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E 475 .55 .14 Copy 1
SOLDIERS'
NATIONAL CEMETERY,
AT
GETTYSBURG.
PENNSYLVANIA.
SOLDIERS'
NATIONAL CEMETERY,
AT
GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
Indiana TO THE LEGISLATURE.
INDIANAPOLIS: W. R. HOLLOWAY, STATE PRINTER.
1865.
E475 55 I4
EXCHANGE
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SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY, GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
[BY TELEGRAPH.]
WASHINGTON, August 10th, 1863.
W. T. DENNIS :
I desire to buy some ground at Gettysburg for a Cemetery for our soldiers. Please ascertain full particulars, price etc. and inform me.
O. P. MORTON.
GETTYSBURG, PA., August 13th, 1863.
To His Excellency, O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
SIR :- The inclosed circular embodies the plan agreed upon with agents of several States represented here, and it has been submitted to the Governors of all States named in it for their concurrence. It is desirable to have as little delay as possible in getting your reply, as the bodies of our soldiers are in many cases so much exposed as to require prompt attention, and the ground should be speedily arranged for their reception. Pennsylvania has bought a very suit- able piece of ground on one of the most prominent parts of the bat- tle field, and His Excellency Governor Curtin, authorized me to say to you, that if your State desires a conveyance in fee simple of your burial ground in the cemetery, Pennsylvania will make a deed to you for it. Otherwise she will hold the title in trust for the purposes designated in the circular.
With great respect, I subscribe myself, Your Excellency's obedient servant, DAVID WILLS, Agent. (Signed)
GETTYSBURG, PA., Aug. 12th, 1863.
To His Excellency OLIVER P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
SIR :- It having been proposed by the Governor of Pennsylvania, hat a cemetery be established at Gettysburg, Pa., for the burial of
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Union soldiers killed in the second battle there, and the matter hav- ing been committed by him to the charge of David Wills of Gettys- burg, with authority to apply to the Governors of the several States whose Soldiers were in the battle for their co-operation, and to ar- range the details for the carrying out of the project. The following plan is proposed by David Wills, by authority of Gov. Curtin to the several States interested.
1. The State of Pennsylvania to purchase the ground, about twelve acres, on the battle field, near the present Gettysburg Ceme . tery, and take the title in fee, and the ground to be devoted in perpetuity to the object.
2. All the bodies of soldiers who fell in defence of the Union, to be taken up from the battle field without unnecessary delay and deposited in the cemetery, those that can be designated by name, in graves marked by a small head stone with a number upon it, and the others in a common grave to be marked by some appropriate stone, a record to be kept of the names indicated by the numbers on the stones. The dead of each State where known, to be buried by themselves in the particular lot set apart to the State. The whole expense of this to be carried to a common account.
3. The ground to be enclosed by a well built stone wall from stone found on or near the premises, also a keeper's house to be erected on the lot at a cost of about $2.000, and the grounds to be tastefully laid out and adorned with trees and shrubberry, all this expense to be carried to a common account.
4. A suitable monument to be erected on the ground at the com- mon expense, at a cost not exceeding $10.000, if it shall cost more, only that sum to be charged to the common account.
5. All the foregoing expenses stated to be chargeable to a com- mon account, (to-wit : under heads 2, 3 and 4) are to be apportioned among the States having soldiers to be buried in the Cemetery, to- wit : The States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu- setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis- consin and Minnesota, each State to be assessed according to its pop- ulation, as indicated by the number of its representatives in Con- gress.
6. After the original outlay, the ground to be kept in order and the house and fence in repair, by the State of Pennsylvania.
7. It is expressly stipulated that the whole expense chargeable to the common account, shall not excecd $35,000.
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8. Each State may, if it pleases, appoint an agent, who shall act with David Wills, Agent for Pennsylvania, and other State Agents, in carrying out the foregcing plans.
Respectfully submitted, by authority of A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania.
DAVID WILLS, Agent. (Signed)
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA, Indianapolis, Ind., August 20th, 1863.
David Wills, Esq.,
Agent of State of Pennsylvania, Gettysburgh.
