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Myrtle Hill Cemetery
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Established in 1858, historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery is not the oldest cemetery in Rome. However, it is the final resting place to more historic figures than the rest of the city's cemeteries combined. Having been used as a cemetery for only 3 years prior to the beginning of the War Between the States, Myrtle Hill, due to its advantageous height and central location to town, naturally became one of Rome's most prominent fortifications in 1863: Ft Stovall. At the intersection of South Broad Street and Myrtle Street stand two massive statues: one erected in honor of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the other in honor of The Women of the Confederacy. The Forrest Monument was placed by Rome's N B Forrest Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908. Among its inscriptions is the following quote by Field Marshall Viscount Garnet Wolseley: "He possessed that rare tact unlearnable from books, which enabled him not only effectually to control his men, but to attach them to him personally 'with hooks of steel'." Other inscriptions include further attestations to the General's tenacity by Gen Beauregard and Gen W T Sherman, and a narration of Forrest's capture of Colonel Abel D Streight and the raiders who plotted the destruction of Rome. The Women of the Confederacy Monument was dedicated in 1910 and erected by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. A central obelisk is flanked on either side by statuary, one depicting a mother with her child at her knee and bears the inscription "News From the Front." The other features a Southern lady comforting a wounded Confederate soldier, and bears the caption: "Angel of Mercy." This monument has the distinction of being the first so dedicated honoring women. Of note, Myrtle Hill is not the original location for either of these monuments. Both were located at points along Broad Street in the center median. However, as traffic became heavier, they were moved in 1952 to the shaded lawn of the cemetery. Immediately inside the main entrance on Myrtle Street is the Confederate Section of the cemetery. In this area are interred 378 Confederate Soldiers, including 82 unknown. Three Union unknown soldiers also reside there, with two of them resting in the back right corner of the section and the third being in the back left corner. Sadly, every state in the Confederacy is represented in this section. While some were killed in the defense of this area, many of these men were casualties who died in the numerous hospitals located in Rome. This is one of the oldest sections of the cemetery and it located on its largest relatively flat expanse. In addition to these graves, there are more than 260 additional Confederate Veterans buried in private plots throughout the cemetery. Two Confederate Congressmen are also buried at Myrtle Hill. Congressman Augustus Wright represented the district including Floyd County in both the United States Congress and, after secession, in the Confederate States Congress. Nathan Bass had previously lived in Floyd County, but was a resident of Macon during the war. Declining to stand for election in the first term of the Confederate Congress, he served in state government until his subsequent election in the second term. After the war, he returned to Floyd County with his wife and three of his children where he was a farmer. After you proceed up the main drive, turn to the right, and continue to the highest point, you will find The Confederate Soldier Monument, where a lone soldier stands silent guard with his back to downtown Rome, facing west. Late afternoon provides the optimum time to visit this monument as the rest of Myrtle Hill fades into twilight and the last soft rays of the setting sun bathe the old soldier in warm golden light. This monument was erected by the "Women of Rome" and dedicated in 1887 "... to the memory of the soldiers of Floyd County, Georgia who died in defense of the Confederate States of America." Among its inscriptions is the following quote: "A thousand battlefields attest, dungeon and hospital bear witness to their sons. They left but honor and their Country. Let this stone forever warn those who keep these valleys that only their sires are dead. The principles for which they fought can never die. They have crossed the river and sleep beneath the shade." |