The Bend Cemetery
A Historic Texas Cemetery
Limestone County, Texas
The History of the Cemetery
The Bend Cemetery was known as ‘The Old Bend Graveyard’ by generations of Blacks who were emancipated on Juneteenth, as well as other relatives that descend from the emancipated generations in Limestone County, Texas. Because the cemetery is closed for new burials, a restoration effort has begun to preserve the history of the cemetery and the history of the persons who are interred in this burial ground.
U.S. Civil War Veterans
The caretakers of The Bend Cemetery honor and recognize Winkfield Pinkard and Wood Pinkard, two members of the Pinkard Family that perished during the U.S. Civil War.
Pvt. Winkfield Pinkard (1819 - 1864), whose son Berryman Lee Pinkard is buried in The Bend Cemetery, enlisted in the 7th Louisiana Regiment Infantry (African Descent) with his brother, Pvt. Warren Pinkard (1813 - 1887). This regiment was reorganized into the 64th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops on March 11, 1864 and stationed at Palmyra Bend, Mississippi near the Louisiana - Mississippi border. Winkfield also served in Pine Bluff, Arkansas with Company A of the 69th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops in March & April of 1864. Winkfield Pinkard passed away on April 2, 1864 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Pvt. Wood Pinkard (1843 - 1864) was the son of Buck and Betsey Pinkard. Wood was also the nephew of Pvt. Winkfield Pinkard and his brother, Pvt. Warren Pinkard. Wood was mustered into service in the 2nd Arkansas Infantry (African Descent) on December 23, 1863. The 2nd Arkansas Regiment was reorganized into the 54th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops on March 11, 1864 and Wood served in Company F of this unit. Wood Pinkard passed away on May 17, 1864 at the General Hospital of Little Rock (Arkansas) and he was buried at the Little Rock National Cemetery in Section 6 in Grave #3596.
Top Photo: Art. Qts. 64th Colored Infantry Regiment, Palmyra Bend, Miss. (1864) - Courtesy: Library of Congress - Click this Link
Bottom Photo: A carte photograph of the 64th Infantry Regiment, U.S.C.T. in camp at Palmyra Bend, Miss. (1864)
Please click the link to view two sketch maps of the cemetery location and known burial plots as of January 2024.
Map of Burials
For the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, please enter the code 7293013705 for information on The Bend Cemetery
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