From the Richmond Enquirer, 6/11/1864
HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY. – This extensive cemetery is fast becoming thickly
populated with the dead of our gallant soldiers who expire in the Richmond
hospitals from the __alties incident to battle. Many thousands of as brave men
as ever handled musket or drew sword in defence of home and country, sleep the
last and dreamless sleep under the shade of the grand old oaks with which the
cemetery abounds. In later years pilgrims from afar will come to view this spot,
for swift, speeding time will throw around it holy memories, to be kept forever
green in the hearts of the relatives and friends of those who sleep beneath its
soil. We regret that the gentleman in charge of this place is not allowed,
during such times as the present, sufficient auxiliaries so that he can
satisfactorily discharge the duty with which he is entrusted. Frequently of
late, as we understand, have there been such an accumulation of bodies in the
evening that no chance was afforded of their having immediately the rights of
sepulture. In consequence of this the bodies lie exposed all night, without any
protection save that afforded by the rough and generally green pine coffins in
which they are brought to the ground. The pine being unseasoned the effect of
the hot sun upon them and the fast decomposing bodies within may be imagined.
– Frequently the coffin lids, that are only fastened by one nail in each end,
burst open, or shrink and curl up so as to expose the body for whose protection
it was made.
Several ladies who went to the cemetery, a few mornings since, to mark the
grave of a deceased soldier, saw twenty-five coffins, with their ghastly
contents, lying on the ground, unburied, and fast decaying under the rays of a
burning sun. Myriads of flies were attracted to the spot, and the air was filled
with the odors of putrescent flesh. A view of many of the poor fellows was
obtained, the lids of the coffins having come off. None of them appeared to have
been cleansed and properly prepared for the grave, but thrust in the coffins
just as they died. This latter was the fault of the hospital from which they
came. The fact that the superintendent of the grounds is only allowed four hands
(not half enough) is somebody else’s fault. The bodies of our dead soldiers
should be decently buried. You may use a man and be just, but after using him,
you cannot abuse him and be just.
From the Richmond Enquirer, 6/13/1864
OAKWOOD CEMETERY. – The remarks in this column on Saturday relative to the
neglect in promptly burying the dead were designed to apply alone to Oakwood and
not Hollywood Cemetery, as the heading of the piece about the matter would seem
to indicate. We have heard of no neglect or want of force at Hollywood to do the
necessary offices of humanity to our gallant dead, but have heard much this and
the past Summer in reference to Oakwood Cemetery. – The majority of the
soldiers and some of the officers of the Confederate army who die in the
Richmond Hospitals from disease or wounds received in battle are interred at
Oakwood Cemetery. If the superintendent of the grounds has not enough force
properly to perform the work of interment, it would seem to be a very easy
matter for the Government to order out a score of able-bodied Yankees daily to
help him. If not Yankees, let the government take some of the stalwart darkeys
now in the military prisons here, and set them to digging graves.
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