Gaining control of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River
cost so many lives-more than 10,000 Union dead. In the
aftermath of battle, the dead were often buried hastily in
makeshift graves. At hundreds of Civil War battle sites the
remains of fallen soldiers lay nearly forgotten, scattered
in woods, fields, and roadside ditches.
National cemeteries were created in 1862 to provide a
remedy, proper and honorable burials for the men who
died in service. Established in 1866, Vicksburg National
Cemetery holds the remains of 17,000 Union
servicemen-more than any other national cemetery
and about 1,000 veterans of other U.S. conflicts.
To Honor and Remember
At the close of the Civil War, the federal government conducted
a massive search for the temporary graves of Union soldiers and
sailors. The remains of nearly 300,000 men were eventually
reburied in national cemeteries. Many have never been
identified—their graves marked by simple square blocks.
National cemeteries were
initially for Union burials only.
The remains of about 5,000
Confederate veterans who died
at Vicksburg lie in Cedar Hill
Cemetery, in an area called
"Soldiers' Rest."
[Photo captions]
Top right: Soldiers prepare bodies for burial
Background: Officer's circle, 1940 Postcard.
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