In the Fairview Cemetery in East Calais, Vermont, located in the north half of the cemetery in the extreme west section along the white wood rail fence, there is a grave stone inscribed:

MELVIN

SON OF ISRAEL & PHILA G. DWINELL
BORN IN
EAST CALAIS JULY 9, 1825
DIED
ROME GA. DEC. 28, 1887

Adjacent to the stone is a Confederate War Veteran marker and Confederate battle flag.

Melvin Dwinell graduated from the University of Vermont in 1849, and two years later moved to the State of Georgia to teach. He eventually became the publisher of the Rome (Georgia) Courier, and in March, 1862, received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Eighth Georgia Infantry Regiment, serving with that unit until wounded at Gettysburg. After a two month convalesence, he returned to his regiment, but was soon discharged due to his election as a representative to the Georgia State Legislature.

Source: The 8th Georgia Infantry Webpage contains a photograph, autobiography and some of Melvin's wartime letters. Weston A. Cate, Jr., "Forever Calais: A History of Calais, Vermont" (L. Brown & Sons, Barre, Vt., 1999).

(Contributed by David F. Cross M.D., Charlotte)

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