REPORT OF W. G. VEAZEY, AGENT TO VISIT GETTYSBURG

IN RELATION TO THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

(Referred to on Page 26 of the Journal.)

His Excellency, the Governor of Vermont:

RUTLAND, VT., Nov. 2d, 1863.

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to report that I proceeded to Gettysburg. October 23d, in compliance with your directions, to arrange for the removal of the Vermont dead to the new National Cemetery, &c.

I arrived at Gettysburg on Monday, October 26th, and immediately called upon David Wills, Esq., Agent for the State of Pennsylvania, and found that he had contracted with responsible parties for the disinterment, removal and re-interment of all the Union dead on the battle-field of Gettysburg, (a copy of the specifications of said contract are herewith forwarded,) at a cost of $1 59 per body. Said parties have given a bond in the sum of $6000 00 for the faithful performance of the contract. The whole work to be under the superintendence of two men independent of all interest in the contract, and selected by Mr. Wills, one to attend to the exhiuming, and the other to the interment of the bodies.

This contract was subject to the approval of the Agent from each State. I made the ac quaintance of the superintendents of the work, and went on to the field with agents from several other States, and saw the manner of exhuming and interment of the bodies in the new cemetery, and was so entirely satisfied with the contract and the carefulness with which the work was done, that I assented to it for Vermont. All the Agents present from other States did the same for their respective States. We were not only satisfied, but surprised, to find the terms for the work so low, and gratified with the minuteness of the contract and the care with which it was being executed. Indeed, no one would exercise more care in removing the loved remains of a brother or son. You will see from the specification, the manner of proceeding with the work. The superintendent also examines the body of each unknown dead to see it he can discover anything by which he may identify it.

The State of Pennsylvania has purchased a lot of ground, seventeen acres, for the Cemetery, and will give a deed to the several States of their respective lots, if they require it. I think that no State will require it. for the reason that the conveyance to the State of Pennsylvania is of the nature of a trust for this particular purpose, and the land can never be used for any other purpose, and the State of Pennsylvania has obligated herself to keep the grounds and everytning about the Cemetery in good condition after it is completed. Yet, if any State should wish for a deed of its lot, the conveyance will be made without any cost to the State. The ground chosen is a part of the battle-field, known as Cemetery Hill. It is a gentle slope in front of the old Cemetery of the town, overlooking a very large part, nearly all, of the battle-field, the town of Gettysburg and a wide expanse of beautiful country all around. It is also near the spot where our Vermont Brigade fought so gallantly. You will see from the plan, which I send, the location of the Vermont lot. I don't think there is much if any choice in the lots, but if there is any, I think we have the best.

It is proposed to lay a stone twelve or eighteen inches square along at the head of the graves on the stone wall mentioned in the specifications, the top of the stone being six or

eight inches above the surface of the ground, and oval, and to have the inscription for each man made on the top of this stone at the head of the grave, in place of a common headstone, thereby securing the greatest simplicity, uniformity and permanency, with the least cost. But this will be a matter of consideration for the Governors present at the consecration of the Cemetery the 19th of November, or their representatives. Also the location and style of the monument and style of fence around the grounds, and other matters of orna

inent.

Governor Curtin, Mr. Wills, and another party, will hire the money for present expenses, and draw upon the States for their share, according to the population respectively, after they have made appropriations for this purpose. I mentioned to Mr. Wills that your Excellency would probably call the attention of our Legislature now in session to the matter, and be ready to honor a draft for our proportion of the expense of removals within a reasonable time. Seventeen States, besides Western Virginia, are interested in this project. I am sorry to see that so many of our Vermont dead are being brought home, for 1 think there can be no such fit and honorable place for the noble sons of our state that fell at Gettysburg to rest, as in this National Cemetery. Their deeds and death made the place memorable, and the history of Gettysburg is a part of their history Mary visitors arrive there daily, and this new Ceinetery will enhance the interest in the place, so that no where could the gallant dead of Gettysburg be honored so much as by being buried together on the field where they fell. Parties that arrrived at Gettysburg, while I was there for the remains of their friends, became so convinced of these facts that they left them to be buried in the National Cemetery. The Agents pre-ent agread that if the friends of the dead there could know all that we did about the Cemetery, they would not incur the great expense of transferring them to their homes We therefore agreed to call the attention of our respective Governors to these facts, and suggest the propriety of their laying them before the people. We have now less than forty known dead remaining there. But very few graves of our cavalrymen that fell there are marked.

