The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-02
GEN. GREENE'S BURIAL PLACE.
GEORGIA HIsTORICAL SOCIETY DIS
CUSsES ITS LOCATION.


tary AShmore Upon the subject of
Gen. NathanaeI Greene's Birth.
President Screven Compares the
History and the Tradition With
Regard 20 the Disposal of Gen.
Greene's Remains-The Records
show That the Remains Were
ptnced in the Jones Vault While
Tradition Says They Were Placed
in the Graham Vault From Which
They Were Afterward Removed.
A further discussion of the genealogy Of
Gen. Nathaniel Greene and discussion
as 10 the present resting place of his re-
mains. together with the presentation OF
a COPY of an ancient map of the Islands
on the coast OF Georgia, were the chleI
matters of interest at the May meeting OF
the Georgia Historical Society last night
The discussion was brought up by the
reading of several letters which the cor
responding secretary, Mr.. OTIS Ashmore'
had received in reply to copies which he
had sent of his paper establishing the
correct genealogy Of Gen. Greene, read be-
fore the April meeting of the society
Among the letters was one from Gen
Francis V. Greene of New York, a de-
scendant OF Gen. Greene.
Mr.. Ashmore's correspondence Included
a letter from William J. Box, who is
getting up a history showing the present
location of the remains of the distin-
guished dead of the country. Mr.. BOX
desired to know the whereabouts of the
burial places of Georgia's signers of the
Declaration of Independence. Mr.. Ash
more said that he knew that Lyman Han
and Joseph Walton were buried beneath
a monument on Greene street in Augusta
but that the burial place of Button Gwin-
nett was unknown. 1t was believed that
he was buried in the old cemetery in Sa-
vannah, his death having been the result
of duel near this city with Gen. Lach-
Ian Mcintosh. There are no records, how
ever, by which his grave can be located.
Mr. Ashmore read replies from the Penn
eylvania Historical Society and the His
torical Society of Rhode Island, the lat
ter stating that his table of the Greene
genealogy would be laid before the quar-
terly meeting OF the society.
In introducing the letter from Gen. F.
V Greene, Mr.. Ashmore said II was evil
dent that he was not the first discovery
of the true date of birth of Gen. Nathan
ael Greene, though his investigation had
been conducted without any knowledge of
previous discovery. Gen. Greehe's letter
which is of considerable interest, is as
follows:
80 East Thrtieth Street, April %, 1899
Otis Ashmore, Esq, Secretary Georgia
Historical Society: My Dear Sir-Please
accept my thanks for your letter of nth
and your paper. l had received a copy
through the newspaper clippings, and it
was this which caused me to send you
my life of Nathaniel Greene.
My father. the late Maj. Gen George
Sears Greene, devoted much time TO the
genealogy of the family, and many years
ago he called my attention to error on
page five of George Washington Greene's
book. When l came to write my book |
went into the matter very carefully. /
enclose copy of my notes made at that
Time. At first l wrote an. explanation If
the matter, but finding that il would fiji
two pages. feared 1t would interrupt my
narrative. and, therefore, cut il out. leav-
ing only statement Of the fact in few
words l am very glad that you have
stated the case so fully, and would sug-
gest That you send a copy of your paper
to the historical societies of Rhode Island
and New York.
l do not recall any other family that
has furnished three major generals in suc-
cessive generations, and of the Greenes
Two served in Savannah, and nv fathers
division marched through there in Decem-
Der, 1864. although he was at that time
absent, disabled by a wound received al
Chattanooga in October. 1863. which pre-
vented him from rejolning the army until
II reached Goldsboro in March, 1865. If you
care for IL l will send photographs of the
three for the walls of the Georgia HIS
torical Society.
l think that a subject which might en-
gage your attention is the burial place
of Nathaniel Greene. lie died of sun
stroke at his plantation, Mulberry Grove,
on the river above Savannah, and his body
was placed in a vault in the cemetery
which is now in the heart of Savannah
but have never been able to find record
of the vault or the grave. All that is
known on the subject is found given on
page 5S5. volume of c. w. Greene's
book, and on page 3l3 of mine If you
could discover the exact spot where his
bones rest. so that 1t could be appropr-
ately marked. l think you would do a
great service 70 history; and If there are
expenses connected with the search |
would be glad to share in defraying them.
Very truly yours, +. V. Greene"
Gen. Greene. the author of the letter,
is we'll remembered in Savannah having
been in command of the Seventh Army
Corps a part of the lime during its stay
in Savannah while Gen, Lee was absent.
Gen. Greene has been prominent for a
number of years in the national guard of
New York. He entered the service of the
United States as colonel of Seventy-first
New York, but was shortly after promot-
ed TO the command of q brigade in the ex-
petition 90 the Philippines and saw dis
tinguished service with his command at
the battle of Manila last summer
Mr.. Ashmore stated in explanation that
after receiving Gen. Greene's history eff
the life of Nathaniel Greene he wrote
the former, enclosing copy of his scheme
of the genealogy of Nathaniel Greene and
received in response the letter quoted
Gen. Greene's remark upon the subject
OF ascertaining the spot where rests the
bones of his great ancestor al once aroused
Interest on the part of the members of the
society and discussion of the subject be-
gan. Col. John Screven. president of the
society, said that he had had occasion to
look into this matter. 1t is undoubtedly
true, he said, that the remains of Gen.
Greene vvare bnrfo1 Il, Tho ~ 80.