http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/natchitoches/history/derussy.txt
On August 7-8, 1999 a team of Northwestern State University archaeologists spent two 14-hour days painstakingly disinterring the remains of Confederate Col. Lewis G. DeRussy from a vandalized cemetery near Natchitoches. The disinterment, carried out in 100-plus degree heat, was conducted in preparation for the transfer of the colonel's remains to Fort DeRussy for reburial.
Dr. Tommy Ike Hailey, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the NSU Cultural Resource Office, volunteered the services of his archaeological team to ensure a scientific and thorough disinterment. The team measured the grave precisely, recorded all data and maintained a
pictorial record of each step. At the end of the second day, the team had recovered all the remains and gathered as much information as possible from the gravesite. Due to the acidity of the soil of the gravesite, the remains were badly deteriorated, but because of the work of the archaeologists, Col. DeRussy will now be laid to rest where he can receive the honor and glory he deserves. A West Point graduate, a veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War, a Louisiana State
Representative and State Senator, as well as a Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor, the man and his accomplishments can now be honored and protected at Louisiana's newest historic site.
The archaeologists day started at the gravesite at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, but their work had actually begun hours earlier as they gathered the equipment necessary for the dig. Before any digging began, the gravesite was measured, surveyed and photographed. When the digging began, only approximately 4 inches were dug at a time, and the grave was constantly surveyed to ensure that the digging remained perfectly level. The ground was swept with a small broom and measurements and pictures were taken before the team attempted to remove the next four inches by sifting the dirt through a screen. Also, an L-shaped hole was excavated at one corner of the brick tomb to examine it's construction and determine the extent of the original grave shaft. There were absolutely no records that
indicated the depth of the grave, the type of coffin or the clothes in which DeRussy was dressed.
There were times throughout the excavation that skepticism surfaced as to whether or not the colonel's remains would be found in the grave. Documents in the NSU library indicated that the body may have been moved to the Alexandria National Cemetery at some point. Even if those documents
proved to be incorrect, the condition of the cemetery and of some of the graves increased fear that the body had been removed or destroyed by vandals. Late Sunday afternoon, the remains were located, and they are currently being studied by the archaeologists at NSU. The small fragments of cloth which were recovered were transported to a historical textile expert at LSU, and metal experts are studying the nail and tack fragments found in the grave. Texas A&M personnel are involved in identifying the type of wood used in the coffin.
Colonel DeRussy will be reburied on Sunday, September 26, 1999 at 11 a.m. at Fort DeRussy, located four miles north of Marksville, on Fort DeRussy Rd. off Hwy. 1192. DeRussy's entire life will be honored at the service, which is under the direction of John S. Kramer and Sons, of Alexandria.
On August 7-8, 1999 a team of Northwestern State University archaeologists spent two 14-hour days painstakingly disinterring the remains of Confederate Col. Lewis G. DeRussy from a vandalized cemetery near Natchitoches. The disinterment, carried out in 100-plus degree heat, was conducted in preparation for the transfer of the colonel's remains to Fort DeRussy for reburial.
Dr. Tommy Ike Hailey, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the NSU Cultural Resource Office, volunteered the services of his archaeological team to ensure a scientific and thorough disinterment. The team measured the grave precisely, recorded all data and maintained a
pictorial record of each step. At the end of the second day, the team had recovered all the remains and gathered as much information as possible from the gravesite. Due to the acidity of the soil of the gravesite, the remains were badly deteriorated, but because of the work of the archaeologists, Col. DeRussy will now be laid to rest where he can receive the honor and glory he deserves. A West Point graduate, a veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War, a Louisiana State
Representative and State Senator, as well as a Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor, the man and his accomplishments can now be honored and protected at Louisiana's newest historic site.
The archaeologists day started at the gravesite at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, but their work had actually begun hours earlier as they gathered the equipment necessary for the dig. Before any digging began, the gravesite was measured, surveyed and photographed. When the digging began, only approximately 4 inches were dug at a time, and the grave was constantly surveyed to ensure that the digging remained perfectly level. The ground was swept with a small broom and measurements and pictures were taken before the team attempted to remove the next four inches by sifting the dirt through a screen. Also, an L-shaped hole was excavated at one corner of the brick tomb to examine it's construction and determine the extent of the original grave shaft. There were absolutely no records that
indicated the depth of the grave, the type of coffin or the clothes in which DeRussy was dressed.
There were times throughout the excavation that skepticism surfaced as to whether or not the colonel's remains would be found in the grave. Documents in the NSU library indicated that the body may have been moved to the Alexandria National Cemetery at some point. Even if those documents
proved to be incorrect, the condition of the cemetery and of some of the graves increased fear that the body had been removed or destroyed by vandals. Late Sunday afternoon, the remains were located, and they are currently being studied by the archaeologists at NSU. The small fragments of cloth which were recovered were transported to a historical textile expert at LSU, and metal experts are studying the nail and tack fragments found in the grave. Texas A&M personnel are involved in identifying the type of wood used in the coffin.
Colonel DeRussy will be reburied on Sunday, September 26, 1999 at 11 a.m. at Fort DeRussy, located four miles north of Marksville, on Fort DeRussy Rd. off Hwy. 1192. DeRussy's entire life will be honored at the service, which is under the direction of John S. Kramer and Sons, of Alexandria.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/natchitoches/history/derussy.txt
On August 7-8, 1999 a team of Northwestern State University archaeologists spent two 14-hour days painstakingly disinterring the remains of Confederate Col. Lewis G. DeRussy from a vandalized cemetery near Natchitoches. The disinterment, carried out in 100-plus degree heat, was conducted in preparation for the transfer of the colonel's remains to Fort DeRussy for reburial.
