The Soldiers' Cemetery

We yesterday evening visited the soldiers' cemetery, northeast of the city, and a short distance beyond the city limits. The grounds consist of about five and a half acres, having been purchased by the government for burial purposes during the time the hospitals were located here. Having been entirely neglected since the closing of the hospitals, the grounds have grown up in brambles, tall weeds, and rank grass, so that it was with great difficulty that some of the graves could be identified. The soldiers of New Albany, assisted by the citizens, having determined to restore the grounds, the task of superintending the work was assigned to Captain Finney, of the Grand Army of the Republic, who, with several men, we found busily at work in the broiling sun. All the briars and rank growth in that portion of the ground used for burial purposes have been cut away, the grass mowed, and where necessary the bodies have been removed, and the graves banked up ready for sodding when the proper season shall arrive. This has been nearly all done, so far as the white soldiers are concerned, and the graves of the blacks will be finished up in like manner. The walks between the tiers of graves are being laid with tanbark, which will measureably prevent the future growth of weeds and grass. The headboards have been carefully reset, so that the grave of any particular soldier can be easily identified.. There are buried in this cemetery, as near as can be ascertained, six hundred soldiers--three hundred and ten white and two hundred and ninety blacks. Of the latter ten are buried together, near the gate, with no headboards or other distinguishing marks, except that they belonged to the "Corps d'Afrique," and no effort will be made to remove them, since they cannot be identified. In addition to those, about one hundred men were buried in the city cemetery before the soldiers' grave yard was purchased, The bodies of these will no doubt be removed to the latter grounds at no distant day. It is desirable that the soldiers should be all buried together, and the city needs all the ground in her own cemetery.. As we have said, the extent of the soldiers' cemetery is about five and a half acres, but only a small portion of this is occupied by the graves of the gallant dead. The remainder is growing up in brambles and bushes. The Secretary of War has undertaken the task of restoring other soldiers' cemeteries, enclosing them with durable fences, and marking the graves with iron headboards. We know no reason why this one is neglected unless it is because it has been overlooked. We are glad to learn that our Congressman, Mr. Kerr, will at once personally call the attention of Secretary Stanton to the matter, so that the New Albany cemetery may be placed on the same footing with others of its class. The fences need rebuilding, and the present perishable wooden headboards should be replaced with iron ones. The unused portion of the ground--for we do not suppose the Government desires to sell it--might be separated from the graveyard proper, and leased for a sufficient sum to keep the grounds in repair. Capt. Finney will place the grounds in excellent condition, for which he deserves the thanks of the soldiers and their friends and of the citizens. But a few days' work will be necessary each year to keep the grounds in order, and this can be done by renting or leasing the unoccupied portion of the grounds.