The record of the Second Massachusetts infantry, 1861-65

Front matter

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Preface

Counting it the honor of my life to have been the Chaphiin of the Second Massachusetts Infantry, the preparation of this record has been no less a work of love than of duty.

My own full notes, compared with, and completed by, the note-books of officers and enlisted men, were its basis. I have also carefully studied all the various rolls, books, and reports of the regiment and of companies ; the full papers preserved by Brevet Major-General Gordon ; private letters, and letters in newspapers ; official reports of generals, the Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, and the State papers ; special histories of campaigns and biographies, as well as rebel histories, biographies, and official reports. In addition to the thanks due to Adjutant J. A. Fox and others of the regiment, I acknowledge my obligations to the officials in the Adjutant-General's office, for the kindest facilities in the examination of their excellent records.

The engraved portraits have, generally, been furnished by friends.

VI PREFACE.

I have described general movements only sufficiently to specify the share of the Second. I have not criticised military operations. I was not a military man. I pretend to no knowledge of strategy or tactics.

If I have been silent as to the gallant deeds of particular men, it was because I remembered the reply of a commander, in 1863, to a request foi' the names of men deserving medals : " Where all are meritorious, to niention some is to do injustice to the remainder."

" This regiment," wrote General Hooker, in 1864, " as is known to two armies, has no superior." Yet to indulge in praise* seemed to me not only needless, but contrary to that spirit which refused to put the names of battles upon its colors.

I have been painfully convinced that it is impossible to record the history of a regiment. The narrative lacks the living experiences. But this record is made for men to whom every date is a scene, and every name a comrade ; for widows and orphans, and for childless parents. Their experiences will fill up the outline. Myself sadly dissatisfied with the result of unsparing labor, yet I trust that the men of the Second — from no one of whom, in the discharge of my own delicate duties, did I ever receive a discourtesy — will appreciate the purpose, and be indulgent to the defects, of

this work.

A. H. a

New Bedford, Mass.

Contents

THE HISTORY.

Page

I. The Beginning 1

I. The Beginning

On Saturday, the 13th day of April, 1861, tidings of the attack upon Fort Sumter came to Boston. On that day, E. E. Mudge, E. S. Fay, jun., Greely S. Curtis, A. B. Underwood, and others, were in consultation with George H. Gordon," an educated and experienced soldier. "You must give up every thing now," said Major Gordon, addressing Mr. Underwood,— "and prepare for the war. Get men ready. Go to drilling. Get yourself ready, and give up every thing else."

Major Gordon had already fully considered the subject. He had early foreseen the great troubles which were to come upon the nation, and advocated preparation. His military knowledge had given him a prominent position in the consultations held at the State House. His advice had been sought, and largely followed, in the organization of the militia for active service ; which enabled the governor to send, upon a few hours' notice, the earliest regiments to the defence

2 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INFANTEr.

of the national capital. His interest in the approaching struggle had led him to address a meeting of the Suffolk bar. He had already pledged hinaself to re-enter the military service of the country, and had therefore resigned the command of the New-England Guards ; 'advising the members of that battalion to regard it as a nursery of officers, rather than to attempt to take it, as an organization, into the field.

" Wherever,'' said Major Gordon to the battalion, upon resigning his coraniand, "any son of Massachusetts can render the most efficient service to the State, there, in my judgment, should his efforts be given. Although, in the first outbreak of war, reliance must necessarily be placed upon our militin, in whose ranks are found men of the best classes in our community, yet, for prolonged and continuous service, a composition of forces like that constituting the army of the general government is indisputably the most eiBcient and serviceable, — a composition in which the character and intelligence of our best citizens must be used to organize and drill the bone and muscle of those upon whom we must rely for our armies.

Then we may, \?ith a small body of well-instructed gentlemen, impart information, raise into an organization' and render eflScient very many large bodies of men, all of whom will in time become soldiers rather than undisciplined mobs of raw militia.

Wherever, in the present sudden emergency, any, even the

least, capacity exists to impart information and efficiency to

a company of privates, we cannot afford to waste precious

. material that may instruct many others, by calling it to render

individual service as privates rather than officers.

My aim, as chief of ^the New-Englahd Guards, has been rather to impart to my command the necessary instruction to enable them to command rather than to build up a company to serve as privates during the fatigues of a long campaign.

