2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A grime post-war partly-printed "Monthly Report of the Progress on the National Cemetery at Baton Rouge", 2pp. large folio, Baton Rouge, Dec. 31, 1867, being a true copy of the report submitted by Captain William Fletcher, 20th U. S. Infantry to Quartermaster Bvt. Col. Charles W. Folsom concerning his need to alter work on the cemetery after finding that a number of entombments did not contain the remains of soldiers, reading, in part: "…work has been resumed at this cemetery on the 1st inst. no fresh re-internments were made…several bodies have been taken up and removed to other parts of the ground, so as to equalize the number of graves in the various squares…upon opening the graves for the purpose of arranging the remains…I find that a large number [that were] supposed to be the remains of soldiers are in fact, the remains of Refugees, Contrabands etc including women & children. Quite a large number are outside the enclosure and (unless ordered) I will not disturb them. There are about 800 inside…and from 1000 to 1200 outside which…I believe are all of the class above mentioned…there will be but 2000 to 2800 remains of soldiers when completed…". During the war, Union casualties were buried in the cemetery. In 1867, it became a national cemetery. Union remains were brought to the cemetery from the local battlefields, and as far away as Arkansas, after it was announced that a bounty would be paid to those bringing the remains of a Union soldier to the cemetery for burial. Some toning, else very good.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.