Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-20
Qrftegrap4lt, O
AndersOnyiIle = Captain IIOore's
Report. IuIy4t

| ClHcaIlOil, contains remarkable lnfOrmatlOn
In which the people are interested, and will
doubtless be appreciated by the relatives
and friends of those who have given their
lives to their country:
ASST QUARTERMAsTER's OFFICE,
DEPARTMENT OF WAsHINGToN.}
| WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. 20, 1866. J
TO Brsuet nv: Gen, ~ o. Asgs, Quarte'pnaS-
ter-Generm U. s. A.:
GENERAL-In accordance with special Or
ders number 10, Quarterhiaster- Generals
Office, dated June 30, 1865 directing me to
proceed to Andersonville, Georgia, for the
purpose of marking the graves of Union
soldiers for future Identification, and
inclosing the cemetery, have the honor
to report as follows: .-'U0a aHl
| | left. Washington on the Sth of July last,
with mechanics and materials for the pur-
pose above mentioned. On my arrival at
Savannah ascertained there was no rail-
road communication whatever to Ander-
sonville, the direct road to Macon being
broken, and that froH Augusta via Atlanta,
also In the same condition. l endeavored
to procure wagon transportation, but was
informed by the General commanding the
Department of Georgia that q sufficient
number of teams could not be had
in the State to haul half OF my stores,
and as the roads were bad and the
distance more than four hundred miles, |
abandoned all idea of attempting road
through a country difficult and tedious un-
der more propitious circumstances. The
/ prospect of reaching Andersonyille at this
time was byno means favorable, and nearly
one week had elapsed since my arrival at
Savannah. had telegraphed to.Augusta,
Atlanta and Macon, almost daily, and re-
ceiyed replies that the roads were not COM
pleted. At length, on the morning OF the
18th July, a gratifying telegram from Au-
gusta was received, announcing the COM
pletiOn of the Augusta and Macon. road
to Atlanta. / at once determined to pro-
cure boat and proceed to Augusta by the
Savannah river. The dispatch boat was
secured, and in twenty-four hours after the
receipt of the telegram alluded to, was
ON my way with men and material for Au-
gusta. On my arrival there found the
railroad completed to Macon, and that from
Macon to Andersonville having never been
broken, l experienced little difficulty in
reaching my destination, where 1 arrived
after tlresome trip, occupying six days
and nights.
Y at Macon, Major General Wilson detailed
one company of the 4th United States Cav
airy, and one from the 18th United States
COlored Troops, to assist me. A member
of the former company was killed on the
9th of August at station named Monte
yuma, on the Southwestern railroad. The
rolling stock of all the roads over which l
Travelled was in miserable condition, and
very seldom greater rate of speed was OBJ
tanned than twelve miles. However, at diff
ferent stations along the route, the object
of the expedition was well known, and not
l unfrequently men wearing the garb OF rebel
soldiers would enter the cars and discuss
the treatment of our prisoners at Ander-
. sonville, all of whom candidly admitted it
J was shameful, and a blot upon the reputa-
! ton of the South, and that years would not
efface it,, .--- ...- -, -,.-,.... ,re.z
g While encamped at Andersonville, Twas
daily visited by men from the surrounding
country, and had an opportunity of learn
ing their feelings toward the Government,
and with hardly an exception found those
. who had been in the rebel army penitent,
and more kindly disposed than those who
never took part, and were anxious to be-
come citizens of the Government which
they fought SO hard to destroy.
, On the morning of the Goth of July the
! work of Identifying the graves, painting
and lettering head-boards, laying out walks
and inclosing the cemetery, was COM
menced, and on the evening of August 16,
was completed, with the exceptions here
: after mentioned. - O 1..-tArTT
!. The dead were found buried in trenches
Q on site selected by the rebels, about thirty
6 yards from the stockade. The trenches
were from two to three feet below the sur
face, and, In several instances, where rains
had washed away the earth, but few inch
ri es. Additional earth was, however, thrown
in the graves, making them, of still greater
depth. So close were they buried, without
coffins or ordinary clothing to cover their
il nakedness, that not more than twelve inches
q were allowed to. each man. Indeed, the
little tablets marking their resting-place,
measuring hardly ten inches in width, al
most touch each other. United States SOL
: diers, while prisoners at Andersonville, had
been detailed to inter their companions,
and by simple stake at the, head of each
grave, which bore the number correspond
: ing with the similar numbered name upon
the Andersonville Hospital record was
enabled to identify and mark with neat
tablet, similar to those In the cemeteries at
Washington, the number, name, rank, reg
iment &c., and date of death of Il, 466
4 graves, there being but 467 which bore the
' inscription unknown United States SOL
1 dicrs.'i 10000 feet of pine lumber were
Q used in these tablets alone. The cemetery
contains fifty acres, and has been divided
n by one main avenue, running through the
center, and subdivided into blocks and sec
Il
the record, which / am now having copied
for the, Superintendent, the visitors will
have no difficulty in findingany grave. u
-, A, force of men Is now engaged in laying
out the walks and cleaning the cemetery
A of stumps, preparatory to planting trees
: and flowers. l have already commenced
the manufacture of brick, and will have q
: sufficient number, by the first of October
d to pave the numerous cutters throughout
/ the cemetery, the clay In the vicinity of the
stockade being well adapted for the pur-
: pose of brick-making.. Appropriated in
g scriptions, are placed through the grounds,
and / have arranged, as far as my facilities
would permit me, to transfer this wild and
unhonOfed graveyard into a fit place, of in
terment for the nations gallant dead. AT
The entrance the words, ga National Gem
etery, Andersonville Georgia." designate
I the city of the dead.
! On themorning of the 18th of August, al
sunrise, the stars and stripes were hoisted
/, in the centerof the cemetery, when ma
II tional salute was fired, and several nation
al songs sung by those present. shI
1. odPhe Inenwho accompanied me, and %
,f whom L am indebted for the early compile
= tion of my mission; worked zealously and
faithfully, from early In the morning until
Il late at night although suffering intensely
from the effects of the heat Unaccustom-
ed as they were, one after another was
Il taken sick with the fever incident to the
country, and in q, brief period my force OF
I, mechanics was considerably lessehed, ,obhg-
4 ing,me to obtain others from the residents
i In different parts of the State. All my men,
however, recovered, with the exception i0f