Photographs taken at cemeteries are typically wide shots, large landscapes. Lately I have taken a different approach.
I thought to pay attention to individual markers and head stones. Particularly the ones that look to have no one visiting.
Elizabeth, 1899.
This headstone is in Magnolia Cemetery, the Soldiers Field section. I was unable to find any reference to a ‘B. F. Austin’ here.
Members of the CSA (Confederate States Of America) military are buried here. However, the 1st South Carolina Volunteers were a regiment of the northern Union Army, not CSA. This explains why there is no military insignia on the marker.
This unit was composed of escaped slaves from South Carolina and Florida. Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist, served with these men as a cook, nurse, spy, and scout. The commander Col. Thomas Higginson was a supporter of John Brown and helped document the Gullah dialect of the men in the regiment.
Like most of Charleston area, there is a marsh.
The Cooper river runs by here and a small dike holds out the marsh and river. However, in some places the marsh is winning. Again, like the rest of the area.
Poet Henry Timrod, Memorial Day 1866, at Magnolia Cemetery 'Stoop, angels, hither from the skies! There is no holier spot of ground Than where defeated valor lies By mourning beauty crowned!'
This headstone is in Magnolia Cemetery, the Soldiers Field section. Members of the CSA (Confederate States Of America) military are buried here.
Hutto, Nicholas, 2nd Lieutenant, born 12-Jan-18 in Barnwell District. He was a Farmer, 5′ 5″ tall, weighed 155 lbs., with Dark eyes and Black hair. Resided in Barnwell Court House. He reported for duty on 13-Aug-64. Admitted to 1st LA Hospital, Charleston, with yellow fever on 11-Oct-64, died there on 14-Oct-64 and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston. Previously served in Co. B, 11th SC Reserve Infantry (Nov 1862–Jan-63), and Co. E, 2nd SC State Troops (Sep 1863-Feb 1864).
Company C of the South Carolina Reserves was primarily older, and younger soldiers, based in Charleston to protect the city during the siege. A blockade of Union ships had closed the city harbor.
There were 2 major battles with Co. C to capture Charleston.
The first April 1863 was a naval attack on the city by the new ironclad warships. The city defense held and at low tide the ships departed.
The second on July 1863 was combined Army and Navy forces at the southern end of Charleston Harbor. Several battles between July and August 1863 ended when the Confederate forces abandon Ft. Wagner. The Union side determined any other action too costly and closed this section to tighten the siege.
Note; The men of the 54th Massachusetts were hailed for their valor at Ft. Wagner. William Carney, an African-American sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit’s U.S. Flag to Union lines. Only 315 members of the 54th survived the battle.
Off in a corner of old Magnolia Cemetery, the marshlands are creeping closer.
There is some rust and ruin to this part of the cemetery.
Yes, some neglect here. But it adds to the wonder and beauty of this famous grave yard.
Under A Live OakA friend, who’s family goes back to near the beginning of Charleston and is a local historian, has been graciously feeding me local history for a few years now. Of course little is written down but I am trying to include what little I can as I publish these images.
Black and white, and a story of course.
Photographers who shot in 35 mm film (kids, Google it) had their favorite brand of film. If you were a serious or professional photographer it was almost anything other than Kodak. We were ‘film snobs’.
I just read the other night Delta 400 was available again. Most film is not. Personally I’m OK with never shooting film again.
This image was changed to a basic monochrome and then a filter used to simulate what Delta 400 would have created. There are filters and templates to help simulate most popular B&W film. I have created some of my own.
I am perfectly happy with a digital camera, memory card, and PC… and no darkroom.
