which were Beaver and Youlin.
There are some others, not buried in Hampton, but from our town and representing it where they rest today. Andersonville was the name of a huge prison camp near Plains, Macon County, Georgia. Over 30,000 Union prisoners were held there under unbelievably horrible conditions. Disease killed more men than those killed in any battle of the war. In the National Cemetery there, lie three Hampton boys, again from the 89th
In grave # 3123, lies Josiah Dudley. He held the rank of Corporal. He died July 10, 1864 of anasorca (dropsy, an accumulation of liquid in the body. Thank God for the Unabridged Dictionary) It doesn’t say where he was captured but Chicamquga is a good guess.
In grave # 11921 lies James Bowser, private, died September 19, 1863. Cause of death is listed as scorbutus (scurvy, a disease caused by insufficient fresh vegetables in the diet) He is listed as captured at Chicamauga.
The third, in grave #2637 is Franklin S Merrill, sergeant, died June 29, 1864 of scorbutus. No record of capture but likely Chicamauga. In the 1860 census he is listed as a farmer with a wife and two children.
So our little town has had its share of heroes. Lets think about that on May 31. These men died for their country, but they also died for you.