Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-10
MONUMENT TO VETS
ON J0HNS0NS ISLAND
Statue of Confederate Soldier
Dedicated Today Head
stones Provided by Georgia

SANDUSKY, Ohio, June a monu-
ment to the memory Of Confederate Of
tlcers and soldiers buried on Johnson
island, sandusky bay. Lake Erie, was
dedicated today. The movement to erect
the statue originated with the Robert
Patton chapter of the United Daughters
of the Confederacy, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The chapter purchased the cemetery in
1908 when it was found that the spot
around which so many historic memories
clustered was being neglected and prac-
tically abandoned. It's only visitors were
the veterans of a Grand Army post, who
every Decoration day held memorial
services for their former foes
GEORGIA FURNISHED HEADSTONES.
Prior to this, however, one effort had
been made to save the cemetery from
the neglect into which it had fallen. In
1889 party of editors and officialS Of
the state of Georgia visited the Island
They saw only broken fences and weed
grown mounds. Stirred by the sight
they returned home and raised fund
which provided headstones of Georgia
marble for each of the 206 graves. 1t was
then found that 81 of them must remain
nameless, for the memory of the buried
had vanished. 49,.
Lieut.. Col. William Hoffman, federal
commissary general OF prisoners. leased
40 acres of land on Johnson's Island in
the fall of 1851 from L. B. Johnson. The
intention was to use this land solely for
the accommodation of Confederate Of
ficers and although during the subse-
quent years OF. the war small bodies OF
privates were from time to time sent to
the island it was usually through error
and they were invariably promptly draft
ed to other prisons. The island lies In
Sandusky bay, about three miles from
the town of Sandusky and the post was
known officially as Depot Prisoners of
War, Johnsons Island. near Sandusky,
Ohio"
The greatest number OF prisoners con-
fined on the island at any. one time was
about 3OOO This was just prior to the
close of the war. All in all, about 1900
officers and soldiers were imprisoned
there and 220 deaths were recorded. Four
teen of the dead were buried on the
mainland
SOLDIER IN UNIFORM.
The statue occupies a position on the
shore of Sandusky bay, near the entrance
of the island cemetery and faces to the
south. 1t represents q Confederate SOL
der in uniform. The right hand clutches
musket, the STOCK OF winch rests on tne
ground The left hand is raised to the
forehead. shading the eyes and the fig
IRE seems to be peerng into the far dis
lance toward the southland.
The statue rests on pedestal construc-
ton of South Carolina marble, upon
which is engraved in large letters:
Erected by the Robert Patton chapter,
United Daughters of the Confederacy, Of
Cincinnati, Ohio, in memory of the south
ern soldiers who died In the federal
prison on this island during the war be-
tween the states. Dead but sceDtered
sovereigns who rule us from the dust
On the base is this inscriptions: The
stone upon this was inscribed and placed
by the grand lodge of Mississippi in re-
membrance of the Masons who sleep
here"
On the ends of the base stone are the
words: Confederate Soldiers. They were
MasoAs.''