Moore's Mill mass grave location discovered

Local group plans to purchase monument commemorating site

Sons of Confederate Veterans and other researchers pose with the sonar equipment used to pinpoint the location of the Moore's Mill mass grave site in Calwood. Front row, left to right: David Todd, Don Ernst, Kevin Wenzel, Peter Kessinger, Pablo Baum, Noel Crowson, Bill Connor, Wayne Sampson. Back: James Dixon.
Sons of Confederate Veterans and other researchers pose with the sonar equipment used to pinpoint the location of the Moore's Mill mass grave site in Calwood. Front row, left to right: David Todd, Don Ernst, Kevin Wenzel, Peter Kessinger, Pablo Baum, Noel Crowson, Bill Connor, Wayne Sampson. Back: James Dixon.

After 150 years and multiple attempts at finding the elusive unmarked site, the mass grave that holds eight Confederate and 16 Union soldiers who died in the Battle of Moore's Mill, the lost cemetery's location has been uncovered.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of members of the Elijah Gates Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the remains of those killed in Callaway County's largest Civil War battle were confirmed in Calwood - just one foot from where initial speculation had placed it - following an underground sonar investigation that began April 5.

"I think obviously all of us are excited about the success of finding it, but I think what we're more excited about is that all of these soldiers on both sides will finally have their final resting place located and marked for the future to see," said Elijah Gates Camp Commander Noel Crowson.

"I think we all believe that no matter if you're Union or Confederate, if you die in combat in service to your country, you deserve to have your final resting place marked."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.