The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-31
FEDERAL DECoRATroy.DAY..
Richmond National Cemetery.

dlers, IN 1I5 national cemeteries, were
adorned with floral tributes. There are
seventeen OF these cemeteries in Virginia
Arlington, Alexandria, Balls Bluff, Cold |
Harbor, City Point, Culpeper, Danville,
Fredericksburg, Fort Harrison (eight miles
south of Richmond), Glendale (near Malvern
HilD, Hampton, Poplar Grove five miles
southeast Of Petersburg, Richmond, Seven
Pines, Staunton, Winchester, and York
town. In these are inferred the remains Of
6s,843 Federal soldiers 28, GA white known,
So, 7S3 white unknown; 2, pa colored known,
and ], ,152 colored unknown. In addition,
these cemeteries contain the remains OF 1926
citizens and OF 500 Confederate prisoners Of
war. Richmond National Cemetery con-
tains the remains OF 6,541 Union soldiers
S41 known, and 5,T00 unknown. The few
colored dead inferred in this cemetery are
among the unknown.
ro. DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH.
Richmond National Cemetery lies three
miles east OF the city OF Richmond, on the
southside OF the Williamsburg turnpike. 1t
is nearly perfect rectange Of about eight
acres, which originally cost s2,400. 1t is
surrounded by good wall OF cerhented
granite rubble six feet high, coped with fiat
slabs of dark stone. There is drive all
around the cemetery on the interior OF this
wall. and there are two avenues, each twen-
ty feet wide, intersecting each other in the
centre OF the cemetery, dividing it into four
equal parts. These parts are sub-diyided
each into six smaller sections by paths ten
feet wide. All these avenues and paths are
nicely levelled, gravelled, and guttered, and
bordered by thrifty trees, shrubbery, and
flowers. The main entrance from the pike
consists of a carriageway with double iron
gates, fanked on each side by smaller iron
gates for the admission OF pedestrians.
Obliquely to the right Of the main entrance,
inside the wall, is the lodge Of the superin-
tendent, Mr.. Matthias Glynn, veteran
United States soldier, straight and stalwart,
who halls from the city of New York, as he
has some relatives there. This lodge is
very handsome structure OF brick, with q
Mansard roof, and is completely embowered
in trees, vines, shrubbery, and flowers, the
whole being enclosed by neat railing
painted white. There is a greenhouse at
tached to the lodge.
THB DEAD.
The graves are in parallel rows, fiat, with
wooden headboards painted white. These
hcadboards will soon be displaced by mar
BILE headstones, which are daily expected.
None Of the graves being elevated above the
general level, one close sward OF green grass
covers each section. The trees that are pro-
fusely scattered around consist OF cedars,
jumpers, elms. spruces. weeping-willows,
&C. Each of the four quarters Of the ccme-
terv has n tasteful arbor, over which clam
ber roses, honcysuckle, &c, and around
which flowers and eyergreens now flourish
luXuriantly. Atthe intersection OF the main
avenues there is q mound eight feet high
and fifty feet in circumference, upon which
is erected pretty little summer-llouse, or
arbor, through the centre OF which rises
tall flagstaff, from which floats the Federal
flag on every fair day. From this central
arbor every part OF the cemetery and the
surrounding country is visible. At each OF
the four corners of the principal squares
that are next to this central point is placed
twcnty-four-po breech downward,
with a ball protruding from its muzzle, and
one bearing on its side bronze shield,
upon which, in raised letters, are the name
OF the cemetery, the date Of its establishment
(September !, 1867, the number Of inter-
ments, &c. The total cost OF the cemetery
to date, including the expenses of gather
| ing the remains, salary OF the superintend-
cnt, &C., is near $120,000.
WHERE THE REMAINS CAME FROM.
OF the remains here some have come from
Cokl IIarbor. Belle Isle, the hospital
grounds in and near Richmond, Hollywood
and Oakwood cemeteries, Fort Harrison,
! Gaincs's Mill, Garnett's Farm, Savage Sta
ton, Bcaycrdam Station, Hungary Station,
Seven Pines. Bottoms Bridge, the HALF
wav House, &c. On the superintendcnts
register is entered the following in regard
to a number OF graves in section 4 OF dlvl-
sion f: "The forty-three bodies in graves
one to forty-thrcc inclusive lrere found IN
q ,reH in front OF Fort Gilmore, on the
farm Of Captain Chldrey. The well had
been sought for two years, but none OF the
ncighbors could show where it was. The
men were supposed to have been killed
when the charge was made upon Fort Gil
more. the I'd of October, 1892"
A BAD ROUTE.
The route to the cemetery from the city
is down Main street through Rockets, and
thence to the Williamsburg turnpike, upon
| the south side of which the cemetery Is sltu-
atcd This way is a long and tlrcSome one,
but is at present the only feasible road to
the cemetery. And yet the cemetery is so
near Richmond that a good avenue can be
! opened between it and the city that Will cut
oil half the distance and three fOurths OF the
difficulty OF the existing route. y petition,
numerouSly signed by our best citizens OF
both political parties, has been forwarded to
| Congress asking for an appropriation to
| construct such an avenue, and 1t Will De
made, no doubt, some OF these days. The
cemetery is already very attractive, but as
the years pass it will become more beautiful
in all its features, and ii made easily accessl-
bic will in time grow to be popular resort.
| THE DECORATIONS AND THE VISITORS.
This cemetery Yesterday was visited by Il
large number of persons OF both colors and
sexes, although no great crowd was there at
any one time. Hacks, omnibuses, and other
vehicles were running constantly to and fro
between the city and the cemetery, ana
nearly every visitor bore tribute OF now
ers. The grounds of the cemetery them
selves now afford almost sufficient quantity
of flowers to deck every grave, but Superln-
tendent Glvnn very properly confined his
decorations to the handsome garlanding OF
the main entrance and the enwreathing OF
the huge black twenty-four Founders, leaV-
inc the graves to the ministrations OF the
visitors. Never was more lovely day, and
the bloom and Yerdure OF the place were IN
their glory. The stars and stripes foated at
half-mast on the flagstaff, and at the primer,
nal rate were clustered number OF small
| United States flags amidst the eyergreens
and roses OF the decorations there.
| The thanks of our reporter are due 10
Superintendent Glynn for information and
courtesies.
HOLLYWOOD MEMORIAL Board
| of Managers of Hollywood Memorial Asso-
ciatlon, and ladies having charge OF sec
tions, who may wish to 60 early to Holly
wond aro m meet TromDtly at q O'Clock A.