Cross Keys
This is the gravestone of Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Beery, I doubt he contemplated that 63 years later his corporeal resting place would be a hornet's nest of cannon and musket fire. There were 10 or so graves here during the battle of Cross Keys, Virginia in 1862 which were used as shelter by Union regiments advancing on Confederate positions above Mill Creek. A few managed to survive the barrage of fire and are still standing today. They probably saved some men's lives as well. They clearly show the scars of battle and time.
This battle was a key victory for Stonewall Jackson, in his famous Shenandoah Valley campaign to drive Union forces from the area. Their retreat freed Jackson to support Lee in Richmond for the Seven Days Battles. Jackson's reinforcement allowed the Confederates to drive McClellan away from the capital, and down into the Virginia Penninsula (the home of Jamestown, Williamsburg, Hampton Roads and Newport News.)
It is hard to decipher the words on Abraham Beery's marker but he was born in 1736 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died here in Cross Keys on May 26, 1799. Beery was descended from a Swiss Beiri clan, who can be traced back to Bern in the 1500's.
I am sure his soul is resting in perfect peace
Wow, that is very interesting! It's not entirely the same thing, but this reminds me of the old battleground on Mackinaw Island that is now a golf course! It wasn't that big of a battle and I am not sure how many (if any) died, but it still seems a bit sacrilegious to me that they would put a golf course over at battle field.
Those tombstones look super old. That's cool that you can see the scars of battle right on the stone. Interesting.
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