2018.047.004 [Marker, Grave]

This tombstone marks the grave of William Harrison, a former slave and resident of Marion, Iowa. During the Civil War, many freed slaves joined Union troops during marches and offered to do tasks such as cooking or mending clothes. During one march, Harrison approached Colonel David Carskaddon of the 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and offered to be his personal aide. The two men became friends and often played cards and chess together. In late 1864, the 9th Iowa Volunteer Infantry joined William Sherman's "March to the Sea" campaign. Following the attack on Atlanta, Georgia, Carskaddon did not return to camp. Harrison went to the battlefield that evening to search for his friend. Late in the evening he found him wounded and was able to get him back to camp. Harrison then escorted Carskaddon to Indiana were Carskaddon's in-laws lived and stayed until he recovered. Carskaddon was mustered out of the Army in January 1865 and returned to Marion, Iowa. Harrison followed him to Marion and made his home there as well. Carskaddon returned to his livery stable in uptown Marion and also opened a furniture store. Harrison did odd jobs around town, such as farm work, livery work, and cutting and chopping fireplace wood. He died in 1885. After Carskaddon learned of Harrison's death, he ordered and had this white marble gravestone, shaped like a chess rook as the two had enjoyed playing chess together, erected. This tombstone sill stands today in Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion, Iowa. Content can be used with the following standards: SS-US 9-12.23 Iowans Influence US History in a lesson on Iowa's involvement in the Civil War. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions.