Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Details
Established 1826
Location Saint Louis County, Missouri
Country United States
Coordinates 38°29′52″N 90°17′18″W / 38.49778°N 90.28833°W / 38.49778; -90.28833Coordinates: 38°29′52″N 90°17′18″W / 38.49778°N 90.28833°W / 38.49778; -90.28833
Type United States National Cemetery
Size 331 acres (134 ha)
No. of graves 188,000+
Website Official
Find a Grave Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Nearest city Mehlville, Missouri
Area 295.7 acres (119.7 ha)
Built 1866 (1866)
Architectural style Late Victorian
MPS Civil War Era National Cemeteries MPS
NRHP reference # 98000840[1]
Added to NRHP July 9, 1998

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is an American military cemetery located in St. Louis County, Missouri, just on the banks of the Mississippi River. The cemetery was established after the American Civil War in an attempt to put together a formal network of military cemeteries. It started as the Jefferson Barracks Military Post Cemetery in 1826 and became a United States National Cemetery in 1866.

The first known burial was Elizabeth Ann Lash, the infant child of an officer stationed at Jefferson Barracks.

The cemetery is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the former site of Jefferson Barracks. It covers 331 acres (134 ha) and the number of interments as of 2014 is approximately 188,000. The cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable interments

Memorial to the Confederate Dead

Panoramic view showing row upon row of simple white stone headstones converging in the distance.

A monument entitled Memorial to the Confederate Dead was placed in Jefferson Barracks on May 1st, 1988[2] It is located in section 66 of the cemetery. Not to be confused with the removed Memorial to the Confederate Dead (St. Louis).

Memorial to the Confederate Dead

It was placed by the Jefferson Barracks Civil War Historical Association, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Missouri Society Military Order of the Stars and Bars. The front of the monument features three Confederate flags: the first national flag (seven-star variant of the "Stars and Bars"), the Confederate Battle Flag, and the last national flag ("Blood-Stained Banner").

Under the flags is a quote by Berry Benson[3]

To the Confederate Dead 1861-1865

Who knows but it may be given to us, after this life, to meet again in the old quarters, to play chess and draughts, to get up soon to answer the morning roll call, to fall in at the tap of the drum for drill and dress parade and again to hastily don out war gear while the monotonous patter of the long roll summons to battle? Who knows but again the old flags, ragged and torn, snapping in the wind, may face each other and flutter, pursuing and pursued, while the cries of victory fill a summer day? And after the battle, then the slain and wounded will arise, and all will meet together under the two flags, all sound and well, and there will be talking and laughter and cheers, and all will say: Did it not seem real? Was it not as in the old days?”

Aerial View of Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery and Jefferson Barracks Bridge

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery".
  3. ↑ Foote, Shelby (1958). The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 3: Red River to Appomattox. New York: Random House. p. 1048.
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