Civil War Vets Buried

Seems odd to be talking about this, almost 160 years after the end of the Civil War (or, for KoB, the War of Northern Aggression). Worth remembering, especially for all those advocating a new civil war. Civil War is always bloody, harsh, and like all wars, isn’t ever all over by Christmas.

The cremated remains of 30 men have been sitting, gathering dust, on a shelf in a funeral home located in Seattle, presumably the Washington state Seattle.

The simple copper and cardboard urns gathering dust on shelves only had the name of each of the 28 soldiers – but nothing linking them to the Civil War. Still, that was enough for an organization dedicated to locating, identifying and interring the remains of unclaimed veterans to conclude over several years that they were all Union soldiers deserving of a burial service with military honors.

“It’s amazing that they were still there and we found them,” said Tom Keating, the Washington state coordinator for the Missing In America Project, which turned to a team of volunteers to confirm their war service through genealogical research. “It’s something long overdue. These people have been waiting a long time for a burial.”

The men were mostly laid to rest in August, most at Washington’s Tahoma Cemetery.

In a traditional service offered to Civil War veterans, the historical 4th US Infantry Regiment dressed in Union uniforms fired musket volleys and the crowd sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Names were called out for each veteran and their unit before their remains were brought forward and stories were shared about their exploits. Then, they were buried.

Among them was a veteran held at a Confederate prison known as Andersonville. Several were wounded in combat and others fought in critical battles including Gettysburg, Stones River and the Atlanta campaign. One man survived being shot thanks to his pocket watch – which he kept until his death – and another deserted the Confederate Army and joined the Union forces.

Some who were identified whose origin was known were sent to other states. We can only assume that these men migrated westward after the war? Otherwise I would wonder how they made it to the Washington area.

The remains of several more Civil War veterans were sent to Maine, Rhode Island and other places where family connections were found.

Among them was Byron Johnson. Born in Pawtucket in 1844, he enlisted at 18 and served as a hospital steward with the Union Army. He moved out West after the war and died in Seattle in 1913. After his remains were delivered to Pawtucket City Hall, he was buried with military honors at his family’s plot in Oak Grove Cemetery. AP via CNN

More details in the linked article – it’s worth a read.

PS – note no one comments, or cares, which political party they endorsed.

Category: Society, Veterans in the news