Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Home of the Jackson Greys
This is the former site of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The monument to the "Jackson Greys" honors the regiment that was formed on the grounds of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church by Capt. (later Lieutenant Colonel) William H. Stewart who lived nearby in his home "Beechwood". Hundreds of other local men served in this company, including Lt. William Wallace of "Glencoe", who was killed during the August 19, 1864, Battle of Weldon Railroad.
The Jackson Greys were recruited from St. Bride's Parish of Norfolk County and named after Mr. James W. Jackson. Jackson was the proprietor of the Marshall House in Alexandria, Virginia. He killed Col. Elmer Ellsworth of the New York Fire Zouaves when Ellsworth removed the Confederate flag from his hotel. Jackson was also killed during the melee.
The Jackson Greys were mustered into Confederate service as Co. A, 61st Virginia Volunteer Regiment and initially served at the Gosport Navy Yard. In December 1861, the company was transferred to Sewwll's Point where the unit saw action during the CSS Virginia's (Merrimack) March 8, 1862, sortie against the USS Congress and USS Cumberland. The Greys served in the most advanced battery at Sewell's Point and often exchanged cannon fire with Fort Wool on the Rip Raps in the middle of Hampton Roads.
When Norfolk was evacuated, the unit was stationed at Bermuda Hundred near Petersburg and traded cannon fire with Union gunboats at Port Walthall on June 26, 1862. After duty near Bristone Station, the 61st was assigned to Mahone's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit fought at the Battles of Salem Church, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Wilcox Farm, the Crater, Weldon Rail Road, Burgess Mill and Hatcher's Run. The Jackson Greys served with honor throughout the war and surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
Marker is on St. Brides Road 0.3 miles south of Benefit Road, on the left when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
