Vicksburg’s historic resting place, Cedar Hill Cemetery

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — At first glance, Cedar Hill Cemetery looks like many others—rolling hills of weathered headstones, shaded by century-old oaks. But step a little closer, and the stories etched in stone reveal a living chronicle of Vicksburg’s past.

Cedar Hill, also known as the City Cemetery or Soldiers’ Rest, is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in continuous use in the United States. Established before the Civil War, the site now holds more than 30,000 graves and stretches across more than 100 acres.

A Soldiers’ Resting Place

Perhaps the most solemn section of the cemetery is Soldiers’ Rest, where approximately 5,000 Confederate soldiers lie buried. About 1,600 of them have been identified, thanks to records kept during the Civil War by local undertaker J.Q. Arnold.

Arnold’s original map and burial lists were lost after the siege but resurfaced in the 1960s. Those documents now rest in the Old Courthouse Museum. The rediscovery paved the way for new markers. In the 1980s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Veterans Administration erected headstones, lined with military precision. In 1998, the Sons of Confederate Veterans added 72 more, honoring soldiers whose names had recently been verified.

The section is a reminder of the lives cut short during one of Vicksburg’s most defining moments.

Notable Burials

Beyond the soldiers’ graves, Cedar Hill is the final resting place for some of the city’s most notable citizens. Confederate Gen. John Stevens Bowen, politicians Walker Brooke, Thomas C. Catchings and James William Collier, and artist Caroline Russell Compton are all buried here.

But perhaps the most unusual marker belongs to Douglas the Camel. Once part of the Confederate Army’s camel corps experiment, Douglas became a familiar figure to soldiers. His death during the war earned him a headstone of his own at Cedar Hill, a reminder that history is sometimes stranger than fiction.

A Community Archive

The cemetery reflects more than 150 years of Vicksburg’s evolving history. Its markers tell stories of early settlers, war veterans, community leaders and families who built the city. Some stones are chipped and faded, while others gleam with fresh engravings, creating a patchwork of memory that connects generations.

Visiting Today

Cedar Hill remains open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk. Many visitors come to pay respects, trace family roots or simply stroll the grounds.

Special events, such as the upcoming “Voices in the Hill” bicentennial program on October 16th, 17th, and 18th, bring actors to the cemetery to portray historical figures, adding a theatrical element to the storytelling. For more information, visit Cedar Hill Cemetery Association’s Facebook page.

Why It Matters

For those who care for Cedar Hill, the cemetery is more than a resting place; it’s an outdoor archive of sacrifice, memory, and identity. Soldiers’ Rest captures a chapter of Civil War history, while the rest of the cemetery reflects the broader mosaic of Vicksburg’s past.

Whether you’re a genealogist tracing ancestry, a history enthusiast or simply someone drawn to quiet places of reflection, Cedar Hill offers a unique experience.