DEAR SIR :- I have received your letter of the 13th inst., with your circular letter of the 12th inst. enclosed, in relation to estab- lishing a cemetery for the burial of Union Soldiers killed in the re- cent battle at Gettysburgh. The general plan proposed by you, by authority of His Excellency, Governor Curtin, meets with my ap- probation. On the part of the State of Indiana I will unite with the other States interested in carrying out that plan, subject, of course, to such necessary amendments and modifications as may be hereafter agreed upon by said States.
Some two weeks since I appointed Col. Wm. T. Dennis, of Indi- ana, temporarily residing at Washington city, to ascertain the terms upon which grounds for the burial of Indiana soldiers killed at Get- tysburg, could be obtained, and to collect such facts in relation thereto as would give me a full understanding of the whole subject. Having received no report from him, I shall at once instruct him to visit and confer freely with you, and to take such steps, on the part of this State, as may be immediately necessary for the proper re-interment of our gallant dead.
Yours, very truly, (Signed,)
O. P. MORTON,
Governor of Indiana.
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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA, Indianapolis, Ind., August 20th, 1863.
Col. Wm. T. Dennis, Washington, D. C.
SIR: - Enclosed I have the honor to hand you copies of two let- ters received from David Wills, Esq., Agent of Ilis Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania, in relation to the establishment of a Cem- etery for the burial of Union Soldiers killed at the recent battle of Gettysburg. The plan proposed by Mr. Wills has been approved, and will be carried out by me, on the part of the State, subject, of course, to such necessary modifications and amendments as may be hereafter agreed upon by the several States interested.
You were instructed by me, by letter of the 10th instant, to ascer- tain upon what terms a suitable lot of ground, for the burial of Indi- ana troops who fell at Gettysburg, could be obtained, and to report such facts in relation thereto as would give me a full understanding of the whole subject. Having received no report from you I infer nothing has been done.
I now desire you, as my agent, to proceed to Gettysburg without delay, and confer freely with Mr. Willis, the Agent of the State of Pennsylvania, in regard to his plans. Select a suitable lot in the tract purchased for the cemetery, (if the ground has not already been divided among the States,) and take such steps, on the part of this State, as may be immediately required for the proper re-interment of our gallant dead.
Report to me fully as early as practicable.
Expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out these instructions, together with reasonable compensation for your services, will be paid by this Department. Yours very truly,
(Signed,)
O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
GETTYSBURG, September 15th, 1863.
To His Excellency, the Governor of Indiana:
SIR :- It seems to be the general wish that the stipulation in our circular of details, in reference to the Soldiers' Cemetery here, should be so modified that all should be buried together, and not separated into States. I have given the subject much attention, and have taken
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much counsel on it, and am row decidedly of opinion that we should entirely ignore State lines in this sacred project, and bury all together in these grounds as they fell.
There are many reasons for, which I need not now advance. Will it be agreeable to you to have this modification made ?
It is contemplated having a consecration of the grounds on the 22d of October next, with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion. The prominent feature in those ceremonies will be the oration, and there seems to be a desire, (and I may add, it meets my hearty approval,) to have Hon. Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, deliver the address. Will it accord with your wishes to have him invited for that purpose ?
The time for preparation is short, if he accepts the invitation, and therefore I solicit your immediate reply.
I am with great respect,
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
(Signed,)
DAVID WILLS,
For A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania.
SEPTEMBER 21ST, 1863.
David Wills, Esq., Agent for A. G. Curtin,
Governor of Pennsylvania :
DEAR SIR :- Yours of 15th inst., addressed to the Governor of Indiana, is received, and I am directed to reply that whatever arrange- ment you may make with other States interested, relative to the burial of the Union soldiers who fell at Gettysburg, will be satisfactory.
It will be entirely agreeable to Governor Morton to have the Ion. Edward Everett deliver the oration on the occasion of the consecra- tion of the grounds, 22d October next.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, W. H. H. TERRELL, Financial Secretary.
(Signed,) 4
8
GETTYSBURG, October 13th, 1863.
To IIis Excellency, the Governor of Indiana:
SIR :- Hon. Edward Everett could not be here on the 22d inst., to deliver the oration at the proposed consecration of the Soldiers' Cemetery, but suggested that if we would postpone the time to the 19th of November, he would cheerfully perform the duty. I took the liberty of writing to him that we would do so. The ground will therefore be set apart to its patriotic and sacred purpose on the 19th day of November next, with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion, and Hon. Edward Everett will deliver the address.
