The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-17
United N DEATH
ARE FORMER FOES

u.s.. Government to Care for
Confederate Cemetery
Next to Union One.
Springfield. NO.. May 17.-By an
ct Of the sixty-flrst congress the only
distinctive Confederate cemetery In
dissouri, which II located at Spring
ield, 10 to be taken over by the United
states government and maintained
long with the National cemetery,
which adjoins Il on the north. The
igning Of the bill by the President
.nds long and 1t times bitter contro-
,ersy over the care Of the Confederate
burial ground. Sentiment has played
% important part In the opposition to
.he union Of the two cemeteries. At
,ao t1me the Grand Army members in
Missouri we're greatly opposed to the
movement and the Confederates them
selves were divided.
Since the establishing Of the Confed.
erate cemetery In 1870 It has been
looked sfte1 By the Confederate Gem.
btery association which was organized
kt Spsiugfleld November %, 1859. The
eemeesgy has been maintained By vol
hntafy subscriptions from the voter.
ans and sympathisers Of the Lost
Cause" The establishing Of the GEN.
etefy was prompted by conditions
around 9pringfleld few years after
the war. when In many places the
bones Of Confederate soldiers who fell
ut Wilson's creek and in skirmishes
near the city could be see above
ground.
After the organization Of the GENE
terry association several acres Of land
southeast Of Springfield were purchas-
I'd and set aside for the final resting
place Of the fallen heroes. The sol
soldiers who had not been accorded q
decent burial were disinterred and bur-
led In the plot set aside for that pur-
pose. In the cemetery were inferred
he 23S men who fell on the battle
flolA Of Wilson creek and 263 who
ware killed In and around Springfield.
Only . few were identified. The graves
o. these were appropriately marked.
For . long time nothing was done
toward the beautifying the cemetery.
bot at the reunion Of the Confederates
at osdalia IN 1882 the cemetery was
adopted % . special charge. Il has
always been under the control Of the
cemetery association. In the last for.
" years more than two hundred Of the
vstefans who followed the stars and
barn through the Missouri and Arkan-
as campaigns have Joined their COM
Ta0es beneat the wide spreading
naples that shade the spot.
\ Protest In cIsvsland's Time.
VIII he limited funds at their com.
Aan1 The cemetery association could
- nttle toward improving the GENE.
tsry. Dach year II was compelled to
solicit contributions. During the id.
Miniseration OF Cleveland movement
was started 10 have the government
take over ana care for the place.
Thsro immediately arose q storm OF
protest from the Grand Army men.
Many southerners were also opposed
to asking the federal government for
aid In caring for the graves. Nothing
was done. and the association was
compelled to keep on with the work
with only limited means.
At . reunion Of the veterans Of the
Confedesacy. three years ago. the Of.
ncee1 Of the association reported that
they were no longer financially able
70 take proper care Of the cemetery.
Congressman G. w. Hamlin was then
asked TO introduce bill In congress
oueeestinS that the government take
over the property. There was still .
feeling among the G. A. r. members
that the Confederates ought to take
care Of their own dead. and 1t was not
till Tie last session Of congress that "a
voeable action was obtained.
Opposition to the bill was not con-
fined to the ranks Of war veterans.
0eat1ment OF southern congressman
pso0pesa them 20 oppose the measure
aaA e was not till the situation was
fHlly explained 70 them that they Yield
ed Two years ago II was thought the
house committee ON military affairs
amendment suggested BY the quarter.
mastsr.eeneral Of the war department
again delayed action.
He proposed that the government. In
taking over the cemetery. reserve the
right TO use any part Of the burial
ground for the burying Of the Union
dead In the event that all available
space In the National cemetery should
b used.
Not Satisfactory to confsdsratss
This amendment was far from salts
factory to the Confederates-even
those who had worked hardest to get
the bill passed-and 1t seemed the
movement would be abandoned. Lat.
o. the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS agreed to
withdraw the amendment 20 much OBJ
3eetsA to. and the bill as passed 10
satisfactory to . large majority Of the
southernsrs now living In this state.
At the next meeting OF the Confed.
crate Cemetery association arrange
Rents will BE- made to deed the Gem
etery 70 the government under the pro-
visions OF the act. II will then bs put
IN charge Of the keeper Of the Nation