Daily AncestorShield headstone
A marble government headstone with a carved sunken shield is the Civil War type stone, first used in 1873 for Union soldiers.
The War Department adopted the design in 1873: a white marble slab with a slightly curved top and a sunken shield holding the inscription in raised letters. From 1879 Congress allowed it for veterans in private cemeteries too. The same stone was later supplied for unmarked graves of veterans of the Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican War, Indian campaigns and Spanish-American War.
Early shield stones often carry no dates. The name and unit on the stone lead to service and pension records.
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Daily Ancestor. "Shield headstone." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/shield-headstone. Last checked 2026-10-15.