Mr. Everett also suggested that it would make the scene more im- pressive to have the dead interred in the cemetery before that occa- sion, as the time of the consecration is late in the season, and proba- bly there might be a doubt about getting the work all done before winter sets in, if we postpone the commencement of the removals until after the exercises. I have adopted his suggestion, and am making arrangements to commence the work about the 26th of this month.
The Secretary of War, on my application, ordered the Quarter- master General to furnish us with the requisite number of coffins, and he will commence supplying us on and after the 20th inst., at the rate of one hundred per day.
The Government also, on my application, sent Mr. W. M. Saunders here, who is one of the best landscape gardeners in the country, to design and plat the grounds. He is now at work, and at his sugges- tion, and in accordance with the desire of many of the States, he is laying it off in lots for each State. He will have the grounds ready by the 26th inst., when we expect to be ready to commence trans- ferring the bodies.
I will give notice to receive sealed proposals for taking up, remov- ing and re-interring the bodies, and have it in two distinct contracts, with full specifications, and require proper securities from the parties to whom the contracts have been awarded.
If you desire to send an Agent here to look especially after the dead of your State, and act generally for you in the matter, please do so by the 22d of this month.
I will have reliable and disinterested men to superintend the remo- vals personally, who will require everything to be done right and with the greatest care.
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We will be unable to accomplish much more than the removals this fall. It is desirable that the Governors of the different States meet in consultation about the details of the plan, and I would suggest that there will be no more suitable time for such meeting than the 19th of November.
I hope you will be present, with a large delegation from your State, to participate in the consecrative exercises. Ample railroad facilities are promised, and the citizens of this and the surrounding towns, easy of access by railroad, will generously do all they can to accom- date the people.
I remain with great respect,
Your Excellency's obedient servant,
(Signed,) DAVID WILLS, Agent for A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania.
-
OCTOBER 22d, 1863.
David Wills, Esq.,
Agent &c., Gettysburg, Pa.
DEAR SIR : - Your letter of the 13th inst. was duly received, and would have been answered several days ago but for the Gover- nor's absence. He now directs me to say, that he is much pleased with the change you appear to have made in your plan as set forth in your letter of 15th of September, that is to say, he thinks it will be much more satisfactory and appropriate to have the honored dead of Gettysburg interred in lots by States than to place them altogether.
Your general plan and the arrangements you have made for re-in- terments, meet with his approbation.
The Governor cannot at this time state positively that he will be present at the consecration on the 19th of next month. His public duties may preclude the possibility of his leaving home : but if he can come it will be a great pleasure for him to do so. As soon as practicable please forward an estimate of Indiana's proportion of the cost of the cemetery, and share of expenses in removing, re-in- terring her dead, &c.
Very respectfully yours, (Signed,) W. H. H. TERRELL,
Financial Secys
S. N. C .- 2
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NOVEMBER 9th, 1863.
[BY TELEGRAPH.]
J. G. Stevenson, Washington.
Are you coming out here and when. I want you to go to Get- tysburg to make arrangements for the removal and burial of the Indiana Dead. I start to Washington next Monday.
(Signed,) O. P. MORTON.
GETTYSBURG NOVEMBER 13th, 1863.
BY TELEGRAPH.]
Gov. Morton,
Have arranged for removal and burial of our dead, engaged quar- ters for you for 19th, leave for Washington to night.
(Signed,) JNO. G. STEPHENSON.
WASHINGTON, D. C. NOVEMBER 14th, 1863.
His Excellency O. P. MORTON, Governor of Invina
Sir : - In compliance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the 9th, I went on the 11th inst. to Gettysburgh, Pa., " to make arrangements for the removal and burial of the Indiana dead," and found the following state of facts existing - viz :
1st. The Soldiers Cemetery at that place had been laid out, and lots assigned to those States which had soldiers killed at the battle of Gettysburg, with lots reserved for the unknown dead.
2nd. A contract had been made by the State of Pennsylvania for the removal and burial of all such Officers and Soldiers killed in that battle, or who died in hospitals near there as the agent of the Gov- ernor of that State might direct.
