Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-19

|
reprot of Capt. J, N. Moore, A Q. NJ, who
was sent to Andersonville to mark the
| graves of Union prisoners for future identi-
ticatiOn contains valuable information 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:
-- ASSISTANT Q. NJ. OFFICE
DEPARTMENT OF WAsHISGToN,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 90, 1865.
To Brevet Maj. Gen. NJ. C. Meigs, Q. NJ.
General, U. S. A., Washington:
General-In accordance with Special
Order No. 10, Q. NJ. Generals Office, dated
June 3Oth, 1865, directing me to proceed to
Andersonville, Ca, for the purpose of mark
ing the graves of Union soldiers for future
Identification, and inclosing the cemetery, l
| have the honor to report as follows:
l left Washington the Sth of July last with
| mechanics and materials for the purpose
above mentioned. On my arrival at Savan-
nah l aseertained there was no railroad
communication whatever TO Andersonville.
The direct road to Macon being broken, and
that from 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 one-haR of my stores, and as
the roads was bad, and the distance
more than 400 miles. abandoned all idea
of attempting a road through a country,
difficult and tedious under more propitious
circumstances. The prospect of reaching
Andersonville at this time was by no means
favorable, and nearly one week had elapsed
since my arrival at Savannah. had tele-
graphed to Augusta, Atlanta and Macon
almost daily and received replies that the
railroads were not completed. On the
morning of the 18th of July gratifying
| telegram, from Augusta, was received, an
nouncing the completion of the Augusta
and Macon road to Atlanta. l at once de-
| termined to procure boat and proceed to
Augusta by way of the Savannah river.
The desired boat was secured and twenty
four hours after was on my way, with men
| and material, for Augusta. On my arrival
there l found the railroad complete to Ma
con, and from Macon to Andersonville,
having never been broken. 1 experienced
little difficulty on reaching my destination.
! l arrived July 26th, after tireseme trip,
| occupying six days and nights at Macon.
| Major General Wilson detailed one COM
| pany of the l4th Cavalry and one company
| from the 18th Regiment United States
| COlored Troops to assist me. A member of
the former company was killed on the 9th
| of August, at a station named Monteseuma,
on the Southwestern Railroad. The roll
| ing stock Of all the roads over which 1
| travelled is in a miserable condition, and
very seldom greater speed was obtained
| than twelve miles an hour. At the differ
ent stations along the route the object of the
| expedition was well known, and not unfre-
! quently men wearing the garb of rebel SOL
diers would enter the cars and discuss the
treatment Of our prisoners at Anderson
vile, and candidly admit it was shameful
and blot on the escutcheon of the South.
| While encamped at Andersonville | was
daily visited by men from the surrounding
country, and had an apparently cleaning Of
their feelings toward the government, ara
with hardly an exception found those who
had been in the rebel army peaitent and
more kindly disposed than those who never
had taken part and were anxious to again
become citizens Of the government which
they fought 60 hard to DESTROY.
On Monday, the a0th of July, the work of
identifying the graves, painting and letter
ing head-boards, laying out walks and en-
closing the cemetery, commenced, and on
the evening of August 10Th the work was
completed. With exceptions hereafter men
toned, the dead were found buried in
trenches on the site selected by the rebels,
about three hundred yards from the stock
feet below the surface, and in several in
stance where the rains had washed away
the earth but few inches of additional
earth remained. So close were they buried
without coffin or ordinary clothing to cover
their nakedness, that not more that twelve
inches were allowed to each man-indeed
little tablets marking the resting place
measuring hardly ten inches in width, and
most touching each other.
United States soldiers while prisoners at
Andersonville, had been detailed to enter
their companions names, and by simple
stake at the head of each grave, which bore
the number corresponding with similar
number and name upon tie Andersonville
hospital record. / was enabled to identify
and mark with aneat tablet, similar to those
in the cemetries in Washington, the num-
Der, name, rank, regiment, &C., and date OF
DEATH Of l2,4e6 graves there were but
467 which bore the description Unknown" ="
One hundred and twenty feet of pine lum-
! Der were used IN these tablets. -