Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-06
TO MARK GRAVES
OF CONFEDERATES
MARBLE HEADsToNEs WILL
ApoRN RESTING PLACES AT
FOREST HILL.
COLONEL ELLIOTT or SOUTH
CAROLINA MAKING THE AR
RANGEMENTs.
DELEGATED BY CONGRESS To
CARRY OUT PROVISIONS OF
FORAKER BILL.
Madison. oct. 81.

Madison, Oct. 81.
Colonel William Elliott of Columbia
South Carolina. until six years ago
member of congress. is in Madison to
make arrangements for the setting Of
marble headstones on the graves of
the confederate prisoners at Forest
Hill cemetery.
Eighteen months ago congress
passed the Foraker bill. which pro
yided for an appropriation OF 100000
for the purchase of headstones for all
confederate graves in northern Gene
teries. Colonel elliott was made
commissioner to execute the order OF
Congress. Business In connection
with his duties prevented has com
ing to Madison sooner. While here
he is making all arrangements FOR the
setting of the stones, which viii be
done next spring, and also fol I'M
proving Confederate Rest. In these
matters he IS assisted by Major f, w.
Oakley. who viii have charge Of the
details of thu work.
Confederate prisoners are buried in
61 cemeteries extending over the
northern states from Boston In the
east to Santa Fe in the west, Colonel
Elliott must cover this vast territory.
After a few days in Madison he
leaves for Rock Island. H., thence to
points along the Mississippi
The contract for the headstones
was let to the Blue Ridge Marble
company Of Nelson. Ca. at $3.50
apiece They are made of Georgia
marble which. Colonel Elliott says,
does not fall prey to exposure.
Much Work involved.
Colonel Elliott must ascertain The
name of each deceased confederate
prisoner, rank, company. regiment
and state and have all these details
noted on the headstones. In Madi-
son these features Of his duties win
not be as onerous as in other cities
because each grave here has wood
en- marker with name, rank, company
regiment and state These markers
were placed on the graves through
The efforts of the late Mrs Alice w
Waterman. assisted by citizens
/! Colonel Elliott appreciates the worl
of this noble woman and the gener
osity Of Madison PEOPLE who assisted
her. Colonel Elliott has been pro
vided by the war department witt
the names Of all confederate prison
ers resting in northern cemeteries
ct is a source Of mucL pleasure Il
note how the services of Mrs Water
man and those who so kindly assist
ed her are treasured" said Colone
Elliott an the places visited by ms
so far I was treated most kindly bolt
by union soldiers and the people II
/ general"
shere are 1870 graves in Confeder
ate Rest and each win he marked
with marble headstone. Colone
Elliott contemplates having the
graves 1eyeled and OF making other
in1nrove ments.
Mrs. Waterman, Of whose generos
itv and kindness much has been said
came to Madison in 1868. Being d
southern birth she naturally loved
the south and when her attention was
called to the neglected condition oil
the graves Of the confederates she
had the grounds enclosed with .
board fence and ornamented with
beautiful shade trees and hedges, an.
every grave was properly marked wifi
headboard She died in 1897 al
the home OF Major Oakley
Sixteen Years in Congress.
Colonel Elliott is a democrat. He
served as member Of congress for IL
years from the Charleston district oil
South Carolina Six years ago he
retired. not desiring another term.
Colonel Elliott is fsvorably i'm
pressed with the beauties of Madison
and surroundings He anticipates
with great pleasure his visit TO Madi
son. as he had been informed ~ the
beauties OF he city at his far on
South Carolln home.
He has a dignified and pleasing per
sonaiity. and is an exceedingly inter
esting colversationalist lie is IN
assuming and does not In the least
betray the importance Of the mission
with Which, he has been entrusted By
congress.
Colonel Elliott Is accompanied BY
MS wife. They are stopping at the
Harnan. James r Stuart. the Mad
ison artist is a relative and former