U.S. Public Laws &
Confederate Headstones
Congressional Act of 9 March 1906 - "We Honor Our Fallen Ancestors"
(P.L. 38, 59th Congress, Chap. 631-34 Stat. 56)
This act authorized the furnishing of headstones for the graves of Confederates who died, primarily in Union prison camps and were buried in Federal cemeteries. Remarks: This act formally reaffirmed Confederate soldiers as military combatants with legal standing. It granted recognition to deceased Confederate soldiers commensurate with the status of deceased Union soldiers.
U.S. Public Law 810, Approved by 17th Congress, 26 February 1929
(45 Stat 1307 - Currently on the books as 38 U.S. Code, Sec. 2306)
This law, passed by the U.S. Congress, authorized the "Secretary of War to erect headstones over the graves of soldiers who served in the Confederate Army and to direct him to preserve in the records of the War Department the names and places of burial of all soldiers for whom such headstones shall have been erected."
Remarks: This act broadened the scope of recognition further for all Confederate soldiers to receive burial benefits equivalent to Union soldiers. It authorized the use of U.S. government (public) funds to mark Confederate graves and record their locations.
U.S. Public Law 85-425: Sec. 410 Approved May 23, 1958.
U.S. Statutes at Large Volume 72, Part 1, Page 133-134.
The Administration shall pay to each person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War a monthly pension in the same amounts and subject to the same conditions as would have applied to such person under the laws in effect on December 31, 1957, as if his service in such forces had been serving in the military or naval forces of the United States.
Under the current U.S. Federal Code, Confederate Veterans are equivalent to Union Veterans.
U.S. Code Title 38- Veterans Benefits, Part II- General Benefits, Chapter 15- Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death or for Service, Subchapter 1 - General 1501 Definitions: (3) The term "Civil War veteran" includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term " active military or naval service" includes active service in those forces.