Salem Cemetery and Battleground

Cotton Grove Road
Madison County
Jackson, TN

SALEM CEMETERY
Formally established in 1825, the cemetery was actually in use about 1800.  Fifty acres of virgin land were donated by the Woolfork family for use as a public park, campground, and cemetery.  During the 1850's and before, the area was used for week-long "camp meetings" where revival services were held nightly.  Originally, the cemetery was enclosed by a heavy iron fence that was partially destroyed during the battle fought here in December, 1862.  Pieces of this fence are frequently found just after rain washes away the topsoil.

Many of Madison County's more prominent founders are buried here in unmarked graves due to vandals removing the stone markers as well as deterioration of original wood tombstones.  Bullet marks can be found on many of the remaining stones.  The most famous person buried here is Adam Huntsman, the man who defeated Davy Crockett for Congress in 1836.    Davy Crockett was very upset with the Tennesseans, and made  his famous quote "Tennessee can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas."  Thus he met his demise at the Battle of the Alamo.  Three of Huntsman's wives are buried next to him, and these graves originally had an iron fence around them. 

Restoration of the cemetery was done by the John Ingram Camp, Sons Of Confederate Veterans.  The restored entrance way, inlay battle map, flagpole, and other improvements were dedicated in December, 1994 on the anniversary of the Battle of Salem Cemetery.  The flags flying over the site are the 1st Confederate National Flag and the Federal Flag of 1862.