My name is Ann McMillin, and I am a Civil War historian who has always been fascinated with cemeteries. I am currently researching the final resting places of all the Civil War veterans here in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, which has allowed me to spend many hours walking through the local cemeteries.
In my travels, I have come across many different kinds of headstones for Civil War soldiers. Many are the federal issue, standard ones that give little more information than name, date of death, and regiment served. Others are works of art, with much symbolism and heart-felt emotion carved into the stone. Still others make no reference to his service during the American Civil War whatsoever, and it is only through personal research and verification that we know. Regardless of the type of headstone, however, these men deserve to be remembered and honored for the sacrifices made in answering their country's call at it's greatest hour of need.
What is this blog intended to be? What can you, the blog reader, expect to see here? First and foremost, this blog will be a forum to discuss the headstones and memorials to the veterans of the American Civil War, both Union and Confederate. Many of the initial blogs will deal with markers here in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, but in no way will this be limited in geographic scope. For example, I spent a large portion of my life in upstate New York, and will be discussing what I saw there. It is my sincere hope to expand the geographic scope as time and travel will permit.
Because of my geographic location, however, most of the graves I run across at this point will be those of Union soldiers. Let me assure those readers descended from Confederate soldiers that this in no way infers a bias on the part of the author!
I welcome your comments and suggestions, and look forward to hearing from you!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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