Civil War - Where They Rest . . .
by Barb Hyde, November, 2011
A-I | J-Z | (Veterans Index) | Medal of Honor | Cemeteries |
I never could
have taken all of these photos.
Many thanks to all of the people who have so graciously, even enthusiastically, allowed me to use
their photos.
Note for use: click on links to go directly to more information. Click on any small photo to open a full-size photo.
Cold Harbor VA National Cemetery
Cold Harbor is about 10 miles northeast of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. The Battle of Cold Harbor (May 31-June 3, 1864) is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles. It was the final victory won by Lee's army during the war. Union strength was 108,000 against 59,000 entrenched and fortified Confederates. Union casualties were 1844 killed, 9,077 wounded and 1816 captured or missing. The battle brought the count of Union casualties for the last 30 days to a total of more than 52,000. Potter Countians fought here in Company G and D, 53rd PA Inf and Company G, 46th PA Inf.
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From letter written by Albert Harvey: Our company [Co G, 149th] has lost very heavy, more so that any other in the regiment. We went in with 63 men and I believe there is 16 left. The Cold Harbor National Cemetery was established in 1866. At 1.4 acres, it is one of the smallest National Cemeteries. When the Federal Reburial Program filled the cemetery, the overflow were buried in the larger Richmond National Cemetery. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
commemorates 889 unknown Union dead who were buried in trench
graves. The Pennsylvania Monument, built in 1909, was erected
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to commemorate the losses of its
regiments that fought at Cold Harbor in 1864. The dedication ceremony,
45 years later lasted six days and was attended by 690 of 937 surviving
veterans of these troops. |
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An artillery tube has been made into a monument with this inscription: UNITED STATES
NATIONAL MILITARY CEMETERY |
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PENNSYLVANIA |
From 1862-65, many battles waged in this region between the two capitals - Washington D. C. and Richmond VA, just 100 miles to the south. Among them were the Battle of Cedar Mountain on Aug. 9, 1862, and the Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 through May 6, 1863. So great was the loss of life on both sides during these battles that many consider them to be the fiercest fighting of the war. After every
battle, many wounded soldiers died in field or military hospitals. Most
were buried where they fell or were interred in makeshift graves around
encampments or hospitals. As a result of the National Cemetery Act of 1862 and the number of scattered Union dead in the vicinity, Culpeper National Cemetery was established in 1867. The cemetery covers 16 acres. It originally contained six burial sections, one of which was set aside for the graves of 912 unknown soldiers of the Civil War. Inscription on a memorial plaque that marks the sections that contain the graves of unknown Civil War soldiers: CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS WERE ORIGINALLY BURIED WHERE THEY BRAVELY FOUGHT AND DIED DURING BATTLES AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN, TREVILIANS STATION, GORDONSVILLE, BRANDY STATION AND SURROUNDING AREA. FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, THE REMAINS OF 912 SOLDIERS WHOSE NAMES ARE UNKNOWN WERE REINTERRED HERE IN SECTIONS C AND D. PRESENTED BY |
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Last Update November 11, 2011
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