Hundreds of Confederate soldiers, others likely buried under city property in Richmond’s Manchester

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond officials have identified more than 700 potential, unmarked graves beneath a city-owned property in Manchester, with many of the interments believed to be Confederate soldiers -- and a new report states there may be even more graves left to be found.

The city first announced this discovery on Friday, May 23, explaining that ground penetrating radar had been used to identify 472 probable and 270 possible grave sites -- totaling 742 -- beneath 2313 Wise Street.

On Friday, May 30, officials released the full report on the burial site, as provided by the vendor who conducted the survey. In this report, the vendor detailed its findings, as well as related historical research.

Historical evidence suggests that this burial site was used as a municipal cemetery prior to the establishment of the nearby Maury Cemetery in 1874. There are several radar images in the report of the site, including one where the potential grave sites are indicated by dotted-line rectangles.

Potential graves on Wise Street in Richmond's Manchester neighborhood. The dotted-lined black rectangles are probable graves and the dotted-lined white rectangles are potential graves. (Photo: City of Richmond)

However, the vendor noted that this survey -- while "comprehensive" -- is "not likely [to] represent all potential graves within the gridded survey area."

"Although many of the probable and possible interments exhibited relative clarity in the geophysical analysis, the density of the burial pattern within the cemetery made absolute identification of all burials nearly impossible," the report reads.

The vendor added that it appears many people were buried on top of one another, which is "a common occurrence in burial grounds used over a long period or intensively."

The people buried here are believed to be Confederate soldiers who died in area military hospitals during the Civil War, as well as private citizens. Those soldiers are believed to have been buried there between 1861 and 1862.

A site located on 2313 Wise Street in Richmond, where more than 700 graves were identified following a survey. (Photo courtesy: Brad Vassar, 8News)

8News previously visited the site and noted a stone marker had been placed there to honor Confederate soldiers from South Carolina who died in a Manchester hospital between 1861 and 1865. This marker was placed in 1939 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The report indicates that, at this time, there is no known documentation of the burials at this site. However, the vendor did locate several medical-related records that list soldiers who died in area hospitals.

8News obtained a full copy of one such record -- included below -- which lists over 160 Confederate soldiers who died in the South Carolina Hospital at Manchester between 1861 and 1862. This record was created by the Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina.

A Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina report, which lists the names of over 160 Confederate soldiers who died at South Carolina Hospital at Manchester between 1861 and 1862.

A Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina report, which lists the names of over 160 Confederate soldiers who died at South Carolina Hospital at Manchester between 1861 and 1862.

A Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina report, which lists the names of over 160 Confederate soldiers who died at South Carolina Hospital at Manchester between 1861 and 1862.

A Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina report, which lists the names of over 160 Confederate soldiers who died at South Carolina Hospital at Manchester between 1861 and 1862.

As said, none of the records note exactly where any person was buried.

"Although research of period appropriate maps and documentation provides some measure of evidence that the site was used as a burial ground for Confederate soldiers, there are no definitive records of wartime burials or postwar removals," the city said in a press release. "In the absence of conclusive information, the City chose to commission a study of the site to confirm the presence or absence of burial remains."

In the city's press release, Richmond officials said a plan is being developed to allow visitation at the site -- both for genealogical researchers, as well as visitors who want to visit loved ones believed to be buried there.

"Once finalized, that plan will be announced and available on the City’s website," the city said.