Bodies of 4 soldiers are found in Williamsburg graves. Further analysis may show whether they were Union or Confederate

Nov. 2021 dig at magazine wall (The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Remains of four individuals believed to be Civil War soldiers were buried respectfully, with their hands folded, near its Powder Magazine, Colonial Williamsburg announced this week.

The soldiers likely took part in the May 5, 1862, Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia. Some wounded troops were treated at a nearby hospital, officials said in a statement. Experts have said they are not certain whether the soldiers served the Union of Confederacy.

Remains of three amputated legs also were found during excavations around the magazine’s wall from February to April.

“Three bodies were buried together in one grave and one body was buried in an individual grave. All four seem to have been buried with their hands folded over their stomachs,” Ellen Morgan Peltz, public relations manager for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, wrote the Picket in an email.

Bullets, buttons and suspender buckles were found with the skeletal remains.

Hancock's troops launch attack on May 5, 1862 (Library of Congress)

The inconclusive battle, according to the National Park Service, was the first pitched battle of the Peninsula Campaign, following a Confederate retreat from Yorktown. Hooker’s division attacked the Southerners at Fort Magruder, but was repulsed. Confederate counterattacks ultimately failed and they made a nighttime withdrawal toward Richmond. Casualties numbered more than 3,800.

News of the mass grave find came out earlier this year and the excavation, which came after a permit was approved, was done so the remains would not be harmed by restoration work on the Powder Magazine, the foundation says.

The Washington Post and The Virginia Gazette have written extensively about the archaeological project. Jack Gary, head of archaeology for the foundation, told the Post that the since-demolished Williamsburg Baptist Church served as a hospital during the battle.

The remains were sent to the Institute for Historical Biology at William & Mary for analysis and scientists will try to determine the cause of death through bones and items found with them.

“Additional analysis will be conducted to determine the affiliation of the individuals which will inform where they are reburied,” the statement said.

The magazine is original to the city (The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Gary told the Post no uniform remnants were found. The limbs were in a separate area and included a leg that had been amputated over the knee.

In a March article after the discovery of the grave, The Virginia Gazette quoted a local historian as saying the remains are likely Confederate.

“With the Union occupation of the city after the battle, Union remains were collected and ultimately buried at the cemetery in Yorktown,” said Will Molineux. It’s possibly reburial crews missed these two pits.

The article said battle expert Carson O. Hudson wrote in his book, “Civil War Williamsburg,” that the Confederates “were buried in large square pits on the west side of the building” adjacent to the magazine.

Gary told the Gazette this week that no military hardware or items was found in the graves.

Rebel troops used the magazine in 1861 to store ordnance.