I send you, by same mail with this report, a plan of the Cemetery and the battle-field.

I cannot speak in terms of too great praise of the courtesy of Mr. Wills, and of his efforts to make the National Cemetery at Gettysburg all that its friends could desire. He will be glad to receive any suggestion that may occur to you to make with reference to the Cemetery. I completed all arrangements for the State so much to my satisfaction that I did not deem it necessary to remain there longer.

Colonel Frank E. Howe, of New York, has sent a man to aid Mr. Wills in his general supervision of the work. He will remain until the consecration. the 19th of this month. The Agent from Ohio will also remain until then. Agents that had not arrived will be there from time to time; therefore, I cannot see how any negligence on the part of the contractors, should they attempt it, can escape observation. I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

W. G. VEAZEY, Agent for Vermont.

REPORT OF HON. PAUL DILLINGHAM, ON THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG.

(Referred to on Page 28 of the Journal.)

To J. Gregory Smith, Governor of Vermont:

SIR-In order to give an intelligent account of the soldiers' burying ground at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in its beginning and progress, I give the following extract from Governor Curtin's message to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, July 7th, 1864.

"After the battle of Gettysburg, in which loyal volunteers from eighteen States, including Pennsylvania, were engaged, it appeared to me proper that all of those States should unite in establishing a Cemetery on the spot, in which their soldiers who had fallen in that conflict should be honorably interred. I accordingly appointed David Wills, Esq., of Gettysburg, my Agent. and through him, a site was purchased, at a cost of $2.475 87, and the conveyances made to the Commonwealth. On communicating with the authorities of the other States, they all readily agreed to become parties to the arrangement, and on the 19th day of November last, the Cemetery was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, in the presence of the President of the United States, the Governors of the States concerned, and other high officers, State and National. On the 19th day of December, on the invitation of Mr. Wills, Commissioners representing the States interested in the Cemetery, met in Harrisburg, and agreed upon a plan for its improvement and care in the future, and the apportionment of the sum of money required, to the several States, which is herewith communicated. The expenses attending the establishment of this Cemetery, including the cost of the site and renioving the bodies of the slain, have thus far amounted to $5,209 38, and an appropriation will be required to pay these expenses, and to meet our portion of those attending its future maintenance. It will appear by the proceedings of the Commissioners, that their due proportions of the expenses already incurred, are to be refunded by the States on whose account they were made. It is just to say that Mr. Wills has discharged his delicate and important duties with fidelity, and to my entire satisfaction."

At the same time Mr. Wills' report was subraitted to the Legislature, which is as follows: "The design of locating a place for the decent interment of the remains of our soldiers, who fell in the defence of the Union in the battle of Gettysburg was originated, soon after that bloody conflict in July last, but was not consummated by the purchase of the grounds for the purpose until August.

"A persistent effort was made by persons here to have the soldiers buried in grounds controlled by the Local Cemetery Association of this place. The plans proposed having the burials made at a stipulated price, to be paid to the Cemetery Association. Failing in this project, these persons endeavored to connect the two cemeteries so that they should both be in one enclosure, and all under the control, supervision and management of the Local Cemetery Association. As the Agent of his Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania, I was in communication, by letter and personally, with representatives and citizens of other States in reference to this proposed plan, and all were of the decided opinion that the soldiers' Cemetery should be entirely distinct and disconnected from the local Cemetery. That, to ensure success in obtaining a concert of action among all the States, it must be

made an independent Cemetery, and the control and management of it be retained by the States interested. This whole matter was very thoroughly and impartially canvassed and discussed, and this conclusion arrived at and adopted. The grounds were subsequently laid out, and the burials made, in view of the national character of the project. His Excellency, Governor Curtin, having authorized me to buy grounds and invite the other States interested to unite in the removal of the dead and improving the grounds, I immediately endeavored to purchase land on Cemetery Hill, and, after much difficulty, succeeded in buying five different lots lying on Cemetery Hill, on the west side of the Baltimore turnpike, adjoining the local Cometery on the north and west. It is the ground on which the centre of our line of battle rested, July 2d and 3d, and one of the most prominent and important positions on the whole battle-field. The lots were purchased for different prices per acre, according to their location, but all at a very reasonable market price. Two lots were bought at the rate of $225 per acre, one for $200 per acre, one for $150 per acre, and one for $135 per acre. The whole embraces about seventeen acres, and for the exact area and amount in each purchase, I refer you to the deeds on file in the Auditor General's office.

