Ladies’ Memorial Association

Mothers, daughters, and sisters formed groups that went out in search of dead Confederate soldiers. The purpose was to re-inter dead Confederate soldiers in proper locations. The organization was named the Ladies’ Memorial Association (LMA). These groups established cemeteries and raised money to erect memorials and monuments commemorating the sacrifice in the South.

Local groups sprung up across the South. The popularity was attributed to the perception that the Federal Government had abandoned dead Confederate soldiers. Shortly after the Civil War, Congress enacted legislation creating the United States National Cemetery designation. There are 146 cemeteries across the nation. Very few allow Confederate burials. Whereas the Union dead were interred and buried in a respectful manner, the Confederate dead left in mass graves. The women of the LMA reclaimed the Confederate dead and buried them in Confederate cemeteries.

Through the efforts of LMS members, Southern states recognized April 26^th as Confederate Memorial Day. Ultimately, the LMA groups transitioned to form the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) in 1894. Women are still involved today.

Military cemeteries are fascinating. And the Confederate ones are no different. There is a solemn mood over these sections. The Marietta City and Confederate Cemetery contains over 3,000 Confederate dead. Take a stroll and let the ghosts tell their tales.

UPDATE: The picture attached with this blog has been removed. I have re-researched the image and found that it was not of an actual Ladies Memorial Association visiting a grave.