Massachusetts needs to-day military skill, science, and power to instruct. No man has a right to refuse his skill to drill the body of the militia of our State, even though he sacrifices that ambition so near to a soldier's heart, to be the" first to bleed for his country."

On the 15th, Major Gordon was summoned to the State House, to advise regarding the forwarding of the militia regiments that morning called for by the President of the United States. Upon returning from the consultation, he said to Mr. Underwood, "The governor •has told me, that, when he gets these troops off, I shall go with the next regiment." That day, and the succeeding, the gentlemen already mentioned, with others, discussed the measures necessary for raising troops "for the war." Underwood was ready to go; so was Curtis.

So were George L. Andrews, Wilder Dwight, and a thousand gallant men all over the State; who, as yet without concert, were destined to make a name in history for the Second Massachusetts Infantry. They were soon brought together.

On the 18th day of April, Wilder Dwight entered the office of Major Gordon, — Dwight was a member of the New -England Guards battalion, — and said abruptly, "Will you raise a regiment?" Major Gordon replied, "I am already committed to that. I have spoken to* the governor upon that subject; and he has promised me the command of the first

4 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INTANTKY.

regiment which leaves the State for the war." Dwight repeated his question, in its precise language, and received the same reply. Major Gordon then explained the difficulties in the way of raising a regiment upon such principles as seemed to him essential.

These difficulties depended upon the fact, that, at that time, no law authorized the reception of forces into the service of the Government otherwise than as organized militia, and that only for a brief period. By the Jaws of Massachusetts, all officers were to be chosen by the men, — a system which Major Gordon, with all other soldiers, knew to be destructive of proper discipline. Nor would the clothing and equipment of the men. follow the army model, which his foresight perceived to be necessary ; and the opposite of which, a very short experience, by another regiment, proved to be absurd.

These and other difficulties were discussed at length

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in the interview, but without arriving at any satisfactory solution. But, before they separated, Dvnght suggested, as indispensable, the raising of a fund for regimental purposes. This was agreed upon, and the following paper was immediately drawn up : —

Boston, April 18, 1861.

Whereas it is proposed forthwith to raise, equip, and organize a regiment of men, to be drilled for efficient service in the defence of the Government wherever they may be needed ; and whereas Major George H. Gordon has offered his services to superintend and aid in this purpose, and action has already been taken by the Governor to offer such a regiment to the Government, —

The undersigned hereby agree to contribute the sums set opposite their respective names to pay the expense of such equipment and organization, and the support of the regiment until it can be received into the service and pay of the Government.

With this paper, Dwight left the office : in less than an hour he brought it back, bearing subscriptions for five .thousand dollars. In a few days, the sum was increased to nearly thirty thousand, only sixty-five per cent of which proved to be necessary. Of this Aind, Mr. Thomas Dwight was the treasurer. The list of subscribers will be given in a subsequent page.

At this same interview, the manner of addressing the public was discussed ^ for that a regiment was to be raised was a foregone conclusion, notwithstanding all difficulties. It was determined to issue bills advertising the raising of a regiment ; and, within a day or two, these were printed, and posted in public places. This notification, it is believed, preceded the measures under which any other three-years' regiment was raised.

It was also soon settled, that George L. Andrews, of Boston, who had also been in the councils at the State House, ought to be lieutenant-colonel.

It would have been difficult to find three men equally qualified for the work before them.

The first, after graduating at West Point, in 1846, had immediately entered upon active service. He had participated in every action of General Scott's campaign, from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico ; had been severely wounded after the fall of that city ; had been brevetted " for gallant and meritorious conduct ; " and

6 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INPANTET.

not until after nine years of service, sometimes as far away as Oregon, had he concluded to return to civil life. Entering upon the practice of the law, he was rapidly making himself successful, when he again brought to the service of the country the clear intellect, thorough knowledge, rapid decision, and power of exciting enthusiasm, which have been recognized by subsequent promotion, well-earned, and only too slowly given.

