Parker’s Crossroads Cemetery And Confederate Grave Site

By Gregory L. Wade · Originally published April 2017 · p. 10

Photos of the potential site of up to ninety, unmarked Confederate (Photos by Gregory L. Wade)

Parker’s Crossroads Cemetery And Confederate Grave Site By Gregory L. Wade PARKER’S CROSSROADS, TENN.—Almost three years after announcing the new Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery (TSVC) adjacent to the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield, excavation has begun on the 132 acre site. Located about half way between Nashville and Memphis, the project was begun to assist veterans in this part of rural Tennessee, at least two hours from state veterans’ cemeteries in Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis. Nearby Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield manager, Kimberly Parker, herself a descendant of the town’s namesake and member of the TSVC steering committee said,

The gravestone is of the John Parker for whom the community is named. He was at one time loyal to the Union until he got upset by troops on his property.

Construction of a new Tennessee Veterans cemetery adjoining the Parker’s Crossroads battlefield.

“the target date for the first interment is January 2018 with about four hundred veterans already signed up.” Ultimately there will be ten phases with about 2,100 graves each, she added. There are almost 45,000 veterans in the area served by the cemetery which will cost over six million when completed. The majority of the funding is from the Federal National Cemetery Administration. Tenn. Congressman Steve McDaniel, the historian and driving force behind the adjacent battlefield park said the cemetery, “being located next to a battlefield just adds more significance to both.” He said this “provides another suitable site to pay tribute to veterans of all of our wars.” There will be thirteen staff positions at the new facility to maintain the grounds and manage interments. The Battle of Parker’s Crossroads occurred Dec 31, 1862 between troops commanded by Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Federal soldiers led by Gen. Jeremiah Sullivan. After finding himself trapped, Forrest gave his now famous order, “charge them both ways.” The Confederates did just that and were able to escape. McDaniel worked to preserve the ground, cut in half by Interstate 40, and saw the first 56 acres purchased in 2005. Today the park is now over 350 acres with interpreted trails, a visitor center and event center. While there have been no documented artifact finds on the new cemetery grounds relating to the New Year’s Eve 1862 battle, “there were certainly cavalry coming thru the area during the fighting,” noted McDaniel. The Parker family water well was known to have been visited by troops and still stands just a few feet away from the entrance to the new veterans’ cemetery. In another development, the search to confirm the existence of perhaps 90 unmarked graves of Confederate soldiers killed during the battle continues. In 1993 a grave site was found with Federal soldiers’ remains confirming years of oral tradition that soldiers were interred in unmarked graves on the property. In late 2011, another 51 acres were added to the park and the search is moving forward for Confederate graves believed on this specific ground. The latest search with ground penetrating radar was conducted in early February with the results indicating “there is reason to go back with excavation activity,” McDaniel said. Searches years ago in the area were unsuccessful but other evidence and this latest survey leaves researchers believing burials may be there. When asked what should be done with the remains of any soldiers found, Parker said, “they have been here all of these years; let’s let them rest in peace.”

Artists rendering of the new cemetery next to the Parkers Crossroads battlefield. Courtesy Kimberly Parker, Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery-Parker’s Crossroads steering committee.

Parkers Crossroads interpretive sign.

Photos of the potential site of up to ninety, unmarked Confederate graves. (Photos by Gregory L. Wade)