Cypress Hills National Cemetery: Difference between revisions

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== History ==
== History ==
In 1849 the private [[Cypress Hills Cemetery]] was established as a nonsectarian burial ground. On April 21, 1862, the cemetery's board of directors acted upon the request of undertaker A. J. Case to establish a place for burial of United States veterans who died in Brooklyn and the vicinity. With the American Civil War underway, a location was needed for casualties who died in New York hospitals. The board of directors authorized {{convert|2.7|acre}} for deceased veterans and was known colloquially as the '''Union Grounds'''. Private Alfred Mitchell, a young soldier of the [[1st New York Engineers]] who died on April 13, 1862, was the first Civil War casualty to be interred in the new Union Grounds. Eight years later, an inspection report noted that 3,170 [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] soldiers and 461 [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] prisoners of war were already buried here. Others were brought from cemeteries on [[Long Island Sound]] and as far away as Rhode Island.
In 1849 the private [[Cypress Hills Cemetery]] was established as a nonsectarian burial ground. On April 21, 1862, the cemetery's board of directors acted upon the request of undertaker A. J. Case to establish a place for burial of United States veterans who died in Brooklyn and the vicinity. With the American Civil War underway, a location was needed for casualties who died in New York hospitals. The board of directors authorized {{convert|2.7|acre}} for deceased veterans and was known colloquially as the '''Union Grounds'''. Private Alfred Mitchell, a young soldier of the [[1st New York Engineers]] who died on April 13, 1862, was the first Civil War casualty to be interred in the new Union Grounds. Eight years later, an inspection report noted that 3,170 Union soldiers and 461 [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] prisoners of war were already buried here. Others were brought from cemeteries on [[Long Island Sound]] and as far away as Rhode Island.
[[File:Cypress hills 27.jpg|thumb|right|Section 2, Cypress Hills National Cemetery.]]
[[File:Cypress hills 27.jpg|thumb|right|Section 2, Cypress Hills National Cemetery.]]
In 1870 the private Cypress Hills Cemetery Association deeded the Union Grounds property to the federal government for a consideration of $9,600. Three years later, Congress approved a change in legislation to extend burial rights to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, and Marines who served in the war. This would necessitate a larger cemetery location for the Brooklyn location. To accommodate the large number of burial requests, the government sought to expand the cemetery. Congress balked at the price asked by the Cypress Hills Cemetery Association, so it went outside the cemetery's boundaries for a new tract. In 1884 the government purchased a {{convert|15.4|acre|adj=on}} parcel from Isaac Snediker, located approximately one half-mile away from the Union Grounds.
In 1870 the private Cypress Hills Cemetery Association deeded the Union Grounds property to the federal government for a consideration of $9,600. Three years later, Congress approved a change in legislation to extend burial rights to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, and Marines who served in the war. This would necessitate a larger cemetery location for the Brooklyn location. To accommodate the large number of burial requests, the government sought to expand the cemetery. Congress balked at the price asked by the Cypress Hills Cemetery Association, so it went outside the cemetery's boundaries for a new tract. In 1884 the government purchased a {{convert|15.4|acre|adj=on}} parcel from Isaac Snediker, located approximately one half-mile away from the Union Grounds.