George L. Andrews had graduated at West Point, in 1851, at the head of his class. Assigned to duty as assistant to Colonel Thayer of the Engineers, he had been engaged for three years in the construction of Fort Warren, In Boston harbor ; had been ordered to West Point as Acting Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Military Engineering, the Science of War, &c., where he remained a year, and resigned on account of the absurd inadequacy of the (then) pay to support a family. Thoroughly acquainted with military science from its broadest principles to its slightest details., a thorough disciplinarian, a man to whom duty was law, his merit has shown itself in higher stations and important commands. These qualifications he brought to the Second, refusing the place of paymaster, and also the colonelcy of a regiment of volunteers.

Wilder D wight was a graduate of Harvard College, — of high rank in the class of 1853, — and of its Law School. With a clear mind, high culture, indomitable will, genial and persuasive powers, with the culture obtained by foreign travel and the discipline of study with Caleb Gushing and Judge Hoar, — he had sprung at once into the higher ranks of his profession. He was not without some knowledge of military routine, acquired at a military school. He would have seen high rank but for the fatal day of Antietam.

These men gave their best powers and most earnest devotion to their country. For its sake they determined to make a regiment worthy of the cause. How far they succeeded is now historical.

Previous to any overt act of rebellion, Greely S. Curtis, of Boston, had said to Major Gordon, "If this thing leads to war, I wish to go ; and I should like to go under your command." In the interviews alluded to, Mr. Curtis, again spoke of entering ther service. He was promised a commis^ion. He mentioned the names of several of his friends whom he thought qualified ; among them were James Savage, jun. , and Henry L. Higginson, of Boston. After some inquiries they were promised suitable positions. • These gentlemen and others assisted in raising money, and in other methods. Their recommendation was justified.

On Thursday, April 25, the "Boston Journal" said : —

'' Recruiting offices for the new regiment under Major Gordon were opened yesterday at 22, Canal Street ; at Clinton Street, corner of Merchants' Row; and at 129, Federal Street. . . . Another ... at No. 55, State Street, next to entrance to Merchants' Exchange."

At Canal Street was Mr. Curtis ; at Clinton Street, Mr. A. D. Sawyer; at Federal Street, Mr. Under-

8 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INFANTKY.

w6od, and Richard S. Fay, jun. ; at State Street, J. Parker Whitney, — afterwards, Mr. Underwood, and, still later, Francis H. Tucker and T. L. Motley, jun.

Some of these offices were temporarily suspended after a few days ; for the consideration was weighty that there was yet no authority to raise a regiment, and no evidence that one tendered would be accepted. It was determined, therefore, to apply for authority directly to the War Department. The State gave its sanction, and Messrs. Andrews and Dwight were selected to go to Washington.

They left Boston on the 25th of April. South of Philadelphia, they began to find troops on the road : but, being bearers of despatches from Governor Andrew, they found no difficulty in. getting to Perryville on the Susquehanna, where they were obliged to take a tug-boat for Annapolis ; for this was the time when the road through Baltimore was in the hands of a brutal mob allowed to work its will by an inefficient Executive. Late in the evening of the 26th, Messrs. Andrews and Dwight reached Annapolis. The buildings and grounds of the Naval School were filled with three-months' men ; and, although there were the usual bustle and want of system of raw troops, it was pleasant to see that the Government had so far been spurred into life. Passes were procured from General Butler for Washington ; and information that a train would start at some uncertain time in the night, — uncertain, because the road had been damaged by Maryland rebels. Three days before, a Massachusetts soldier, looking at a locomotive disabled by Annapolis people, said, "I made this engine ; and I can put it together again ; " and the Massachusetts Eighth and the New-York Seventh opened the way to the junction. But the road was again injured; and when Messrs. Andrews and Dwight, with Captain (since Colonel) Maynadier of the Ordnance Corps,- a loyal Virginian, who had accompanied them from Perryville, — after remaining all night in the station-house, and getting in the morning a breakfast of the usual Southern hog and hominy, — started on the train, they found frequent delays necessary for repairs. At Annapolis Junction were trains filled with troops, and camps were near by. Pickets were stationed along the road to Washington ; troops were in that city, and reconnoisances were being made. * The loyal people were then cheerful ; but Breckenridge, Mason, Wigfall, Hunter, and Clingman were still in Washington.

