The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-06-12
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

|
since our last visit. First and fore.
most a new Superintendent, since
that time, has been appointed and
installed, and the very first glance at
the beautiful and picturesque
grounds convinced US of this fact.
Mr.. John Benshoof, a native of Cam
bry County, Pennsylvania, recently
in charge of the National Cemetery
at Hampton, Virginia, is the gentle
man who now has the honor of being
the Superintendent, and to whose
courtesy we are indebted for render.
ing our visit to the 'bivouac grounds
of the dead Union soldiers" a pleas
ant and an instructive one. Mr..
Benshoof is an ex-Sergeant of the
famed old 18th U. s. Infantry, the
Regiment of which "our Sherman"
was, in it's palmiest days, the Colo
mel, and Phil. Sheridan was Captain
of the ex-Sergeant's company. With
this introduction to our readers of
the National Cemetery's present Su-
perintendent, we will briefly give
them sketch ofthe grounds and re
cent improvements. .I ...
The National Cemetery is situated
one mile East of Pineville; the lot is
a rectansle, 615 by 565 feet, contain
ing a little over eight acres, of beau
tifully undnlating land, inclosed by a
well built brick-wall, newly finished
and perfect in symmetry, of the
height of four feet, FIVE inches. The
title to this land is fully vested in
the United States. The main en-
trance Is in the center of the West
side, is closed by treble iron gates,
swung to six immense Louisville
granite columns, weighing 10000
pounds. Two iron-gun monuments,
graced and tipped off with "a pound
balls are placed near this main en-
trance, and the prescribed shield is
on the one to the right of the grand
entrance. The graves are neatly and
beautifully arranged in parallel rows,
perfectly levelled, and we'll covered
with turf. Near the back center, at
the intersection Of two handsome
avenues is a small, grass-turfed
mound, upon which stands fine flag
staff. At present 533 known and 752
unknown graves have good and last
ing stone head boards, and "sleep
their last rest" in this Gods Acre
Of the National dead! 'a&
The new Lodge, recently built and
just completed, is situated near the
main entrance, just to the right of it.
1t is an one story brick building, 50
by Sc feet, with basement and attic,
each containing three well finished
and complete rooms, with all the
modern improvements and convent.
ences; with neat and coy piazza
on the North and South sides, the
roof projecting over the piazzas; the
entire roof being a Mansard one.
This Lodge, as tout ensemble, is
really finely finished and archi-
tectly proportioned one, and com.
plete and comfortable 10 all its ar
engagements. A large underground
cistern, completely supplied with
Eearthern and iron pipes as water con-
ductors, with patent charcoal a.
terer Is near the Lodge, and'to close,
for the present, over four hundred
oak trees and various other orna
mental shrubs have recently been
planted; a new and perfect horse
lawn mower kept running almost
daily, are making the Cemetery
grounds, already lovely by nature,
one Of the handsomest and neatest
National lots in th .th. under its
present manageme . have
assurances, that its F.. ffhAtenden.
will keep up the good work with vim,
energy and willingness.
----~-~~..-e~..~~