"The Cemetery having assumed a national character, being independent of any local controlling influences, the Governors of all the States having soldiers lying on this battle-field, after much correspondence and conference, through Commissioners sent here for the purpose, committed their States to the project. I then made arrangements with Mr. William Saunders, an eminent landscape gardener, to lay out the grounds in State lots, apportioned in size according to the number of marked graves each State had on this battle-field. This number was obtained by having a thorough search made for all the graves, and a complete lits of all the names accurately taken. The grounds were accordingly very neatly and ap propriately laid out, and I refer you to the map of them. To preserve their identity; I deemed it very important to have the removals of the dead made as soon as possible. The marks at the graves were but temporary, in many instances a small rough board on which the name was faintly written with a lead pencil. This would necessarily be effaced by the action of the weather, and the boards were also liable to be thrown down and lost. The graves which were uninarked, were in many instances level with the surface of the earth, and the grass and weeds were growing over them, and in the forests the fall of the leaves in the autumn would cover them, so that they might be entirely lost 1, therefore, issued proposals for the giving out of the contract for disinterring. removing and burying in the National Cemetery all the Union dead on this battle-field Thirty-four bids were handed in, varying in amount from $1 59 to $8 00. I awarded the work to F. W. Biesecker, the lowest bidder, for $1 59 per body. His duties are fully set forth in the specifications which are embodied in the contract. I take pleasure in saying that the work under this contract has been done with great care, and to my entire satisfaction. This is owing in part to the great care and attention bestowed by Mr. Samuel Weaver, whom I employed to superintend the exhuming of the bodies. Through his untiring and faithful efforts, the bodies in many unmarked graves have been identified in various ways Sometimes by letters, by papers, recipts, certificates, diaries, memorandum books, photogtaphs, marks on the clothing, belts or cartridge boxes, &c., have the names of the soldiers been discovered. Money and other valuables have frequently been found, which, when the residence of the friends is known, have been immediately sent to them. Those not returned to the friends are carefully packed up and marked, and every effort will be made to find the friends of the deceased, and place these articles in their possession. Words would fail to express the grateful relief that this work has brought to many a sorrowing household; a brother, a son, a father, have been lost on this battle-field, supposed to be killed, but no tidings whatever have the bereaved friends of him. Suddenly, in the progress of this work his remains are discovered by sure marks, letters, probably, photograph, &c., and they are deposited in a coffin with care, and buried in a very appropriate place on the battle-field where he fell, the Soldiers' National Cemetery. There his grave will be properly cared for and permanently marked. The friends, who have probably written ne several letters of inquiry, are immediately informed of the discovery. What a relief from agonizing hope and despair such certain information brings.

"After purchasing the grounds, 1. made application to the Secretary of War for coffins for the burial of these dead, and he at once approved of the application, and directed the Quartermaster General to furnish the number required for the purpose. These Cemetery Grounds were solemnly dedicated to their present sacred purpose, by appropriate and imposing ceremonies, on Thursday, the 19th of November last. The public prints of that week contained full accounts of the proceedings. I refer you, also, to the accompanying proceedings embraced in this volume.

"I requested the Governors of the different States having lots in the Cemetery. to appoint Commissioners, to assemble at Harrisburg, on the 17th day of December last, to adopt some uniform plan for the action of the Legislatures of the different States. Twelve States were represented, and the other five signified, in advance, their assent to any reasonable action of the convention.. The estimated expenses of finishing the Cemetery are $63,500, and it is proposed to divide this sum among the different States having lots in the Cemetery, in ratio of their representation in Congress. The Legislatures of the other States are acting in this matter, and making the appropriations in the proportions as above indicated. Beside making this appropriation, another additional duty devolves upon the Legislature of Pennsylvania. For the management and care of the grounds and the completion of the work, it is necessary to have a corporate body, and the State of Pennsylvania is requested, through her Legislature, to establish by her letters patent this corporation, The Soldiers' National Cemetery.' This should be done without delay. It will necessarily require some time for the board of managers to meet and organize, and in the meantime the work, which should be progressing, is delayed. It is especially desirable that the Legislature act upon this matter at once, so that the organization may be perfect. Upon this board of managers, composed of one from

each State having soldiers dead here, will devolve the completion of the project and the future care of the ground."

