Year: 1866

Description of the National Cemetery


The Dedication to take place on Septem-


ber 18th.


From the report of Colonel W. H. Blair
and Capt j. NJ Linn, who were sent by
Gov. Curtin to inspect the condition OF
the graves of Pennsylvania soldiers
buried in the National Cemetery at An
tietam, we condense the following


The inclosure is not perfect square,
although the four walls are nearly the
same length 600 feet, inclosing an area
of nearly half a million square feet The
stones for the wall are quarried about a
Quarter of mile from the cemetery.
They are taken out in large blocks, some
of them eight feet in length. When
dressed, they present smooth and bear-
tiful surface. The granite for the cap
ping, or cap-stones of the wall, is OBJ
tained from quarry near keadsville,
and is brought to the ground ready
dressed in beautiful block varying from
FIVE to ten feet in length These cap
stones are two feet in breadth, eight
inches in thickness, and bevelled one
inch on the upper sides.


The wall facing to the north and east
is finished The wall on the inside will
have a uniform hight of four feet, and
will be surmounted by an iron railing at
the main entrance.


The plots allotted to the several States
have not yet been laid off 1t is pro-
posed to allow each State to erect what
ever headstones or monuments over their
dead they may choose 1t is hoped that
in this way a rivalry between the States
will be prompted, and that they will vie
with each other in identifying the rest
ing places allotted to their fallen heroes.


After the estimate of the entire cost had
been made, the amount was levied on
each State in proportion to the number
of its dead buried on the field, and the
appropriations asked for. Thus far the
work has been prosecuted with $4,000
About $4,000 has thus far been appro-
priated, only $4,000 of which has as
yet been expended.


AS soon as the wall and grading are
completed the work of removing the
dead will be begun. There exists a re-
cord of all that could be identified at the
time of the burial Perhaps one half of
the graves are marked with the name,
company and regiment of the dead sol
der; or still larger pumber with the regi-
ment alone, and nearly all with the State
to which the regiment belonged.


The location of the cemetery is the
best that could possibly have been Sc
lected. II overlooks the battlefield, and
many Of the most important points,
around which the battle ragged most
fiercely, are in full view. In the upper
part of the inclosure is a large rock, on
which Gen. Lee stood for some time and
watched the progress of the battle.
There has been difference of opinion
among the gentlemen having control of
the cemetery, whether this rock should
be allowed to remain. 1t has been de-
cided not to disturb it, Whatever is cal
culated to perpetuate the historic asso-
Citations fthe place should be preserved.
Although this rock has been pressed by
traitor footsteps, there will be few pill
grims to the spot, now made sacred by
the ashes of the nations soldiers, who
will not stand upon it and recall the
scene which Gen. Lee gazed upon that
bright September morning


1t is proposed to dedicate the cemetery
on September 18th. next, that day being
the anniversary of the great battle. 1t
will, no doubt, be most interesting oc-
casion. The trustees will have a meeting
on August the lst, after which the public
will be duly advised Of the arrangements
made for the solemn and imposing cere-
monies.