3d. The work under this contract, had been some time in pro- gress, and all those who were killed on the 1st day of July, had been removed to the cemetery and buried there, including (probably) half of those from our State who were killed on that field.
.
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4th. This work is being done under the inspection of persons not interested in the contract, with much care, careful search being made for any mark, paper, book or other thing that might determine the name of the individual, the regiment to which he belonged, or the State from which he came, all of which as far as they can be deter- mined are preserved, and care taken to perpetuate a knowledge of the precise spot in the cemetery where the body is buried.
With this state of facts before me, I requested David Wills, Esq., Agent of the Governor of Pennsylvania, to direct the contractors to remove without delay the bodies of all soldiers from our State who were killed on the 2d and 3d days of July, or who died in hospitals. He has complied with that request and the work will soon be done. I refrain from writing any further account of this work and its sur- roundings, because it will be expected that you will be present on the 19th inst. at the formal consecration of that already consecrated ground, and can comprehend them at sight easier than from any description.
I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
(Signed,) JOHN G. STEPHENSON.
GETTYSBURG, DECEMBER 3d, 1863.
To His Excellency OLIVER. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
Sir : - It is important that a definite course of action be speedily determined upon by the Governor's of the States interested in the National Cemetery, so that those whose Legislature meet in January may have the subject submitted to them for consideration. To effect that purpose a meeting of the Agents, or Commissioners from the different States is called to convene at the "Jones House" in Har- risburg, Pa., on Thursday the 17th inst.
Will you please send a Commissioner to represent you at that meeting.
I am with great respect,
Your Excellency's obedient servant,
(Signed,) DAVID WILLS,
Agent for A. G. Curtin, Gov. of Pennsylvania.
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DECEMBER 7th, 1863.
Dr. John G. Stephenson, Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
SIR :- You are hereby appointed a Commissioner on the part of the State of Indiana, to a conference of the Governors of the States interested in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg (or their repre- sentatives), to be held at the Jones House, in the city of Harrisburg on Thursday, the 17th inst., to take into consideration the affairs of said cemetery.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
O. P. MORTON. [Signed]
DECEMBER 7th, 1864. Dr. Jno. G. Stephenson, Washington.
DEAR SIR :- Enclosed find authority to act as Commissioner on the part of Governor Morton, at a conference to be held at Harris- burg, 17th inst., to take into consideration matters relating to the National Cemetery at Gettysburgh. I also send you copies of all the correspondence between this Department and the General Super- vising Agent of the Cemetery, which will give you all the facts, plans, &c., so far as we are able to communicate. After the " conference " is over, please report to the Governor, with such suggestions as may occur to you.
Very truly Yours,
[Signed] W. H. H. TERREL, Financial Secretary.
GETTYSBURGH, Pa., Dec. 19, 1863.
To His Excellency, OLIVER P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
SIR :- His Excellency, Gov. Curtin, suggests that the names of the Trustees, to be appointed for the management of the Soldiers' Na- tional Cemetery here, as recommended in the second clause of the resolution embodied in the enclosed proceedings, be inserted in the act of incorporation.
Will you do me the favor to nominate a Trustee from the State of Indiana, that we may have the bill prepared, with the names embodied
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in it, and ready to be passed by our Legislature, as soon as it may convene.
I remain, with great respect, Your 'Excellency's obedient servant,
[Signed] DAVID WILLS, Agent for A. G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania.
' WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 20, 1863.
His Excellency, O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
SIR :- In obedience to the instructions contained in your letter of the 7th inst., I have attended the conference of the representatives of Governors held at Harrisburg on the 17th inst., for the purpose of considering matters relating to the Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa. I send you the following, which is a correct report of the proceedings of the meeting :
SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG.
HARRISBURG, Dec. 17th, 1863.
The Commissioners appointed by the Governors of the different States, which have soldiers buried in the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., met at the Jones House in Harrisburg, Pa., at 3 o'clock, P. M., on the 17th of December, 1863.
The following named Commissioners were present, viz .:
Hon. B. W. NORRIS, of Maine. Hon. L. B. MASON, of New Hampshire.
Mr. HENRY EDWARDS, of Massachusetts.
Mr. ALFRED COIT, of Connecticut.
Hon. LEVI SCOBEY, of New Jersey. Mr. DAVID WILLS, of Pennsylvania.