An interview with the Secretary of War was obtained by the help of General Ripley, Chief of Ordnance, on Monday, April 29. The application did not meet with favor. The Secretary doubted his right to authorize the raising of a three-years' regiment. Then, as some time later, it required effort to obtain the privilege of defending the country. The messengers from Massachusetts persisted. Dwight thought he could draft a paper which would be satisfactory. Apparently wearied with the importunity, the Secretary told him to do so. It was done ; and, after a little hesitation, signed. Dwight immediately telegraphed, "All right: go ahead!".

In that paper, which pledged the Secretary to accept the regiment when it should be raised, the first authority, in point of time, to raise a three-yeai's' regiment, was thus given to what became the Second Regiment or Massachusetts Intantet. When the President issued his call. May 4, 1861, for thirty-nine regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, for three years, this regiment became one of the thirty-nine ; and it was, with all other volunteer regiments, subsequently a part of the half-million of men authorized by Act of Congress, July 22, 1861.

With this permission, Andrews and Dwight returned home, still by way of Annapolis. With this authority^ with the assurance of aid from the Governor, and with his promise that the comniander should select his officers, and with funds in plenty, the work was pushed vigorously forward. The recruiting offices were re-opened on the 29th, and others added. Charles F. Morse opened an office in Salem ; James Savage, jun., in Fitchburg ; Charles R. Miidge, in Lynn ; Marcus M. Hawes, in Lawrence ; Rufus Choate, in Springfield ; Richard Cary, Richard C. Goodwin, and others, in Boston J while men were recruited in East on, in Berkshire County, and a few in other places, at the same time.

The control of the funds and the designation of methods were left with the commander. The particular rank to be given to Curtis, Savage, Higginson, Mudge, and others was, by common consent, undecided : the simple assurance, that, at the proper time, a suitable assignment of rank should be made, conforming to the impressions of the colonel as to fitness and capacity, gave entire satisfaction and secured entire harmony.

The principal office — headquarters in Boston — was opened at 20, State Street, Colonel Gordon being there except during a temporary illness, when Lieutenant- Colonel Andrews took charge. Charles Wheaton, jun., of Boston, was soon selected to aid, eventually becoming adjutant. His value is well remembered, as he remained in that capacity, declining promotion, until he became, in 1862, commissary of subsistence, in which station he rose to a place on the staff of a corps commander. K. Morris Copeland, in the latter part of April, by advice of James Savage, with whom he had become acquainted in Salignac's drill-club, applied for the place of regimental quartermaster : it was given him ; and his indefatigable zeal and business ability made him a most valuable officer. Energetic and faithful, he afterwards was aid to Major-General Banks, and then assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of major. Patriotic, able, and brave, yet — he will pardon it — impulsive, he was finally, sacrificed to personal pique, — all who knew him felt unjustly and on mere pretence.

It was held as a principle, "that the officers should be first selected, and they should recruit their own companies ; and not that the men elect their officers. This principle was apparently varied from in two instances, but only apparently. One was in the case of the " Abbott Grays."

This was a company raised in Lowell. On the morning succeeding the attack of the. Baltimore rebels on Massachusetts troops, Edward G. Abbott, of Lowell, commenced raising a company "for the war." It was filled that day. . Organized under the militia laws of the State, under the name of the " Abbott Grays " (in compliment to Hon. J. G. Abbott) , it had a captain and four lieutenants, who received their commissions from the Governor. When it was known that Colonel Gordon was raising a regiment, Hon. Mr. Abbott applied to him to receive this company as a part of his command. After an interview with Captain Abbott, the manly qualities of that oflicer, and the superior material in the ranks, satisfied the Colonel ; and the company was received, with Edward G. Abbott as captain ; Harrison G. O. Weymouth, for a few weeks, first lieutenant; then William D. Sedgwick, first lieutenant ; and James Francis, second lieutenant : Abbott, to fall at Cedar Mountain ; Weymouth, to attain the rank of major, and to lose a limb at Fredericksburg; Sedgwick, to die at Antietam ; and Francis, to become a field-officer, but to bear for ever the marks of the enemy's bullets.

