Bosque Bello Union Soldiers' Graves - A disgrace . . .

John Gourdin examines Union soldier grave

Submitted by

Susan Hardee Steger

John Gourdin, noted author and lecturer on black civil war soldiers, gazed at the graves of Jonas Miller and Jefferson Harris, Union soldiers who served with the United States Colored Troops (USCT) with a heavy heart.  “What a disgrace,” says Gourdin. The Miller and Harris graves are part of growing controversy over approval by the City of Fernandina Beach to allow a family to construct a 4 foot wall in the historic section of Bosque Bello.

Chrs Belcher and John Gourdin

Gourdin, was an invited guest of former resident Peg Davis, a senior producer for CNN, who is preparing a segment  on the “Battle of the Hundred Pines,” a civil war battle near Crandall involving the first black regiment in the Union army.    “Everyone has a right to privacy in after life.  This is like disturbing the dead.  It is atrocious, a travesty, and a desecration,” says Gourdin.

Chris Belcher,Fernandina resident and local historian, was the first to raise concerns over the building of the wall and the moving of headstones. (Click here)

Belcher, son of of Hal Belcher who was a major contributor to  the 1988 survey of old Bosque Bello,  is armed with diagrams that mark the graves and recent movement of headstones. According to Belcher, as the wall was being constructed, Miller’s headstone was moved over  7 feet, and Harris’, over 5 feet  west of their original locations.  After Belcher raised concerns with the city,  the headstones were moved closer but still a foot and a half shy of their original locations.

Photo courtesy of John C. "Charlie" Hutchins
www.jchutchins.com

According to civil war records, Harris' height was 5 feet 9 1/2 inches, and Miller's 5 feet 7 ½ inches.  Assuming the headstones in their original location properly marked the graves, Harris and Miller’s legs lie underneath the wall.

Photo courtesy of John C. "Charlie" Hutchins
www.jchutchins.com

At the November 20, city commission meeting City Manager Joe Gerrity said the wall is within the boundaries of the plots that the family owns and the gravestones were moved to protect them from damage during construction of the wall. Despite the efforts, Belcher sees evidence of recent damage to the stones.

Although in the historic district, the old section of Bosque Bello has no guidelines for Historic District Council review.  The cemetery is under the direction of the City Parks and Recreation Department.

November 29, 2012  8:59 a.m.