Union Civil War Soldier to Be Reburied in West Virginia

WINFIELD, WV -- There are always those mysterious ancestors that perplex genealogists. Who were their parents? Why did they die? Where are they buried? Luckily for Joyce Saunders of South Point, Ohio, one of these questions has now been answered about her great-grandfather, Private Roland Gillispie.

Last summer, while surveyors were busy working on the new U.S. Route 35 in Putnam County, WV, they discovered an old, overgrown cemetery. Buried within this cemetery were the remains of 42 individuals, one of which was the Union Civil War soldier, Private Roland Gillispie. The cemetery, known as the Gillispie-Roach or Gillispie View Cemetery, was going to have to be dealt with before the road could be built.

West Virginia State officials began searching for descendants of the Civil War soldier and others in the mostly unmarked graves. Eventually they located Joyce Saunders, who just happened to be a genealogy buff. She then contacted nine other descendants and made a trip to the old cemetery to clean off Gillispie's grave and place some flowers and an American flag in his honor. "I can tell you, I cried," she said. "These people become real to you."

While the other individuals' remains have been relocated to alternate cemeteries, Private Gillispie will receive a full military-honors reburial recreated in Civil War- era detail on May 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Huntington, West Virginia. The public is invited to witness this rare event that will begin at Ferrell-Chambers Funeral Home on 924 20th Street. Private Gillispie's body will be transported to Spring Hill Cemetery in a horse-drawn hearse from the early 20th century provided by Schneider-Griffin Funeral Home of Chesapeake, OH pulled by twin Golden Percheron horses. The Sons of Union Veterans, Cadot-Blessing Camp 126 of Gallipolis, Ohio will be in charge of the ceremony and re-enactment of historical significance. James Oiler, of Camp 126 said that Civil War burials are not very common. However, when they do occur, the 1890 Ritual & Ceremonies Manual of the Sons of Union Veterans is strictly followed.

In front of the hearse will be an honor guard carrying a 34-star Union flag. There will be re-enactors accompanying the procession, a fife and drum unit, and Ladies in Mourning following behind. Once at the cemetery, Gillispie's pine box casket will be taken from the hearse and situated over his final resting place. A 34-star flag will be removed from the casket, folded, and given to his great-granddaughter, Joyce Saunders.

Private Gillispie's great-great grandson, Christopher Saunders, will deliver the eulogy. Afterwards, a short story about the Civil War will be given by Bob Leith, a history professor from the Ohio University Southern. Other speakers of note are: The Camp Chaplain, Sr. Vice Commander Roger Caldwell, Jr. Vice Commander Henry Myers, and the Commander James Oiler. Leila McClintock will be playing violin music from the Civil War period.

Finally there will be canons and muskets fired in salute of the soldier by Battery L of the Ohio Light Artillery Regiment. At that point, a wreath will be presented in honor of every Union soldier from the Civil War by Ken Freshly, Ohio Department Commander of the SUVCW. The entire ceremony, as well as the other reburials, will be paid for by the State of West Virginia.

Private Gillispie was born Jan. 9, 1839, and died Feb. 14, 1911. He fought in the Civil War in the 7th Regiment, Company D. West Virginia Cavalry. "The only bad part is having the remains disturbed," Saunders said. "But now I can rest knowing where Roland [Gillispie] is."