During the Civil War, local undertaker George Diuguid buried ten African Americans in what became known as the “Confederate Section”. Following contemporary custom, Diuguid segregated interments, burying “negroes” in “Negro Row” or “Black Row.”
Most of those buried in Negro Row were slaves who worked in local hospitals as nurses, attendants, and orderlies. Their primary care contributed to the convalescence of hundreds of soldiers in Lynchburg.
Other burials in Negro Row included bodyservants of Confederate military officers and two Union soldiers (USCT).
The precise location of Negro Row is still unknown, although it is believed to be within or adjacent to the Confederate Section.
Confirmed Burials in “Negro Row”
Allen Bobson – 19 July 1864 Union soldier: Private, Co. E, 27th OH
Hampton – 1 Aug 1864 Slave of J. W. Woodson (and Seth Halsey?)
Cosar (Caesar?) – 1 Aug 1864 Slave of Mrs. Raney; “J. W. Davidson at Randolph” (?)
Taylor – 12 Aug 1864 Slave of Col. Withers or Capt. Getty
Levi – 16 Sep 1864 Slave of Dr. Wise
Jane – 28 Sep 1864 Slave of Col. W. H. Brown; only woman buried in Confederate Section during Civil War
Lewis – 17 Nov 1864 Slave of Richard Smiley; enslaved employee at Reid’s Factory Hospital
Berry – 3 Mar 1865 Slave of Capt. Barksdale; enslaved employee at Confederate Quartermaster’s Stable, under Capt. McCormack
Unconfirmed Burials in “Negro Row”
Talbot – 15 May 1864 Union soldier, prisoner
Unknown – 6 Apr 1865 Slave of Dr. Carmichael; enslaved employee at Pratt’s Factory Hospital
