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SATURDAY, June 14, dawned with the promise of yet another hot day in Stafford County. But that did not deter the descendants of Confederate soldier William B. Newton from gathering at a small family cemetery at Belle Plains to honor him with an Iron Cross ceremony.

Born Jan. 11, 1840, on the property near where the cemetery now stands, Newton enlisted in the 2nd Company, 30th Virginia Infantry, along with his brothers George and Abraham on July 22, 1861. He was 21 years old.

On May 16, 1864, Pvt. Newton was wounded in the shoulder during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff. His records show that he remained in service after this incident although he was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond in early 1865. He was taken prisoner from this location on April 3 of the same year and turned over to the provost marshal on April 14. His final parole papers have yet to be located.

Newton returned home after the war and married Virginia Anne Potts on June 4, 1867. He and Virginia raised nine children at the family farm. Newton died at the age of 46 on Sept. 28, 1886. After being wounded at least once during the war he succumbed to complications of pneumonia at an early age.

His brothers also survived the war and returned to Stafford to raise their families. It was the descendants of these three brothers who gathered to honor William Newton with the Iron Cross.

The Confederate Iron Cross Grave Marker was patterned after the design of the Southern Cross of Honor medal, which was bestowed on Confederate veterans by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

One side of the marker bears the dates 1861 and 1865, which represent the beginning and ending of the war. On the same side is the Latin motto of the Confederacy Deo Vindici ("Vindicated by God"). On the other side is a laurel wreath and ribbon that is also found on the insignia of the United Daughters of Confederacy.