Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-23
THE GETTYSBURG DEAD.
The Dead Re-interred to the Num-
ber of 3,5I2--Valuables Found
ON the IsOdies-NIOnument to Gen.
eraI IecynOlds-s,OOO Rebel Dead
The Fields to be PIOyyed.
Correspondence Washington Republican,
BALTIMORE. March ID.

Correspondence Washington Republican,
,r-r. BALTIMORE, March IA.
David Wills, Esq, of Gettysburg, tn,
General Agent of Pennsylvania for the Sol.
diers' National Cemetery, arrived here thi.
morning, on his way to Washington. Hi
informed me that all the bodies of Oul
Union soldiers have been disinterred, and
carefully buried in their appropriate places
IN the new National Cemetery. The tota
number thus removed and inferred is three
thousand five hundred and twelve. About
one thousand of them are unknown, anG
0ne-fourth of the whole number belong tc
New York. ~. ta. .as- .a
Many of the Union soldiers have beer
recognized, their names having been dis
covered when removing them, from letters
photographs, medals, devices, clothing and
other things buried with them, as they were
hastily thrown into bitches after the battle
Quite an amount of money was also found
on them, both i'm coin and paper, in sums
ranging from the fraction of dollar up to
fifty dollars. Thirty-six dollars i'm gold
were found in the pantaloons pocket of one
corps, and thirty to forty dollars in the gar
ments of others, besides many relics, me-
mentoes, etc. All this money, and these
relics have been taken care of by the COM
nllttCCt ldDClCuy anu Ill SdIe
keeping for the relatives, should they ever
call for them. A fine hunting case gold
watch, and five or six silver watches, were
also found upon the bodies while disinter-
ring them.
4 The Cemetery Association will be organ
lied as soon as the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture passes an act of Incorporation for that
purpose now before it. Workmen are
busilv engaged improving the grounds, and
will continue so doing until the cemetery is
completed.
Mr.. Wills further informs me that he re-
ceived on Saturday, letter from commit
tee of the First Army Corps, stating that
the members of said corps had now raised
o sufficient sum of money to erect a suitable
monument somewhere on the battlefield
where that noble patriot and beloved COM
mander, Gen. Reynolds fell. and asking of
Mr.. Wills to designate the most eligible and
appropriate spot whereupon to erect it. The
committee favors the idea of building this
monument upon the spot where Gen. Rey-
nolds fell; but It being obscure and out OF
the way, Mr., Wills has suggested an eleva-
ted location in the cemetery Originally de-
will be agreed upon. 81
From evidence developed to the workmen
and others engaged in removing the dead
bodies on the battlefield, they are now fully
convinced that not less than seven thousand
rebels lost their lives in this conflict, the
bodies of whom are still there. In one
space of three acres was found three hum
dred and twenty-five Confederate slain;
and elsewhere. in a single trench, two hum
dred and fifty more. A considerable Dor
tion of the battle ground is likely to be
plowed up this spring and summer by
farmers owning it, preparatory to planting
corn and other grain. AS a matter OF
course, the Confederate graves must be OBJ
liberated, and the trenches which now indi-
cate their burial places. There Is a strong
desire with the people, in respect to human-
ity, to have these bodies, though of the en-
erny, respectfully and decenhy put away,
in some Enclosure where they may not Be
disturbed where they can sleep in qui-,
etude. Many strangers from all parts Of
the country still continue to visit Gettys-
burg to behold the scenes and relics Of the
terrible conflict SO triumphant in behalf Of
our country and Of republican liberty.