Friday, January 14, 2011

Do You Know How To Tell Which Pre-WWI Marker You Are Looking At?

I have photographed more military stones than I can count.  I had the hardest time trying to figure out which side the the civil war markers were for.  Until a friend sent me the Department of Veteran Affairs link.  I has made it much easier to identify them now.  So I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.

Union Markers & Spanish American War Markers:
(Info from Department of Veteran Affairs.)
The inscription on the recessed-shield headstone is limited. For Civil War Union and Spanish American War, a shield is inscribed which encompasses the arched name and abbreviated military organization. Because of the special design and historical uniform significance, no emblem of belief or additional inscription may be inscribed. The dates of birth and death are inscribed below the shield.

 Spanish American War
 Generally the Spanish American War markers will have Sp. Am. War noted on the marker.

Confederate Markers:
(Info from Department of Veterans Affairs.)
The inscription on the special style for Civil War Confederate is also limited. The Southern Cross of Honor is automatically inscribed at the top. The name is arched, followed by abbreviated military organization and dates of birth and death. No additional items can be inscribed.


  1. And the confederates are pointed where the union are rounded on the top.

  2. Tammi:

    I was just going to say what Gale did. The CSA's are pointed. This was done so that the Union soldiers wouldn't sit on them - would be uncomfortable with a point up your rear-end! LOL

  3. The information about the peaked tops of the Confederate markers is very helpful. Sometimes I have noticed Confederate veteran graves with no Southern Cross of Honor on the stone. Between this and the illegibility of the engraving or the lack of information, it's good to have another way of identifying these markers.