• On the same day with the above, William Cogswell, a lawyer in Salem, commenced recruiting there. The company was soon filled ; named the " Andrew Light Guard," while in State service ; and went into camp on Winter Island, Salem Harbor, in "Camp Webb," about the 22d of April. Through the instrumentality of the Governor, it was made a part of Colonel

Gordon's regiment,^ with William Cogswell, captain, to become brevet-brigadier-general ; Edwin R. Hill, a former soldier in Mexico, first lieutenant, to fall in battle ; and Robert B. Brown, second lieutenant, then a law-student, but to leave the service senior captain in his regiment.

I " Major Gordop, of this city, is raising a regiment. He is a West-Point officer of great merit. His second officer is also a distinguished graduate of West Point. Perhaps-you would find it agreeable to add so valuable a body of men as you offer, to his corps ; and I presume that your application, under cover of this letter, may invite his respectful consideration, if his ranks are not already full, and his officers selected." ^— Letter of Gover- 7MW AndreWj May 6.

14 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INTANTRY.

II. Camp Andrew

Beook Farm, a locality in West Koxbury, once well known as the seat of an experiment on the " community " system, was owned, in 1861, by Rev. James Freeman Clarke, of Boston. When it became necessary to secure a site for a camp, this place occurred to Mr. Copeland as suitable. The patriotic owner freely consented, and gave its use without pay.^ It was capacious and pleasant, well watered, and had upon ,ij some large buildings. Its use was obtained on the 9th of May; and, on the 11th of May, Camp Andrew — so named from respect to the faithful, patriotic Governor — was established by the coming of Captain Abbott's company, thenceforward known as " Company A."

On the afternoon of May 14,. Captain Cogswell's company (C) arrived in camp, seventy-five men; and,

1 The liberal proposal of another gentleman, who had been inquired of regarding an estate of his, ought to be noticed. " If the State of Massachusetts requires any such place for the accommodation of its soldiery, for one year, or for three years, or during the whole term of the war now in progress, my estate in West Roxbury, at the end of Weld Street, and opposite the Brook farm, is at its service, to be occupied by its artillery, cavalry, or infantry, without any expense to the State, — free and gratis, — and without payment of rent or taxes." — John C. Gore ^ Som.

-^S^VfiEAimiC'S-t

EAIPI Effi)WAlR[D G»A[B[B®TTo shortly after, forty-two men from Fitchburg and vicinity, the first detachment of Company D, Captain Savage. In the evening of the same day, Captain Whitney's company (F), seventy-eight men, arrived. Late at night — eleven o'clock — on the 15th, Captain Underwood brought Company I, eighty-two men. On the 20th, Company E, from Medway, eighty men, came to camp. This company had been raised in April, and had chosen its own officers. But, concluding to enter the regiment, it agreed, as the condition of acceptance, to take the officers designated by Colonel Gordon. These .were, Samuel M. Quincy, captain, who came to be colonel, but found his health so shattered. by wounds received at Cedar Mountain, and by rebel captivity, that he could not endure the hardships of field service, and became assistant inspector-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and afterwards colonel of the Seventy-third U. S. C. T., and subsequently brevetted brigadier-general; William B. Williams, first lieutenant, — a captain when he fell bravely at Cedar Mountain ; and Ochran H. Howard, second lieutenant, to be subsequently in charge of the signal corps of a department. *

Captain T. J. C. Amory, United - States Army (afterwards brigadier - general of volunteers), being appointed mustering-officer, began his duty at Camp Andrew on the 18th, mustering in companies A, C, F, I, and parts of other companies. As detachments came, he mustered their men in. No record of the first date appears : it was probably omitted because the regiment was at last mustered in as a whole.

16 SECOND MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRr.

The companies not already mentioned came in detachments as recruited. They were organized as follows : — Company B, — Greely S. Curtis, captain, whom ill health, in 1864,. drove from the service, when he was major in the First Massachusetts Cavalry ; Charles F. Morse, first lieutenant, who, after a faithful service (once wounded in North Carolina) , led home the regiment in 1865 ; and James M. Ellis, second lieutenant, who subsequently became commissary of subsistence, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Company D, — James Savage, jun., captain, — a lieutenant-colonel, when, a true soldier and gentleman, , he died of wounds received at Cedar Mountain ; William D. Sedgwick, first lieutenant, but transferred to Company A before leaving camp, and succeeded by Henry L. Higginson, who remained in the service until ill health forced him to resign the commission of major in. the First Massachusetts Cavalry ; and (after the promotion of Higginson) Fletcher M. Abbott, second lieutenant, who was eventually disabled by disease.