At the same session of the Legislature of Pennsylyania, an act of incorporation was passed -which, after reciting that "the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had purchased seventeen acres of land on Cemetery Hill, on the Gettysburg battle-field, in the County of Adams, for a Cemetery for the burial of the remains of the soldiers who fell in the battle of Gettysburg and the skirmishes incident thereto, in defending the Union, or died thereafter from wounds re ceived in that battle and the skirmishes"-enacts that the Commonwealth will forever continue to hold those lands in fee simple, in trust for all the States having soldiers buried in said grounds, for the purposes mentioned in said preamble.

The act then provides that certain persons therein named, "being one Commissioner from each State having soldiers buried in said Cemetery, be, and they and their successors are hereby created a body politic in law, under the name, style and title of The Soldiers' National Cemetery, and by that name, style and title shall have perpetual succession, &c." Said Commissioners are constituted a board of managers, to whom the care and management of said grounds are solely entrusted, whose duty it is declared to be, out of funds in the hands of the treasurer of the corporation, by State appropriation or otherwise, to remove the remains of all the soldiers, referred to in the preamble, that have not already been removed, to the Cemetery, and have them properly interred therein; and also to lay out, fence and ornament, to divide and arrange into suitable plots and burial-lots, establish carriage-ways, avenues and foot-paths, erect buildings and a monument or monuments and suitable marks to designate the graves, and generally to do all other things in their judgment necessary and proper to be done, to adapt the ground and premises to the use for which it has been purchased and set apart. And said board of Commissioners shall have no power to appropriate any of the funds of the corporation as a compensation for their services as Commissioners. The act also forever exempts the grounds, and all erections upon them, from all taxation. Also provides that the treasurer of the corporation shall give bonds with two good sureties to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to double the amount of such sum of money as the commissioners believe will ever be in his hands, conditioned for his faithfully keeping and disbursing said money.

The corporation was duly organized in April 1864, and the Hon. David Wills is its president, and the work previously commenced has been satisfactorily carried forward. It is now believed that the work of reinterment is fully completed. The whole number of soldiers inte rred in said Cemetery is three thousand five hundred and thirty-eight: Of this number sixty-one are from Vermont. The names of forty-two of these were ascertained by letters or memoranda found on their bodies, and their names with the letter of their company and number of their regiment are graven on the head-stone of their respective graves; ten others, whose names could not be ascertained, have the company and regiment engraved, and it is hoped that, from the office of the Adjutant and Inspector General of this State, their names can be ascertained. The other nine had to be reported as unknown, though sufficiently identified as having belonged to the Vermont troops.

To fully and satisfactorily carry out the duties devolving upon them by this act of incorporation, in a manner believed to be fitting so noble an enterprise, the commissioners, o reliable estimates, determined the expenses as follows for finishing the Cemetery: Enclosing the grounds,

15,000 00

6,000 00 10,000 00

5,000 00

2,500 00

25 000 00

And it was

$63,500 00

"Resolved, That the several States having soldiers buried there, being eighteen in number, be asked to appropriate a sum of money to be determined by a division of the estimated expense, according to representation in Congress, to be expended in defraying the costs of removing and reinterring the bodies of the dead, and finishing the Cemetery, under the direction of the Cemetery corporation."

And further When the Cemetery shall have been finished, the grounds are to be kept in order, the house and inclosure in repair, out of a fund created by annual appropriations made by the States represented in the Cemetery corporation, in proportion to their representation in Congress."

On this basis, the sum required of Vermont for completing the Cemetery, as proposed, will be $1,250, and an order has already been drawn on this State for a fourth part of that sum, (315) which could not be paid for want of a previous appropriation, but I ventured to give the other commissioners strong assurances that at the next session of our Legislature, an appropriation would be made, sufficient to cover our entire proportion; and knowing the patriotism of our people, and the undying love and veneration with which they cherish the memory of the gallant and brave soldiers who died and are buried there, I can have no doubt that their representatives will make good those assurances.

This Cemetery when finished will be one of the most beautiful and lovely of its kind that eye ever rested upon. Respectfully submitted,

Waterbury, Sept. 28, 1864.

PAUL DILLINGHAM, Commissioner for Vermont.