Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Confederate Soldier's Monument To be Set

A monument will be placed at the grave of John Henry Vines, a Confederate soldier's unmarked grave, 73 years after his death.

The cremoney will take place Saturday, July 20, at 10:30 a.m., 11 miles southeast of Hope, just off Shover Springs Road (Highway 32) at the New Hope Cemetery.

Vines was born in Calhoun County, Alabama, in 1837. He joined the Confederate Army at Benton, Arkansas, on July 18, 1861.

He was a private in the Falcon Guards, later Compnay E 11th Arkansas Infantry. His company was sent up the Mississippi River to Memphis and then on to New Madrid, Mo., and Island 10 to hold those points from the Yankees. The river was important to keep the enemy from reaching Vicksburg.

These soldiers were captured at Island 10 near New Madrid and Tiptonville, Tenn.

Vines was held a prisoner at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, Ill., for six months before he and 1,180 others were exchanged at Vicksburg in September 1862. His company regrouped at Jackson, Miss., and continued to serve until the end of the war.

He lived in Hempstead and Nevada County, where he raised a large family and where numerous decendents reside today.

Family, friends and the public are invited to the dedication. Family history will be available to those attending.

Contact Wilma Thedford, 5119 Steel Rd., Tyler, TX 75703, or call 903-561-1584.