Florence National Cemetery & the Florence Stockade

Last year, I paid a visit to the Florence National Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina, in order to find what remnants, etc., there were of the Florence Stockade.


The Florence Stockade was a Confederate-operated POW camp for Union prisoners of War. (It was started because the Confederate government had nothing else to do with the Union prisoners, since Lincoln and Grant had decided to stop trading POWs. The North felt that it was better to leave their own men in prison camps to rot to death, instead of trading prisoners and giving the Confederate armies more men to send in battle.) The Florence Stockade was never as famous, or infamous, as other Confederate prisons. Today, it is largely forgotten by most of the residents of the South Carolina Pee Dee region. I never knew there had ever been one until I was in my late teens reading folklore of the area where I grew up.

After the war, the site already contained many war dead interred, most of whom fell into the "unknown" category, and the site was established as a National Cemetery in 1865. The cemetery is actually in two separate portions, being divided by the very spooky, and regionally known, National Cemetery Road. Maybe its the old, Spanish moss-covered trees, or just the large cemetery, but your mind will play tricks on you driving down this road.

Most of the cemetery employees didn't seem to know what I was looking for. I did speak with one government gentleman, who was very polite, and was a history buff himself, who was able to give me the general location. He also let me know that there was nothing to mark the spot but a plaque. Disappointed, I thanked the man, and headed over to the area he indicated.




My wife and I spent about an hour wandering around, taking note of the various graves, some of which were very old. Veterans of every war from 1860-present are buried there, making it a nice place, yet somber place to visit.




The Florence National Cemetery is located at 803 E. National Cemetery Road in Florence, South Carolina. The cemetery is open 8 AM - 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and is closed on Federal holidays.

Visit Florence National Cemetery, Friends of the Florence Stockade and the VA's page on Florence National Cemetery for more information.

Swampfox

All pictures are (c) Copyright 2008 S. Perdue Photography

Best in Breakfast - Biscuitville

I have lived in the North Carolina Piedmont for over six years, but until last week I had never been to Biscuitville. I hang my head in shame. After eating there, I don't think I want to go to any of the other chains again. The food is actually real, the biscuits, the eggs, the grits - yes, they have grits! woohoo! - all taste like they should. You aren't buried in the grease or cheap, fast food taste, as you are at other places.

The price isn't bad, but it is worth it. After eating there, I didn't want to eat until supper, because I was actually full. Good food that fills you, and it's at a decent price - you can't beat that.

Their honeybuns are homemade-style honeybuns, and taste fresh made, not something from a a can. And they have coffee that is better than anything you will get in a coffee shop.

Biscuitville has Southern-style breakfast, and they pull it off in fine fashion.

Now, here's the bad news. Biscuitville is a family-owned operation with only limited locations. But, if you are Danville, Virginia, or the North Carolina Piedmont, you should make it your goal to eat at Biscuitville.

Swampfox

Here we go

This is another blog in the Swamp Fox Files' Family of Blogs. Others include: The Swamp Fox Files, Dixie Historical Society, and Baptist History & Heritage. I have been wanting to get this one up and running for sometime now, but just haven't had the chance to do so. Well, the time has arrived!

The purpose of this blog is to give reviews and thoughts on the various places I have and will visit throughout the South. I haven't traveled outside of Dixie in almost 10 years, and really have no intention of doing so any time soon.

I will also comment on food, one of my favorite subjects. There are a lot of great places to get some good food in the South, and I like going to places that aren't chains, and aren't known that well.

I hope you'll stop by and read about these places. I will try to post as often as possible.

Swampfox