Company F was oflicered by Charles E. Mudge, captain (after a brief service by J. Parker Whitney), who met a soldier's death while leading the regiment in that gallant, fatal charge at Gettysburg; Robert Gr. Shaw, first lieutenant, who sleeps at Wagner; and Thomas E. Eobeson, second lieutenant, who fell with Mudge at Gettysburg.

Company G was commanded by Eichard Cary, who lingered one day after the sad 9th of August, 1862 ; Henry S. Eussell, first lieutenant, since colonel of the

CAMP ANDEEW. 17

Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry ; and Anson D. Sawyer, second lieutenant, who so long and so ably filled the post of quartermaster, until, in front of Atlanta, ill health sent him home.

Company H, — Francis H. Tucker, captain ; Thomas L. Motley, jun., first lieutenant, to be permanently disabled by wounds while major in the First Massachusetts Cavalry ; and- (after a brief service of Eobert G. Shaw) Stephen G. Perkins, second lieutenant, who was added to the list of dead at Cedar Mountain.

Company I had Adin B. Underwood, captain, made a brigadier - general for his gallant leading of the Thirty-third Massachusetts at Wauhatchie, where he was maimed for life ; Marcus M. Hawes, first lieutenant, afterwards assistant quartermaster in the Department of the Gulf; and Rufus Choate, second lieutenant, whose broken constitution and recent death were the price of his loyalty.

Company K was commanded by Richard C. Goodwin, who left an ambulance, at Cedar Moimtain, to fall in battle : George P. Bangs, first lieutenant, afterwards prostrated by disease ; and Charles P. Horton, second lieutenant, afterwards an assistant adjutant-general.

The staff, in addition to the adjutant and quartermaster already noticed, was composed as follows : —

Lucius M. Sargent, jun., surgeon, who, after displaying eminent ability in that post, entered the First Massachusetts Cavalry as captain, and fell, a lieutenantcolonel, near Bell Field, Va., in 1864; Lincoln R. Stone, assistant-surgeon, eventually surgfeon of volun-

18 SKCOiro MASSACHUSETTS LNTANTEY.

teers ; and, in June, Eev. Alonzo H. Quint, chaplain, whose church, at Jamaica Plain, gave him two years' leave of absence, before their final separation.

The non-conimissioned staff was made up as follows :

George W. Blake, a soldier in the regular service in the Florida and Mexican "Wars, was appointed sergeant-major, eventually disabled by disease ; James H. Fletcher, quartermaster -sergeant; Erastus B. Carll, who had served five years in the Fourth United-States Artillery, commissary-sergeant, and earned promotion ; Joseph W. Nutting, hospital-steward, who served until he died of disease ; Henry Kesselhuth, who had been a soldier (and wounded) in the Brunswick service in the revolutions of 1848, drum-major; and Charles Spiegel was band-leader imtil regimental bands were discharged. That band, raised under the auspices of P. S. GUmore, was a rare acquisition.

The first sergeants of the several companies were these : —

Company A, — Eben B. Whitten, killed at Cedar Mountain. Company B, — Joseph C. Hill, who had served in India, and who became an officer on the staff of General Eosecrans. Company C, — George B. Browning, severely wounded at Cedar Mountain, and

made an officer in the Invalid Corps. Company D,

Theodore K. Parker, promoted for gallant conduct. Company E, — William E. Parsons, afterwards discharged for wounds at Antietam. Company F, Solomon Martin, killed at Antietam. Company G, .

George P. "Southack, once a soldier in the United-

States service, in Utah, disabled at Cedar Mountain. Company. H, — Charles F. Green. Company I, — Everett W. Pattison, a graduate of Waterville College, vfho became captain. Company K, — William T. Mix, who soon died of disease contracted in the line of duty. Hans G. Christensen was color-sergeant, who, disabled by disease, shed tears as he saw, from the hospital tent at Darnestown, the colors carried out in battalion drill. " That flag that I have taken such care of, " he said to the chaplain, " I shall never carry again." He left it to a line of successors, in whose hands it was never dishonored ; the most of whom are sleeping in soldiers' graves.