The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-09-10
The Confederate Dead.
RIcHRrRG. S. c.. August I:

To tile Editor of Tie News and Cou err:
Recently I wrote short letter to S. a.
Clemens Mark Twain of Elnira, n.
Y, making inquiry about the burying
ground of Confederate prisoners of war
at Elmira, and herewith | enclose you
the reply:
- ELM1RA, N. Y. August II, 1855.
Dear Sir: have sent your letter to
Brig. Gen. A. S. Diven, of this town,
and asked him to give you the informa.
tion desired, he being more competent to
do it than I. Truly yours,
ELM1RA, N. Y, August IA, 1855.
Mr.. S. l.. Clemens-Dear Sir: You
may say to your Confederate friends that
all the soldiers dying at the prison camp
here were placed in collins and buried in
plat of ground in the northeast corner
of the Wood Lawn Cemetery. Head.
boards, painted white with black letters,
were placed at the head of each grave,
giving date of death, name of regiment
and company, and such data as coult! be
obtained of birth, nativity, &c.
These graves were in parallel lines at
equal distances apart. When these
boards began to decay a careful survey
of the plat was made and map or dia.
gram on which each grave was numbered
and record showing the inscription on
the head.board belonging to each number,
80 that each grave could be identified.
The head-boards were then removed and
the ground reduced to perfect level,
seeded, and has ever since been kept in
lawn carefully mown, receiving the same
attention as. the rest of the cemetery
grounds. A few stones have been erected 1
by friends at graves, aud these at thea
floral celebrations always receive atten.
ton. Yours, A. S. OWEN.
Now, as q Confederate survivor and
having been prisoner at Elmira about
one year, it affords me great satisfaction
and pleasure to know that the graves OF
those dear old heroes are respected by
our former foes. I was aware of The
manner in which the Confederate dead
were buried and the care taken to pre-.
serve their identity, which work ,yas.s,
done by the Confederates, yet did not
know the results since the prisoners re.
turned home. This report of Gen.
Diven will, therefore, certainly rejoice
thousands of hearts in our Southern
land to know that our Northern friends
of Elhira are continuing to preserve
their identity and are keeping green the
sod over fallen foe.
This is as it should be everywhere,
North or South. Let us of the South re- j
spect the graves of brave men that fell.
here arrayed as our enemies. I wish to
enter into no gush or sentimental!ty
over reunited and prosperous country Z
which the South desires so much, lnt
will simply say that this kindness 1ld
respect to the remains of our -deceatd
brother soldiers will do more to so.en
the asperities of war than perhaps 'a5Y- q
thing else. II Z:
A word or two more and am aqe. ss
Fellow.soldiers of the Lost Causi, kre
we who survive doing our duty h he5 j.
matter of honoring the memory Of 6lrs
fallen braves by marking the sites i,fsN
their burial places by suitable shsftsjs,
erecting monuments over our land 81
Echo answers, No! no!
If we, as individuals, are too poor 10
erect suitable shafts North over tile
graves of the Confederate prisoners,
should not the Southern States have It
done? Who will move in the work9 s
J. T. MARION.