Lewis A. Lavender rises from the grave

     While walking the grounds at Sheffield's Oakwood

Cemetery collecting names of veterans buried there

for the SCV project, I came across a Confederate

stone that had sank into the ground so far the name

was unreadable. I reported this information to Camp

Commander Todd Richardson and he thought we

should go fix the problem. Upon our arrival at the

cemetery, I was of the opinion we should go to the

main office and at least let the caretaker know our

intentions. Todd was of the opinion that getting

forgiveness would be a lot easier than getting

permission. Despite my qualms about digging in a

cemetery, we began our task.

     We weren't sure if the soldier was buried here or if this

was just a cenotaph. The distance we were forced to

dig caused me to think that we may possibly find the

answer. We finally managed to get deep enough to

pull the heavy stone from the ground and then tamped

rocks into the bottom of the hole. Hopefully this will

prevent the stone from sinking again.

     We learned the stone is for Lewis A. Lavender,

Second Lieutenant, Company C, 24th Alabama

Infantry Regiment. The 24th was organized at Mobile,

Alabama in August of 1861. Lavender was appointed

Second Lieutenant on November 8, 1861. The unit

remained in Mobile until joining the Army of

Tennessee when Braxton Bragg invaded Kentucky in

the fall of 1862. They would not see action until the

Battle of Murfreesboro where they fought in

Manigault's brigade. The 24th would remain in

Manigault's brigade for the remainder of the war.

Lt. Lavender was detached in August of 1863 and

sent home to arrest two deserters. His efficiency

report at this time states that he was an efficient

officer and attentive to his duties. He is listed as

present on every other muster roll. They fought at

Chickamauga, throughout the campaign for Altanta,

saw action at Franklin and Nashville. Out of the 680

men in the 24th Alabama in the spring of 1862, only

125 would be present to surrender. After fighting at

Bentonville, North Carolina, Lt. Lavender would be

one of those 125 men and was paroled on May 1,

1865.

     Is Lewis Lavender buried in Sheffield, Alabama? How

did his remains end up here? Did he live here at one

time? We may never know, but his marker is back up

for all to see and remember this loyal Confederate

soldier.