Dr. Tommy Ike Hailey, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the NSU Cultural Resource Office, volunteered the services of his archaeological team to ensure a scientific and thorough disinterment. The team measured the grave precisely, recorded all data and maintained a
pictorial record of each step. At the end of the second day, the team had recovered all the remains and gathered as much information as possible from the gravesite. Due to the acidity of the soil of the gravesite, the remains were badly deteriorated, but because of the work of the archaeologists, Col. DeRussy will now be laid to rest where he can receive the honor and glory he deserves. A West Point graduate, a veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War, a Louisiana State
Representative and State Senator, as well as a Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor, the man and his accomplishments can now be honored and protected at Louisiana's newest historic site.
The archaeologists day started at the gravesite at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, but their work had actually begun hours earlier as they gathered the equipment necessary for the dig. Before any digging began, the gravesite was measured, surveyed and photographed. When the digging began, only approximately 4 inches were dug at a time, and the grave was constantly surveyed to ensure that the digging remained perfectly level. The ground was swept with a small broom and measurements and pictures were taken before the team attempted to remove the next four inches by sifting the dirt through a screen. Also, an L-shaped hole was excavated at one corner of the brick tomb to examine it's construction and determine the extent of the original grave shaft. There were absolutely no records that
indicated the depth of the grave, the type of coffin or the clothes in which DeRussy was dressed.
There were times throughout the excavation that skepticism surfaced as to whether or not the colonel's remains would be found in the grave. Documents in the NSU library indicated that the body may have been moved to the Alexandria National Cemetery at some point. Even if those documents
proved to be incorrect, the condition of the cemetery and of some of the graves increased fear that the body had been removed or destroyed by vandals. Late Sunday afternoon, the remains were located, and they are currently being studied by the archaeologists at NSU. The small fragments of cloth which were recovered were transported to a historical textile expert at LSU, and metal experts are studying the nail and tack fragments found in the grave. Texas A&M personnel are involved in identifying the type of wood used in the coffin.
Colonel DeRussy will be reburied on Sunday, September 26, 1999 at 11 a.m. at Fort DeRussy, located four miles north of Marksville, on Fort DeRussy Rd. off Hwy. 1192. DeRussy's entire life will be honored at the service, which is under the direction of John S. Kramer and Sons, of Alexandria.
On August 7-8, 1999 a team of Northwestern State University archaeologists spent two 14-hour days painstakingly disinterring the remains of Confederate Col. Lewis G. DeRussy from a vandalized cemetery near Natchitoches. The disinterment, carried out in 100-plus degree heat, was conducted in preparation for the transfer of the colonel's remains to Fort DeRussy for reburial.
Dr. Tommy Ike Hailey, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the NSU Cultural Resource Office, volunteered the services of his archaeological team to ensure a scientific and thorough disinterment. The team measured the grave precisely, recorded all data and maintained a
pictorial record of each step. At the end of the second day, the team had recovered all the remains and gathered as much information as possible from the gravesite. Due to the acidity of the soil of the gravesite, the remains were badly deteriorated, but because of the work of the archaeologists, Col. DeRussy will now be laid to rest where he can receive the honor and glory he deserves. A West Point graduate, a veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War, a Louisiana State
Representative and State Senator, as well as a Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor, the man and his accomplishments can now be honored and protected at Louisiana's newest historic site.
The archaeologists day started at the gravesite at 6 a.m. Saturday morning, but their work had actually begun hours earlier as they gathered the equipment necessary for the dig. Before any digging began, the gravesite was measured, surveyed and photographed. When the digging began, only approximately 4 inches were dug at a time, and the grave was constantly surveyed to ensure that the digging remained perfectly level. The ground was swept with a small broom and measurements and pictures were taken before the team attempted to remove the next four inches by sifting the dirt through a screen. Also, an L-shaped hole was excavated at one corner of the brick tomb to examine it's construction and determine the extent of the original grave shaft. There were absolutely no records that
indicated the depth of the grave, the type of coffin or the clothes in which DeRussy was dressed.
There were times throughout the excavation that skepticism surfaced as to whether or not the colonel's remains would be found in the grave. Documents in the NSU library indicated that the body may have been moved to the Alexandria National Cemetery at some point. Even if those documents
proved to be incorrect, the condition of the cemetery and of some of the graves increased fear that the body had been removed or destroyed by vandals. Late Sunday afternoon, the remains were located, and they are currently being studied by the archaeologists at NSU. The small fragments of cloth which were recovered were transported to a historical textile expert at LSU, and metal experts are studying the nail and tack fragments found in the grave. Texas A&M personnel are involved in identifying the type of wood used in the coffin.
Colonel DeRussy will be reburied on Sunday, September 26, 1999 at 11 a.m. at Fort DeRussy, located four miles north of Marksville, on Fort DeRussy Rd. off Hwy. 1192. DeRussy's entire life will be honored at the service, which is under the direction of John S. Kramer and Sons, of Alexandria.
Gravesite Details
Second husband of E.T.(moved to Ft. Derussy)
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