USDA officials search for remains of Swansea Civil War vet

July 26, 2017 6:33 pm

By: Alana Cerrone

Twitter: @Alana_Cerrone

The family farm in Swansea where Alfred Gardner lived before he went off to war is now in the hands of a different family – but they say they’re excited for the historians to possibly solve this Civil War mystery right in their backyard.

Gardner was from Swansea – in fact the influence of his family still remains.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Gardner was killed, and according to records, was buried there. But that’s where the mystery unfolds.

According to letters, his family took his body and buried it in their Swansea yard. That’s what led historians and the USDA to the farm to find out.

The USDA first surveyed the plot using a radar machine to find any "points of interest"…or places in the earth where dirt was moved.

Then…they dug. And dug again. And..unfortunately…just rocks. But that doesn’t mean the search is over. They’ll continue looking until they find what they’re looking for.