Monday, November 21, 2011

New Use For Graves

Our troops dismantled the rebel batteries and Cockpit and Shipping Points, on the Potomac, the soldiers of the Massachusetts First came across numbers of graves.  These were laid out, says a correspondent of the Boston Traveler, in the streets, carefully labeled, and contained pathetic remonstrances against disturbing the repose of the dead, and violating the sanctity of the tomb, and that suspicions were engendered that the sacred dead might be brought to life again, and made to see a little more service under the sun.  Spades and shovels were accordingly brought into requisition, and speedily were exhumed, not the bodies of the departed confederates, but numbers of nice new tents, packages of clothing, mess chests furnished with all the appliances of modern cookery, trunks of various articles, tools, &c., &c.  The grave diggers were complimented for the success of their sacrilegious experiment, and recommended to try again.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2

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