Col. JAMES WORRALL, of Pennsylvania.
Col. JOHN S. BERRY, of Maryland. Mr. L. W. BROWN, of Ohio.
Col. GORDON LOFLAND, of Ohio.
Col. JOHN G. STEPHENSON, of Indiana.
MR. W. Y. SELLECK, of Wisconsin.
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On motion of Col. Loffand, of Ohio, Mr. David Wills, of Pennsyl- vania, was elected Chairman of the Convention.
On motion of Col. Stephenson, of Indiana, Mr. W. Y. Selleck, of Wisconsin, was elected Secretary of the Convention.
After some discussion by the members of the Convention, Col. Ste- phenson, of Indiana, moved that a committee of four, of which the President of this Convention be one, be appointed for the purpose of preparing and putting in appropriate shape the details of the plan in reference to the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., to be presented to the Convention for their action, which was carried. The committee was appointed as follows :
Chairman, Col. John G. Stephenson, of Indiana ; Mr. Henry Ed- wards, of Massachusetts, Hon. Levi Scobey, of New Jersey, Mr. Da- vid Wills, of Pennsylvania.
On motion of Mr. Alfred Coit, of Connecticut, the Convention took a recess, to await the action of the Committee.
The Convention met again at 5 o'clock, P. M., to hear the report of the committee.
The committee made the following report :
WHEREAS, In accordance with an invitation from David Wills, Esq., agent for his Excellency A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylva- nia, the Governors of the several States appointed Commissioners, who met at Harrisburg, December 17th, 1863, to represent the States in convention, for the purpose of making arrangements for finishing the SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY : therefore, be it
Resolved, By the said Commissioners in convention assembled, that the following be submitted to the different States interested in the "Soldiers' National Cemetery," through their respective Governors :
First, That the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall hold the title to the land which she has purchased at Gettysburg for the Soldiers' National Cemetery, in trust for States having soldiers buried in said Cemetery, in perpetuity for the purpose to which it is now applied.
Second, That the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- nia be requested to create a Corporation, to be managed by Trustees, one to be appointed by each of the Governors of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecti- cut, New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- sota, and of such other States as may hereafter desire to be repre- sented in this Corporation, which Trustees shall, at their first meet- ing, be divided into three classes. The term of office of the first class
15
to expire on the first day of January, 1865. The second class on the first day of January, 1866. The third class on the first of January, 1867. The vacancies thus occurring to be filled by the several Gov- ernors, and the persons thus appointed to fill such vacancies, to hold their office for the term of three years. This Corporation to have exclusive control of the Soldiers' National Cemetery.
Third, The following is the estimated expense of finishing the Cemetery :
Enclosing grounds,.
$15,000
Burial expenses, and superintending,
6,000
Headstones,. 10,000
Laying out grounds, and planting trees,.
5,000
Lodge, ..
2,500
Monument, .
25,000
Total
$63,500
Fourth, That the several States be asked to appropriate a sum of money, to be determined by a division of the estimated expenses ac- cording to representation in Congress, to be expended in defraying the cost of removing and re-interring the dead, and finishing the cem- etery, under directions of the Cemetery corporation.
Fifth, When the cemetery shall have been finished, the grounds are to be kept in order, the house and enclosure in repair, out of a fund created by annual appropriations made by the States which may be represented in the cemetery corporation, in proportion to their rep- resentation in Congress.
On motion of Col. Berry, of Maryland, the report of the committee was accepted, and the committee discharged.
It was moved by Col. Berry, of Maryland, that the report of the committee be considered seriatim, which was concurred in, and the report was then adopted in detail.
Letters from the Governors of the following States were received by Mr. Wills, Chairman of the Convention, which were not repre- sented by Commissioners, expressing their disposition to approve any reasonable action of the Convention in reference to the completion of the cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., viz .:
Hon. HORATIO SEYMOUR, of New York.
Hon. AUSTIN BLAIR, of Michigan. Hon. JAMES Y. SMITH, of Rhode Island.
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Hon. WILLIAM CANNON, of Delaware. Hon. HENRY G. SWIFT, of Minnesota.
On motion of Mr. Scobey, of New Jersey, the following committee was appointed by the Chairman, with the view to procure designs of a monument to be erected in the cemetery :
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