Honoring the Forgotten: Missouri Confederate Soldiers Remembered At Oakwood Cemetery

In a heartfelt tribute to Confederate soldiers, Commander Dalton Bilderback of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOS&B) and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) recently traveled to Richmond, VA, to honor two Missouri soldiers at Oakwood Cemetery.

The cemetery, which served as a burial ground for soldiers who died at the Chimborazo Hospital during the Civil War, holds the remains of more than 16,000 soldiers, many of whom are marked only by block numbers.

Although no known Missouri Confederate soldiers were initially thought to be buried at Oakwood, research by a member of the organization revealed that two soldiers, Pvt. Thomas Prather and Pvt. Henry Baker, had been captured, imprisoned, and later died at Chimborazo Hospital.

Upon this discovery, Commander Bilderback spearheaded a fundraising effort to provide headstones for these soldiers, ensuring they would not remain nameless.

The stones were funded through donations from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, and individual contributors.

Bilderback’s journey to Richmond was not only to witness the placement of the headstones, but also to participate in setting stones for other soldiers.

He brought with him a small amount of Missouri soil to place on the graves of Prather and Baker, symbolizing their connection to their home state.

“With this project, these men will never just be a number; they will have a headstone with a name. They will never be forgotten,” Bilderback stated.

He emphasized that such projects are central to the mission of their organizations, which aim to honor Confederate soldiers and citizens.