The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-22
GRAVES OF c0NFEDERATEs.
Government May Arrange to Care
for Those Near Chicago.
From The chicago Tlmes-Herald

From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Neglected graves of the union and Con-
Tolerate dead at OakWoCds cemetery will
soon be cared for by the government, If
Congressman James r. Mann Is success
full in the effort he is making in that di-
recton. AT the next session of the House,
he viii introduce a bin providing for the
improvement and can as what is known
as Confederate mound and from core
pondence received by him, he feels assured
that the bill viii be passed without oppo-
sition when the facts are presented.
The measure is already drafted and au-
thorizes the Secretary of War to enter into
a contract with the Oakwoods Gene tery
Association for the improvement Of the
mound containing the remains of twelve
union soldiers and 4039 Confederate sol
d.ers who died at Camp
Douglas during the civil war,
provided, however the cost shall not
exceed 1880 II viii also empower the
Secretary of War TO pay the cemetery as
soc.aIion not to exceed $50 annually for
the proper care. protection and mainten-
ance Of The mound.
Congressman Mann became interested in
the mat er last Memorial day, when he
marched TO Oakwoods with the G. A. r.
post Of Grand Crossing. He was struck
with the fOrlorn apDe arance of the mound
and also by the fact that Union veterans
strewcd flowers upon the graves of the
dead Confedera es. He asked some of them
what they thought Of a plan providing for
governmental care of the plot, and met
with a hearty response lie then conclud-
ed that if the men who had fought and
suffered could streW flowers over the
graves Of former enemies, the governmen mt
could certainly afford to keep the sod over
their graves smooth and green and no
longer permit rank weeds TO hide the spot.
Al the time The lot was purchased by the
government il was in the unimproVed D0r-
ton Of the cemetery, and was a little gh-
er than the surrounding ground. Since
that time the cemetery has been greatly
improved ana the mound is now several
feet lower than the burial plots imme-
diatefy surrounding IL. In 1880 the Confed-
crate Association erected monument
there 70 its dead, and in 1885 the Secretary
OF War ornamented the mound by placing
upon Il four condemned cannon and some
projecUIes. In t.e same year the Consed-
crate Association erected flag STAFF and
with the exception Of what little care The
cemetery association has given, this Is al
that has been done By way Of improving
and maintaining he mound.
The Confederate monument Is located In
the center which is The lowest Dolnt In
the mound. u is proposed TO temporarily
remove the monument, hil the mound ~
TO the level o. iis surroundings with Q
graceful slope to its edges, fay water pipes
for sprink.ing, remove the broken trees and
plant new ones and 10 resod and seed the
sur face. Coueressman Mann calls stten
ton 20 the fact That the states 20 whici
these Confederate soldiers belonged oannO
take care Of heir graves ana thai q
should b. the duiy 81 the government 4
DO so. even though they were enemies 81
the nation. u s. sfili more The duty ~ fh'
government 40 DO this. he says, since In
lon dead are resting there