New-York tribune., 1870-02-05
SEARCH FOR A BRoTHER's GRAVE AT PTrTsBURG
LANDING.

SEARCH FOR A BROTHERS GRAVE AT PIrTsBURG
LANDING.
Edward SAKE, formerly of Vermont. afterward OF
Saxeville Wisconsin, Captain in the 10th Wisconsin
Regiment was killed at the battle of Pittsburg
Landing April 6, 1862. The following is part of
private letter, written by younger brother while
passing through the South on business. Though not
intended for the public eye it will touch responsive
chord in the hearts of thousands WHO nave lriehds
buried in Southern soil:
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, Dec. Ia 1869.
arrived Mt Corinth on Thursday night. Tho next
morning II was raining, and had been nearly all night
aud was cod with sharp north wind blowing, render
ing the prospect OF % miles horseback ride not very
inytng but had made arrangements 10 CO. had morse
engaged, and besides, could not think OF going away
without seeing tho place where Edward was killed,
when I was within short distance, and might
never have another opportunity. So l screwed up
my courage and put OUT at O'Clock III the mornlhs
mud about six inches deep and raining hard Inc whoie
distance from Cornth to Ptsburg is through heaVy
tmbered country, and only few seerS-peraps elsht
or ten small farms the main road, in the whole route
and settlers scattered throughout the woods In dneren
directions; and every had his own road with the
main one but little travelled fences no guide-boards,
nor anything to direct YOU and then 10 nave uah'
cloudy day. that keeping the points OF the compass was
out Of question attempt TO keepthe rght road was
rather difficult undertaking. got lost repeatedly, ana
burg did get there, however. about4 o'clock pm as
nearly tired out as 1 In my life. Ifonnd com
Portable quarters with the superintendent OF the Cee'
terry, with whom stayed all night.
spent about three hours the battlefield, accom-
panied by man who had been employed In the cemetery
from the beginning, and who helped to remove all the
bodies; he went with me TO the places where these
bodies were found, and showed the places OF any
interest. There very few marks OF the battle LETT
after seven years. that person would ride all over
region and discover any unless he were look
ing for them, they pointed out to him. The shot
marks on tho trees have nearly all grown over young
trees have grown up thcky all through the woods and
person would hardly imagine that only seven years ago
such terrible battle fought that very ground,
and that over 6OOO were killed there. But when
ono sees the $500 graves that the side OF the hill at
| the Landing lie begins to realize tho iaet'
| The bodies OF all the Union soldiers so far as
| found (and tho country has been carefully
| looked oven have been removed 10 the Government
Cemetery which is situated directly at the Landing, on
the Tennessee River on high land and in beautiful To-
cation, commanding view OF the river Tor about IOuf
miles OF six acres, Is very tastenily
and eXpensvcly laid out and ornamented, ana kept ia
fine order The graves all made in regular ORDER by
| States and regiments as far as possible Tho "ul'
known" are arranged In lots sections, and numbers and
nil registered in books kept by the superintendent BY
far the greater number among the unknown or the
200 buried there only 1900 are positively identified
and though IL makes my heart ache to write IT, Edward
was among the former Never In my life did such son
s,ton come over Ine rs when, on looking over the
| records found him among the unknown Perhaps
Il WAS owing 70 the Of my being so very tired ana
hungry but nearly tainted away, and siekening sen
ntIn came over me- could scarcely Walk Tor hn
hour It was so uncxpectcd-so different from what
had calculated The idea that LdNard our Drother
and the only OF the family hat went INTO tne wal,
shoud lio In an unknown, unhonored grave, was 700
much even for my stOical nature Ana YET eie was
souc rather. IL helped 10 feconeo ho
lind that Others and many OF even hgber
rank the army, also buried among tne @
I,c Hon i r. Alban for instance, OF Portage, Wls'
Colonel Of the 18th Regiment and hundreds Ol Others
from colonies down 10 prvates from almost every o'"'o
I'm the Union are among them. , -, ~. -.
Every man killed at that battle Win his S,ae, r1nh
regiment and company, Il recorded hut, wi'n no, iua
ed nt the time the bodies were removed 10 the GENE
trry tho number of tho grave lot ana section - iei
blank There In also another book kept IN ing ho nun,
h"r of the grave lot aud section of each body buried
and when idaniided. the uane aud rank are sive'