Remains of Civil War soldiers

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Looting spurs U.S. to exhume Civil War-era bodies
Federal archaeologists have secretly dug up the remains of soldiers near a Civil War-era fort after tipped off about grave-looting. The exhumations removed 67 skeletons from the desert soil near Fort Craig. They also discovered empty graves and determined 20 had been looted. The government kept its exhumation of the unmarked cemetery near the historic New Mexico fort out of the public's eye to prevent more thefts. The probe began with a tip about amateur historian Dee Brecheisen who had displayed the mummified remains of a black soldier, draped in a Civil War-era uniform, in his house.
by chron :: 2008-04-14 :: Remains of Civil War soldiers

Sailor's remains from CSS Alabama U.S. Civil War ship buried
A Civil War-era sailor's skeletal remains recovered from a shipwreck at the bottom of the English Channel were buried in a ceremony in Alabama. The unidentified sailor's remains were found encrusted on the underside of a cannon that was raised from the wreck of the CSS Alabama. The Confederate warship was sunk in the channel off the coast of France on June 19, 1864, by the Union warship USS Kearsarge. More than 400 artifacts have been recovered from the site by divers. The CSS Alabama had a crew of 120, most of whom were rescued by boaters in the area, but about a dozen crew members drowned, said president of the CSS Alabama Association Robert Edington.
by iht :: 2007-07-29 :: Wrecks: Civil War-era

The town of Vance to relocate remains of Civil War cemetery
Vance is preparing to move a piece of history. Tucked away in the deep woods between U.S. Highway 11 and Wire Road, the small Evans Cemetery holds the remains of several Union and one unidentified Confederate soldier who were killed during the Battle of Trion. But now the town has purchased 40 acres, including the cemetery, with hopes of building a municipal park. To do so, the town will have to move the remains from the Evans Cemetery to Vance Cemetery. That will require a license from the Alabama Historical Commission and the hiring of a licensed funeral home or registered archeologist to unearth the remains and reinter them.
by tuscaloosanews :: 2007-06-18 :: Remains of Civil War soldiers

The largest mausoleum in America: General Grant National Memorial
The General Grant National Memorial, " Grant's Tomb", has adorned this spot since its commemoration 110 years ago. Here are held the remains of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia Grant. It is the largest mausoleum in America with 8100 square feet. Recently, the Tomb celebrated Grant's 185th birthday and the 10th anniversary of its $1.8 million restoration completed in time for its centennial celebration. When he died, Grant had been elevated to the status of a national hero who had saved the nation from dissolution as commander of all Union armies, and as a president who ushered in an era of peace and equality.
by nysun :: 2007-05-09 :: General Ulysses S. Grant

Stealing Lincoln's Body - The odd reburials of Abraham Lincoln
April 15,1865, Abraham Lincoln died. After ceremonies and public viewings, from Baltimore through New York to Chicago, he was buried on May 4, 1865, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. His elaborate marble tomb became a tourist destination. And then on Nov. 7, 1876 a gang of counterfeiters tried to steal Lincoln's body. Their plan was to hold it for ransom and force the release of engraver Benjamin Boyd, but agents of the Secret Service had infiltrated the gang. The attempted body snatching so disturbed the cemetery's custodian that he removed Lincoln's coffin and buried it under the tomb.
by chicagotribune :: 2007-04-17 :: Abraham Lincoln

Tales from the Crypt: A History of the Lincoln Tomb
Think you've seen everything at the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield? The museum's got a new temporary exhibit that features an unusual topic: Lincoln's tomb. "Tales from the Crypt: A History of the Lincoln Tomb" recreates the events and decisions surrounding the creation of the tomb. It details stories around the martyred remains of the 16th president, including tomb raiders and plots to steal Lincoln's body. Some of the artifacts on display include the mourning sash worn by Ulysses S. Grant and burglary tools used during an 1876 attempt to steal Lincoln's body.
by taph :: 2007-02-04 :: Abraham Lincoln

Dog tags created during Civil War
When did the United States armed services start issuing "dog tags?" Dog tags were first created by Civil War soldiers when heavy casualties and grim battle conditions made making body identification difficult. Until then, soldiers often printed their name and address on a handkerchief or a piece of paper and pinned it on their uniform before going into battle.
by mailtribune :: 2006-04-08 :: Technology and Development - American Civil War

American Civil War in the News is a edited review of American Civil War related news and articles, providing collection of hand-picked 1861-1865 era history.