The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-15
OUR SOUTHERN DEAD
IN NORTHERN PRISON CEMETERIES
NOT FORGOTTEN.

Strange to say, the suggestion came
from northern man, a veteran OF the
Federal army.
Col William II. Knauss, OF Coium-
bus, O., last May directed an appeal to
the United Confederate Veterans, ask
ing that the graves of the Confederate
prisoners at Camp Chase be remem-
bered. This appeal had immediate ef-
feet and resulted in calling attention
to the fact that the resting places OF
10000 southern dead above Mason and
Dixon's line are unmarked. The re-
cords in the archives at Washington
were searched and it was found that
there are 2O,126 Confederate graves
distributed among thirteen northern
prisons as follows:
Camp Butler, IIl.............." 6l4
Camp Chase, O................2, lO6
Camp Douglass. Ill. ll............4,O O39
Camp Morton, Ind. .............'.S' d2o 10
Elmira, n. Y..........,........S,9 9oo
Fort Delaware, Del. .2,3l5
Fort McHenry, Mo-. D
Johnson's Island. 0 .........>.. l4S
Fort Lafayette, N. Y. barbor.... .
Hart Island, N. Y. harbor....-. 2S9
Point Lookout, Md.-...........3,aao aao
Rock Island. d................... i, 9oO
Fort Warren, Mass. II
It was decided to erect monument
of granite Confederate gray in color
at each of these cemeteries. The
monuments will be of uniform design,
plain shafts, with appropriate inscrip-
tons. It is estimated that about 81 OOo
will cover the cost Of this work and
Joint committee from the Lee Camp
Confederate veterans, the Daughters
of the Confederacy and the Sons ofthe
Confederacy, has undertaken the task
OF raising that sum. This conmlttee.
has issued an appeal to the people OF
the south for contributions and their
hope is that the responses will be so
liberal as to permit the completion OF
all the monuments before the next an.
nual meeting of the United Confeder-
ate Veterans in fully, 1898. All con-
tributions are to be sent to the treas
urer, Colonel James T. Gray. post
commander of R. E. Lee Camp, No. l,
United Confederate Veterans.
The text of the address is as follows:
Confederate Veterans, Sons of Vet
Grams, Daughters of the Ccnfederacy:
There lie in prison cemeteries through
out the north 10000 of "Our Dead. "
With two exceptions Camp Chase and
Camp Douglass), no stone marks their
resting place. IT'S true they sleep
we'll, "for all the world IS native land
to the brave" butsoon even the local
tiles will be forgotten. Died in pris
on these boys of ours, many from
the far south, in their blue jeans and
brown cotton Clothes shivering from
the cold blasts of the north even before
the icy hand Of Death touched them.
Who has reminded us of our duty to
the memory of these dead heroess A
generous Federal officer, bearing the
scars and still suffering from the
wounds won honorably in battle with
these men.
"All honor to Colonel William H.
Knauss. of Columbus, c., who in
May, 1897, sent out an appeal TO the
United Confederate Veterans, asking
tina! the graves of the Confederate pris
oners buried at Camp Chase should be
remembered. This was done, but there
are still $4,000 who rest in unmarked
graves. Have we forgotten our deads
No; but the cry of the needy wives
and children OF these dead have been
ever at our door, and we could not
reach beyond.
1.-The time has now come when these
graves must be marked. To accom-
plish this object 1t will be necessary to
raise about 81 900. We only ask for a
simple shaft at these places, erected
before the next annual meeting OF the
United Confederate Veterans in July,
1898. Whatever sum this committee
has in hand by next spring will be di
vided equally between the prison Gem
eteries.
This fund Is to be known as the
monument fund of Confederate pris
oners buried in northern graves, and
all contributions are to be sent to the
treasurer, Colonel James T. Gray,
past coroman oder r. E. Lee Camp No.
1. Confederate Veterans, Richmond,
Va, and nothing can be drawn from
this fund, except over his signature.
'These dead heroes of ours from
every southern state appeal to their
survivors throughout our land. Re
member their sacrifices and suffering.
All should feel it their privilege 10
contribute to this cause, Those who
have relatives or friends still wound
ed and missing may join in these
monuments, and feel that their loved
ones will now be recognized.
ut is such a modest sum that is
asked, it ought to be readily gotten at
once from our camps and Confederate
organizations alone; but to insure sue
cess we cordially invite every one who
is interested in the Confederate cause
to contribute their mite towards the
accomplishment of this noble object" "
The committee in charge of the work
is composed as follows: Messrs. Will
liam P. Smith, James T. Gray and
Corbin w. Mercer, Lee camp; Mrs.
N. V. Randolph, Mrn. Dabney Carr
and Mrs. Kate J. Winn, Daughters Of
Confederacy; Mr.. J. z. B. Stuart, Jr.,
Rev. James E. Cook and Mr.. E. Les
lie Spence, Jr., Sons Of Veterans.