Period Funeral Service In October For Brig. Gen. Burton Johnson,
CSA
By John Carr
FAIRFIELD, Texas - Period funeral services for Confederate Brig.
Gen. Joseph Burton Johnson will be held on the weekend of Oct.
26 and 27 in Fairfield. Hosts for the event are the Johnson-Sayers-Nettles
Camp 1012, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), and Co. A, 12th
Texas Infantry Regiment.
The reburial project came about after Ruth Hunter, Johnson's
great-granddaughter, approached Camp 1012 to investigate the
possibility of moving three graves to Fairfield City Cemetery.
Camp 1012 bears three names, the first, "Johnson,"
in memory of the forgotten Brigadier General of the 19th Brigade,
Texas State Troops.
After 127 years at rest on a remote hill in Freestone County
the general, his wife Patience and son Joseph Jr. were disinterred
under the eye of family members, a forensic anthropology scholar,
a dentist with post-graduate studies in forensics, a funeral
director, SCV and UDC members and Confederate reenactors from
the 12th Texas Infantry Regiment and the Val Verde Artillery
Battery plus several history buffs.
The planned reburial is the result of a piece of oral history
passed down through the generations that states that Gen. Johnson's
dying wish was to be buried in the Fairfield City Cemetery rather
than the remote location of the family plot.
Because he was predeceased by his wife in 1870 and the family
did not wish to disturb her grave, he was buried in 1874 in
the Johnson Cemetery some seven miles north of Fairfield, in
the middle of what is now a hayfield owned by a non-relative.
His son was killed when thrown from a horse a few months later
and was buried beside his parents.
After being contacted by Mrs. Hunter last summer, commander
John Carr and camp members immediately accepted the responsibility
and began planning what will be the premier event for the SCV
this year.
By last fall, the camp had begun removal of the undergrowth
at the cemetery plot and asked for the assistance of the 12th
Texas Infantry in following military protocol for exhumation
and reburial of the Johnson family. On Dec. 9, final preparations
were completed for the removal of the remains and on Feb. 3
the graves were exhumed.
The original tombstones are being refurbished, and the ornate
iron fence surrounding the plot will be repaired, painted and
reset around the new gravesite. On Oct. 27 General Johnson will
finally be granted his last request.
At noon on Friday the 26th, the general's remains will be placed
in state at the Moody-Bradley House in Fairfield. The house
is a period home built in 1860, and was visited by the general
on many occasions. He will lie in state under 24-hour honor
guard until the funeral services begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Prior to the funeral visitors may enter the home and pay their
respects to the general and his descendants, many of whom will
be attending.
Services will begin with eulogies to be spoken at the Moody-Bradley
Home by members of the clergy, the Masons, the Texas State Grange,
the family and the hosts. At approximately 10:45, a period procession
will form and proceed 1.3 miles through the City of Fairfield,
directly to the Fairfield City Cemetery.
Those wishing to participate in the procession
should be physically capable of the march and be dressed in
period attire of black mourning for ladies and period civilian
or military attire for men. Guests may also drive to the cemetery,
park, and position themselves within the cemetery in plenty
of time to view the procession as it enters the cemetery.
A short Masonic ritual will be performed, as well as ceremonies
by the SCV and clergy, followed by a military tribute which
will include a 21-gun salute by full-scale period artillery,
and volleys of musketry from the troops.
The general's great-granddaughter will be presented with the
silk flags covering his casket and all present will be allowed
to offer personal tributes at the close of ceremonies.
The Johnson-Sayers-Nettles Camp and the 12th Texas Infantry
invite all to join their many honored guests for the occasion.
For additional information contact SCV member Ronnie Hatfield,
12th Texas Infantry, 2131 West Point Tap Road #5, Palestine,
TX 75801, (903) 723-8440; email: sarge12@flash.net
