Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-26
THE NATIONS DEAD.
The Great Ingathering.

The Great Ingatherins.
Few of our people are aware of the
labors being performed by the officers
of the Quartermaster' Department in
collecting, identifying and re-inter-
ring the mortal remains of the mar tyr
heroes to whom the nation owes its
preservation. To establish fitting Gem
eteries, under national control, remove
thither all the Union dead found upon
the battle-felds of the South, identify
ing and carefully marking the grave of
each, where practicable, is truly great
undertaking. This noble work has been
assumed, and is being executed, by the
very efficient department presided oV-
er by Quartermaster General Meigs.
In order to show some of the details
of this work-the care and tenderness
with which it IS performed even by
strange hands"-We publish the sub
joined letter written by Major E. B.
Whitman, Assistant Quartermaster, to
Captain L. S. Dilley, of this city:
OFFICE oE ASST. QUARTERMAsTER IN
CHARGE OF NATIONAL CEMETERIES AND
MoRTUARY RECORDS, CAMP NEAR KENE-
SAW, Nov. 16, 1866.
CAPT. L. S. DILLEY: Ny Dear SIR
1t gives me great pleasure, after this
long delay to inform you that have
been successful in discovering and
identifying the remains of your broth
er, Lieutenant A. C. Dilley, Co. c, l25th
%. V. l., who fell in the gallant assault
upon the rebel works near Kenesaw,
June 9th, 1864 He was found about
seventy FIVE yards from the rebel breast
works, and one hundred and fifty yards
from the spot where General Harker was
mortally wounded In the first day.
search we were unsuccessful, but by
adopting the practice l have pursued
on other battle fields, of sweeping the
entire grounds with my men deRloyed
as in skirmish line, at short distances
from each other, so as to bring every
foot of ground under observation, we
succeeded in finding the head bodrd,
Fotted down, split into three parts, ly-
ing among the bushes. 1t bore the in
scription, rudely carved, "a. C. Dilley,
Co. G, l25th o. V. l." Although the
ground where it lay bore no appear
ance of a grave, yet, upon digging be-
meath it, we found body which l
doubt not is that of your lamented
brother. The Major here give a de-
tailed description of the body, the
clothing &C., Leaving nothing unmen-
toned that could aid in determining
the question of identity. He was prob
ahlv ebof vorv paar vvbara ha vvau
found, and from the breastwoFk above
him, as he was rushing up the hill
The ball, apparently a large ''ninie, T"
had entered the upper part of his fore
head, directly in front, and passed out,
in downward direction, near the base
of the skull behind, shattering it much
in its passage.
l send you enclosed some locks of
his hair, and a small pin-cushion, the
only relic that could be found l also
enclose two of his coat buttons.
Supposing it would be agreeable to
you, | had his remains dis-interred un-
der my personal supervision, and have
just returned, in company with a few
citizens and ex-oficers of the Union ar
my, and a small escort of the 5th Uni
ted States Cavalry who are with me,
from following his remains to their
place fre-interment in the beautiful
grounds now being laid out, as a Ma
tional Cemetery, at Marietta. He is
buried in the officers plat of section
A, and in grave Y. l enclose you a
plat of the section, with the position of
the grave designated by a line drawn
in red ink:
He lies now in one of the most de-
lightful rural spots that can be found.
surrounded Immediately by fellow. Off
GERS, and soon to be surrounded by
some ten or twelve thousand of the
brave men who fell in General Sher-
mans campaign from the Etowah river
to Jonesboro below Atlanta.
Although we discovered upon that IA
tai hill no less than ninety five distinct
graves, of which thirty-six we're iden-
tilted, and trenches containing proba-
bly, as many as forty or fifty more, yet
we found no other member of his regi-
ment OF the 125th Illinois fourteen
were identified, and of the following
named regiments: 5lst, SD, and 85th
Illinois, SD, seth, 12lst, 18th and
65th Ohio, and a few of an Indiana
regiment. These will all be gathered
and transferred to the Marietta Gene
tery during the ensuing winter.
am on my route to explore Gener-
al Sherman's line of march, and the
battle-felds of his campaign, from Dal-
ton to Savannah, and shall probably not
conclude the tour before the first of
January.
With deep sympathy for those whose
friends lie scattered in unknown graves
throughout the land, l remain,
Very truly, yours,
Z. B. WHITMAN,
Rnnr-A Tn.nr. nrnI q NJ