CONFEDERATE GRAVES SOUGHT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992                   TAG: 9201240278
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Charlie Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
CONFEDERATE GRAVES SOUGHT
The Southern Cross chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is looking for graves of Confederate soldiers buried in Salem.
The chapter plans to place miniature Confederate flags on the graves of the soldiers as part of its Memorial Day observance at Salem's East Hill Cemetery, said Dolores C. Smith, president.
People with knowledge about Confederate graves in Salem are being asked to pass on the information to the Southern Cross Chapter by mailing it to Confederate Graves, P.O. Box 201, Salem, Va., 24153.
Smith is seeking the names of Confederate veterans, the military unit they served with, the date of death and name of the cemetery where they are buried along with the cemetery's division, section and lot number of the grave.
Smith said the chapter already knows the location of more than 100 graves but she thinks there are others.
Chapter officials know about those who served in the Salem Flying Artillery and those who are on file in the Roanoke County Courthouse, she said.
Data about graves from other than those two sources are the ones being sought from the public, she said. It doesn't matter where the soldier lived, she said. But chapter officials want to know about them if they are buried in Salem.
Information on the graves is needed no later than May 15.
Smith said two other cemeteries - West Hill in the Cameron Court area off West Main Street and Church Hill in South Salem - also may contain plots of Confederate soldiers.
"I would love to have the names of every Confederate veteran buried in Salem," she said.
In her search for graves Smith has uncovered many interesting stories but one of the most intriguing concerns a man who was not a soldier but was a loyal Confederate supporter.
His last name is Johnston, and he is buried in West Hill Cemetery.
Johnston, a farmer in Louisiana, was shot by Union soldiers when he refused to hand over supplies the Union detachment demanded, according to the story Smith has uncovered.
"I don't know how he got from Louisiana to a grave in Salem," Smith said, "and if anybody knows I'd love to hear from them."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB