Headstones to be Placed on Graves of Civil War Veterans

Sons of the Confederate Veterans/ 10th Georgia Infantry performed a dedication ceremony April 30, 2005 at the Julian Haven of Rest cemetery similar to what they will do on Feb. 25 in Ramona.

By Ruth Lepper

Many years after they were buried in Nuevo Memory Gardens, Civil War soldiers Jerome Love and Abraham Hatfield will have headstones placed on their graves. John Vargas, superintendent at the cemetery, and Jacqueline Beck, former secretary, researched military records to confirm the soldiers’ connection to the Civil War, one fighting for the South and the other for the North.

Through the efforts of Johnny Dobson of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the U.S. Government agreed to provide military headstones for the two graves.

The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25 at the cemetery. Participating will be Sons of the Confederate Veterans/ 10th Georgia Infantry, Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and Sons of the American Revolution, along with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and other groups.

Military records show that Love enlisted in Company K, 5th Regiment, California Infantry on Dec. 4, 1864, and served for three years. He re-enlisted in Company C, 1st California Cavalry for three more years. His military career as an Indian scout saw service in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Love was mustered out of the Union Army on Dec. 31, 1866, owing the government $7.98, possibly for the “carbine and strap” he was issued. Love died on Aug. 6, 1910, at a San Diego hospital. Hatfield, a native of Missouri, enlisted in the 16th Texas Cavalry, Company A. He had served in the Confederate Army for three and one-half years when he was captured. He agreed to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. Hatfield moved to Ramona and married Sarah M. Casner, who was originally from Alabama. They had two children, Ada & Charles. Both Abraham and Sarah Hatfield are buried in Ramona cemetery.

For more information about the dedication ceremony, call the cemetery office at (760) 789-0136. The cemetery is located at 532 Ash St.

PhotoS Courtesy of Sons of the confederate veterans/ 10th Georgia Infantry