East Texas

By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer

LATCH - A Confederate soldier from Upshur County whose remains were disrupted several times was laid to rest on Saturday, 143 years after his death.

The burial ceremony that drew nearly 300 people to Hopewell Cemetery was led by Civil War-era reenactors and descendents of the military leader.

Col. Cullin Redwine Earp commanded the 10th Texas Cavalry C.S.A. in 1863, leading his men into at least 21 major conflicts including bloody clashes at Chickamauga, Ga., Atlanta, Ga. and Franklin, Tenn. He died, possibly of battle wounds, in 1865 in Upshur County.

"Let this remind us that we too are mortal and our bodies shall molder into dust," said Jamie Eitson, a Tyler pastor whose sobering words echoed across the quiet graveyard.

Visitors filed by Earp's closed casket on Friday. Others escorted a formal procession of Earp's horse-drawn funeral wagon on Saturday morning into downtown Gilmer where Sons of Confederate Veterans spoke of his service to America.

Another procession that afternoon led the crowd to the cemetery where the Masonic burial rites were given.

"Our family is so honored by this," said the colonel's great-great-niece, Glenda Earp Kinard, of Pittsburg. "As a soldier, all soldiers should be shown this honor."

Nearly 30 members of the Earp family, some traveling from as far as Alaska, attended the ceremony. Ms. Kinard and her brother, Jess DeVerle Earp, said their great-great-uncle was buried with a sword and gold watch, and both were missing when his remains were retrieved in February.

"Something was found that led us to believe someone dug him up in the '60s looking for those nice things," she said. "This is a better place for him to be."

Taps was played as the casket was lowered into the ground by ropes. An artillery salute of Civil War-era guns and cannons shot ammunition smoke across the sky. Sixteen black-veiled and black-dressed ladies of the Patriot Rose left a flower on his coffin.

The re-burial was proposed and organized by area leaders of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, including 1st Lt. Commander Mark Vogl of the Northeast Texas Brigade. Other participating groups included the Upshur County Patriots and Heritage Brass Band.

, Members of an honor guard fire a salute to honor Col. Cullin Earp.
((Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.))