The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-05-27
n HERE are nearly half a million

soldiers graves in the cemeteries
u of the United States. From the
Atlantic to the Pacific the nations he
roes are on each Both of May honored by
a loyal and loving people. On that date,
from the time the sun rises over the hills
of Maine until it sinks to rest beyond the
mountains of California the vast extent OF
our land echoes with the bugle call and
the booming of cannon. The youth of the
nation get their best lesson in patriotism
when they lay a wreath of flowers on the
stone that marks a soldiers grave.
1t is impossible to state the exact num-
Der of soldiers graves, as no record has
been made of them for several years.
When the last record was made there
were about 100000 sleeping in the ma
tional cemeteries and probably 1o,OOo
scattered in little graveyards all over the
country. The accompanying map gives
the figures Of the last record made. OF
course, the number Of graves has increas-
ed since then. The veterans have become
fewer and fewer. They have not fallen
as rapidly as they were moved down be-
i. fore the death-Gealing fire of Gettysburg
nor as they fell in the awful charges OF
Bull Run, but their ranks have been thin
ned By the grim reaper, and for each one
that passed away there has arisen an
other mound to be decorated.
National cemeteries, as is, perhaps, well
known, are burying places maintained at
the expense of the United States Gov
ernment, and wherein only soldiers are
buried. Many Of these are near some mil
itary post, but by far the larger ones are
located in the vicinity Of the big battle
fields Some Of the heroes were buried
near the spot where they gave up their
lives for their country, and numbers were
taken to as near their homes as possible.
In the national cemeteries near the battle
fields most Of the graves are unnamed.
Only a number and tiny stone tell where
q hero lies sleeping. When shells and shot
moved men down by the thousand it fire.
quently happened that there were none
left to identify the bodies. In most cases
it was known to what company certain
men had belonged, although each could
not be identified individually, and in such
cases all are buried in groups and the
names of all the men who were missing
after the battle are inscribed on q single
shaft.
There are in all about ninety national
cemeteries in the United States and so
scattered that each presents an entirely
different appearance. Could pictures of
them be viewed one after another they
would present a panorama of our coun-
try. There would be cemeteries far out
on sandy wastes where the sun beats
down mercilessly and the dry desert wind
carries the hot sand in binding clouds
over the shiny stones that mark the
graves. There would be cemeteries in
mountain wilds and on boundless western
prairies. There would be peaceful little
spots sheltered meath church towers, and
vast stretches Of beautiful park where
thousands lie buried. Millions of people
visit these cemeteries on Memorial Day
and when night comes each is a perfect
bank of flowers.
The most easterly of the national GENE.
teries is the one known as Cypress Hills
It is located not far out of the city OF
Brooklyn, and is a typical Eastern bury,
ing place that contains some Of the finest
monuments that are placed over soldiers
graves in the country. The natural aspect
of the country at Cypress Hills is some
what fat, but the cemetery has received
80 much attention and art has done sc
much for it that the f1atness is not notice
able. It is most beautiful spot, where
5000 heroes are buried. Woodlawn is
the name of the national cemetery of New
York State. 1t is magnificent buryine
place on slightly rolling ground, well KEEP
and planted to all sorts of flowers and ev
ergreens. Over 5000 are buried here. A
little further to the south the nationa
cemeteries are very close together. A
Philadelphia there is a beautiful buryine
place, where about $500 sleep, and JUS
to the northeast of town is pretty Beverly
Only 1G4 are buried here, but it is one OF
the most bea autiful cemeteries in the coun
try-certainly the most beautiful of its
size. In the immediate vicinity there is
the Gettysburg cemetery, Antietam, Balls
Bluff, Grafton and Winchester. All thest
are much alike in general appearance
About Il, 600 are buried in all Of them.
The shores of the Chesapeake in Vir
ginia are fairly lined with national Gem
eteries. About $4,000 are buried in this
vicinity, and the graveyards are almos
exactly alike in appearance. They are
not as well kept as some further north
but nature has done so much in the way
of luxuriant vegetation that this is hard
ly noticeable. The most important Of
these cemeteries are Fredericksburg, Ar
lington, Culpepper, Richmond, Cold Har
Dor, Petersburg, Yorktown and Annapo
lis. Most of them have streams of water
running through them that greatly add tc
their natural beauty. In North Carolina
the most important national cemetery is
Salisbury. Nearly 1900 are buried here
This cemetery is located in spur of
mountain range and is most beautiful
spot. In general appearance it is entire
ly different from any other national cem-
etery In the country. From almost any
part of 1t view extending over miles and
miles of country that in war time was
fbo soona of many imDortaDt battles can
be obtained. 1t is most impressive place