Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05
ON JOHNS0N'S ISLAND.
VISIT TO THE CONFEDERATE
CEMETERY. or THE PRISON
BY 4 DISPATCH CORRESPONDENT.
co.a,t,ou Described-serViceS on
Deeorntion-Day-A List u
,..-Nyhat should he
Done-A Fund Neede"'

.-.--.s,.ordence Of tho ltiCH''i'-'N
patch)
e.NDrsF1Y. O.. November lin com
WITH a friend. your correspondent
visit 10 the now lonely burial
Jobnson's Island. were over two
.-.d members of the Confederate
amy are buried. go,
c,., after the breaking out OF hos''i'-
.t.s between the North and South IN inc
NV of 1851 to 1865. prison camp was
.,i,sbs5 on Johuson's Island IN san
s.,-,. bav about three miles north OF
.... .,,. where were sent many oilcFrs
r..o Confederate army Tor satekeoplng'
,-,.O ,xchaneed. or the war was over
r,o island is a picturesque spot ABOUT
,tree miles long ana about three quarters
a. mile wide.
There is no regular communication WIZ"
Che island. and to reach tho same one
,,,st charter "a small boat. or ne may
=. licxv enough TO get 10 ths lelN""
.nroueh the kindness or some Iialie'l -i
,,so 200 in the vicinity 10 draw SCENES
for fresn-water fish. 49,.
Tbe SOL is good and IN places ln7io @'o
crite extensive OPENINGS where s''"7 mas
,rna oIl prison camp lay IN fun We"
80, trie CITY. and as che island la sur
founded by q good depth OF water o"
Ell sides II was regarded by northern
- 81 a most safe and healthy spot LOT
80 establishment OF military PRISON
camp. .,..1. .ro,,,
60 rris6n quarters. at the time Oh us
80. 80 which has now an disappeared
There vet remains TWO or three buildings
where the officers of the guard HAD their
Quarters. and the old suard-house to
maril the spot.
Just oaet of the camp. which was situ-
ated 90 gently rolling land that dropped
towards The bay to the south was a
small earth fertilization for the rrotec-
ton Of the camp, should II ever Doe sur
urieed by an attack Of the friends Of
ths Confedoracy, who, al that time. We're
reported 60 De quite numerous IN Canada,
3l-t across Lake Erie, thirty-hve miles
70 the north.
Little remains of the old fertilization
6 de from its broad. sloping embank-
mont, ana even OF this part Of the
earthworks on the west side towards
the camp has been nearly leyehed TO
the ground near by.
the old magazine for the storing Of
powder and bali for use by those who
occupied this fortihcation, has gone TO
decay, and as its walls and ceiling were
Of plank. old Father Time has done the
work surely and we'll, for the TOP has
cavod in, probably never 20 be rc eXca-
waited IN the present generation.
About twenty or thirty rods stiI far
cher eastward. near the eastern end or
the island. ic the lonely burial plat where
rest the remains of over 20 officers of
the Confederate army who died while
Imprisoned here and their remains were
buried in this little plat Of ground where
the north winds whistle through the
trees singing a mournful symphony DER
tho graves OF more than one brave man
who laid down his life at his country s
cali
The plat IS enclosed with a wrought
iron fence. thus protecting the last rest
ing place of many "a loved one from
tramp of horses and cattle and the heed
less visitors that occasionally pay visit
10 this lonely spot
As We opened the gate and walked in
al the south end OF the half-acre en-
closure. eight rows of white marble head
st0ucs came into view. each bearing
rifhered wreath OF evercrccn. placed
fherc by members OF McMcan's Post Of
the @. A. r. on Decoration Day i'm Nav
Iast. Every year committee from this
post or the Toland Post at the Soldiers
Home. near the city. visit this burial plat.
and DER the graves strcw flowers and
place wrcaths upon the hcad-stones of
each OF the 205 graves. While the duty is
q sad one. 20 is always performed with
willingness by members of the Grand
Army who live here. and when the cNer-
cIges OF the day are held fitting recoe-
milton Of these sleeping warriors is mad8
by the speaker of the day, who delivers
tie Grafton of praise TO living and dead
'n terms 60 touch moro than one homes
heart.
If we are rightly informed, 70 is thirty
seven years since the first interment was
made. and while within the grounds there
were "a few small trees then; they now
have grown 90 a good size, ana whose
friendly limbs outstretch DER zoe ana
MEND alike. and as autumn comes the
suverv leaves bodecl the lonely graves
Of those who lio buried here.
The plat certainly deserves a little bet
Ger care than 30 now receives through
whose NEGLECT we are not able 20 say
Some az the trees ought 10 be removed
ths underground taken out and the
graves and grounds lined up. so ass 20 be
more prcsentable TO the visitors eye
Th, expense would Doc but nominal. and
81 would add so much 10 the sad scene
tart presents itself as one eaZes upon
ths last resting-place Of so many young
men OF the same race and speaking the
same tongue of those who held them in
captivity until death relieved them of
their heavy burden
Tho following list viii show who are
buried here and undoubtedly win be read
by many, who will recall 10 mind the
names and acts OF more than one that
gro inferred in this lonely place. The
lis, o. names Is copied from the head
Ft0n0s placed over each grave.
Tho writer has omitted the word in
faniry" after each name. that being un-
deratood by the reader:
J J.. Hood adiutant. Fifty-n!nth Yir-
gina Infantry.
y O. Pit second Lieutenant Company
D.. Twentieth Tennessee.
81 II Mcnael. lieutenant, Fifty-ninth
Virginia
W G Raidy. Company G, Eleventh Ken
fuzzy Cavalry.
~. N. I'M. captain Company G, Dob
bii1s . Arkansas cavalry.
kisepyi battalion