The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-23
PENNsY1vANIAs HEF .OIC DEAD.


TRANSPORTATION AND TF7 ,yeRspu DEPARTMENT,
HARRISBURG, January 16,, 1896 --sir:-That the
great anxiety to know the condition of the
graves and graveyards II those who fell victims
to cruel neglect and s .aTyation during the late
war, in the prison plac es OF the South, might be
satisfied with personnel observation and iuspec-
ton, and that advisory answers as TO the teasi-
bility OF the removal OF bodies from these places
might be returned to unfortunate friends and
kin, men for assistance OF the State under the
Volunteer Relief Associations l proceeded, by
your direction, to Washington on the 18th ult.,
eit route TO the principal points where these
buTying grounds are located, in the Military De-
partmenC oil the Atlantic, accessible by railroad.
To the end that time and expense might be
saved in the accomplishment of this object, it
was thought advisable that Colonel Chamberlin
should proceed on q similar mission from Nash
Vile to Andersonvllle, Ca, and intermediate
polnts--tLe railroad communications being more
perfect and the distance to be travelled less than
beyond the most Southern point in the East
should be required to visit. therefore commu-
nicated to Colonel Chamberlin by letter the in
slructons under which acted, and desired him
to proceed at hrs earliest convenience in fulfil
ment OF his part OF the object.
An informal order from the headquarters of
the armies of the United States secured me the
courteous attention and assistance OF all local
military officers in frrtberanCe OF my mission.
On the outskirts OF Richmond | found the
grounds allotted to the burial OF Union soldiers
in 0akYood and Hollywood Cemeteries, and the
eucios ure containing the graves OF those who
langushed and died under the rieors OF prison
treatment on Belle Isle, surrounded by plaIn
subs antat fences. The buIlals in HOLLY wood
Cemetery are those deceased since the Rebel
evacuation of the city. The graves here are OF
suflic ent depth, and well marked with plainly
letered head-Doards. AT Oakwood aud on Belle
Isle m0ulder the bodies OF these who died dlrl1g
tho dark days when the Confederate dag Haunted
treason and when brave and patriotic men,
imprisoned IN unwholesome prison-houses and
on this bleak isle sickened and died.
Here the furTowed ground alone marks the
great mortality that depleted our armies, there
being but few marks by which to identity or
distinguish particular intermeDts. "A catalogue
of the names, companies, and regiments oil the
heroes buried in and around Richmond, COM
piled and published by the United States Chris
tian Commission, is invaluable for the lntorma
tion il gives the bereaved friends OF these.
An inspection of the prison grayeyards at
Dapville, Virginia, discovered to me that some
care, although unusual, had been taken in the
burial and marking Tor future Identification the
graves of those who died here Plain head
boards EXHIBIT the names, companies, and reg-
ments, painted in legible characters, OF those
who, gave up their lives prior to November
1864. The graves of those buried subsequent to
that date a1e at regular intervals and in the
order in which they are numbered in the under
takers register. A complete record Of all buried
here is given in the publication OF the U. s. G.
G. before referred TO. am of the opinion that
the Identification and removal of bodies from
this point is practicable. Z ravine divides this
enclosure, on the opposite sides of which rest in
the awful stiffness Of death Union and Coniede-
rate dead
From Danville proceeded to Salisbury, North
Carolina. Here thousands of the Union armies
found their grayes, where gaunt death seems to
have gorged itself with the lives OF our ill-tated
soldieTy. Secrecy envelopes the numbers OF
this great mortality, and bier aler bier OF
crowded cOrpses, under shallow coverings OF
earth. alone give idea of the irghtful ravages OF
disease and starvation. The dead bodies are laid
side BY side in trenches about seven feet in
width and extending the length of the enclosure;
trench following trench fills up almost the entire
area of less than two acres. The enclosing fence,
the broken surface of the ground, together with
the SIMPLE inscriptions OF death on thirteen board
tablets alone warn the visitor that he Is on
ground replete with the reColections OF brutality
and suffering, that sicken and appal. The drain
age ofthe hillside on which this burylng ground
Is situated must soon expose the bones OF those
buried. unless steps are soon taken tor its perma
nent Improvement. ..... g.. ..rt.I.... .. 81.
Ny observations here convince me of the utter
impossbity OF finding and dlsinterring partcu-
lar remains, unless the identidcatIon was through
some unnatural formation of the body, or some
unusual care in its BURIAL ,'.'..'....' ~
learning that railroad communication was
interrupted south OF this point, and that1 could
only reach Columbia, S. c., by very circuitous
route, or long travel by stage, determined to
return, believing that should find other prison
places in the same condition those visited, and
that this report would be satisfactory as to the
feasibility OF the removal OF bodies tlom prison
graveyards In the far South. | visited several
other points, where soldiers of Union armies
have found their last resting places, in the course
ofmy tour through this country. sa B..
AT Petersburg, City Point, ana Vlclulues, nos
pital grayeyards are neatly and substantially en-
closed, and graves, as far as they could be lden-
titled, appropriately marked
Officers ofthe Quartermaster- Generals Depart
ment have been engaged in the establishment of
Government Cemeteries on many OF The historic
battlefelds OF the late war. Under General
Orders Nos. 35 and SO, from this Department,
records of those who died in defense of the Ame-
rican Union, inferred in the Natiopal Cemeteries
at Washington, and those slain on the battle
fields of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court
House, have been published, . .'''
Efforts to the same end are in progress s,under
the direction of the Chief Quartermastep in the
Military Division of Tennessee. presume SINH
lar records will be published Of these operations.
/ have the honor 70 call your attention to the
report of Colonel Chamberin, accompanying
this He pronounees as inexpedient eaerts Tor
the recovery of bodies from Andersonyllle, and
disspades all persons from such enor1s by reason
of che great Uncertainty in obtaining particular
bodies, and the difficulties in the Transmission
of these to Pennsylvania. have held this
opinion, basedon Che report madeby Lieutenant
Colonel j. Moore, Assistant Quarternlaster, Sep
tember 20, 1867. .iiand have Uniformly advised
those applying. TO this Department oil the extreme
doubtfdlness of efforts for the recovery OF bodies
from. this place being successful. ID. -,t. a.
That greater facilities might be afforded, have
arranged with the President of the Baltimore
Steam Packet Company to transport on the
per circular mile, persons travelling for and in
attendance ON the corpses of deceased soldiers.
Negotiations are now pending with some OF
the railroad companies to still further reduce
thepersonall expense of those thus travelling.
To snbserye economy in the expenditure of the
appropriation to- this Department, l have en-
deavored'to save expense by requiring one per-
30 1,o,,a ,,i,ta Ona hOf1 w