Remembering Their Service, 150 Years Later

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It was a lot of work–but it certainly was worth it. And nothing compared to the sacrifice made by the men and women who played a role in the Civil War and are interred at Green-Wood.

This spring marks the 150th anniversary of the end of America’s Civil War. Green-Wood pulled out all the stops to commemorate the 5,000 individuals interred at Green-Wood who took part in the Civil War: soldiers and sailors, nurses, inventors, manufacturers, and more.

It all goes back to August of 2002, when Green-Wood restored and rededicated New York City’s Civil War Soldiers’ Monument. Inspired by the ceremonies that day, we launched Green-Wood’s Civil War Project. The thought at the time was that there might be 500 Civil War veterans interred at Green-Wood; since then, we have identified ten times that many: 5,000.

Over the years since, volunteers have written 5,000 biographies of these men and women. Each grave has been visited; those that were found to be unmarked, and were those of servicemen–2,200–have had Veterans Affairs gravestones or bronze plaques applied for. As of this writing, most of those–almost 2000–have been installed on the grounds by Green-Wood staff.

Preparations began for our Memorial Day Weekend commemoration months ago when Green-Wood Historic Fund volunteers gathered on several Saturdays to update our maps of every grave of a Civil War veteran. These maps, last used in 2011, had to be brought up to date with additions and deletions–a net gain of 600 or so individuals. Then volunteers–Historic Fund members, long time Green-Wood volunteers, high school students, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Explorers, and Cub Scouts and Brownies, gathered on May 9 to place flags on each  of those 5,000 graves.

Volunteers, ready to place flags on 5,000 graves.
Volunteers, ready to place flags on 5,000 graves.
This cast zinc monument, which dates circa 1885, has two flag holders. It was good to see flags flying from it.
This cast zinc monument, which dates circa 1885, has two built-in flag holders. It was good to see flags flying from it again.

The Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 23, was the first day of our Civil War exhibition, To Bid You All Good Bye: Civil War Stories. The exhibition features the most poignant and moving stories of 20 of the 5,000–much of it in the words of their subjects.

The 20 Civil War stories told in the exhibition.
The 20 Civil War stories told in the exhibition.
These are the original zincs from New York City's Civil War Soldiers' Monument. Above them hangs a prototype Confederate flag, captured in Baltimore by Private George Dick, who is interred at Green-Wood.
These zincs soldiers, dating circa 1875, are a focal point of the exhibition. They are from New York City’s Civil War Soldiers’ Monument that stands on Green-Wood’s Battle Hill. In 2002, they were replaced at the monument by bronze castings of these figures. Above them hangs a  Confederate flag from early in the war, captured in Baltimore in 1861 by Private George Dick, who is interred at Green-Wood.
The center aisle of the exhibition, with the introductory text and 8 of the 20 Civil War Stories.
The center aisle of the exhibition, with the introductory text and 8 of the 20 Civil War Stories.
This is the story of the Prentiss brothers, from Maryland, one of whom fought for the Union, the other for the Confederacy. They were mortally wounded within feet of each other as one led the attack of the fortifications his brother defended.
This is the brother vs. brother story of the Prentiss brothers, from Maryland, one of whom fought for the Union, the other for the Confederacy. They were mortally wounded within feet of each other as, as a historical coincidence, one led the attack of the fortifications that his brother defended.

On May 23, a luminary (paper bag, with sand and a lit battery-powered candle) was placed with each flag at the graves. That night, about 600 people walked the route as musicians–and an artillery gun– serenaded them. Re-enactors, in uniform and in costume, stood along the side of the road as the procession passed.

The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band, serenading the crowd. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater.
The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band entertained the crowd with Civil War tunes.
Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
The 6th New York Artillery, putting its 1863 Napoleon in place; it fired repeatedly--and very loudly--during the Grand Procession.
The 6th New York Artillery, putting its 1863 Napoleon in place. It fired repeatedly–and very very loudly–belching fire–during the Grand Procession.
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Re-enactors, awaiting the start of the Grand Procession.
The crowd, on the way up Battle Avenue, stopped for Linda Russell's singing and playing on the dulcimer. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater. performance
The crowd, early in the procession, stopped for Linda Russell’s performance, as she sung and played the dulcimer. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
Linda Russell performing. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater.
Linda Russell performing. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
Five cavalry horses helped lead the procession. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater.
Five cavalry horses, and a drummer, helped lead the procession through Green-Wood in the dark. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
Linda Pratt and Frank, singing Civil War songs along the route.
Linda Pratt and Frank Hendricks, singing Civil War songs along the route. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
One of the re-enactors who stood in the dark along the way.
One of the re-enactors who stood in the dark along the way. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
The luminaries in the Civil War Soldiers' Lot, where 127 of the 5000 are interred. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater.
The luminaries and flags in the Civil War Soldiers’ Lot, where 127 of the 5000 are interred. Many of these men died in battle, or of disease, during the war. They made the ultimate sacrifice. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.
Green-Wood's chorus. Photograph courtesy of Gerald Clearwater.
Green-Wood’s chorus. Photograph courtesy of Gerald W. Clearwater.

On the morning of Memorial Day, descendants of Civil War veterans interred at Green-Wood, who had come in from all over the country (one flew in from Green Bay, Wisconsin, another from Seattle Washington) joined in the Honor Walk. Led by 11-year-old drummer Steven Badamo, who beat the cadence, we walked out to the Civil War Soldiers’ Lot, where each descendant recited the name, rank, and regiment of his or her ancestor, shared photographs, and told their story.

The Honor Walk, heading up towards the Civil War Soldiers' Lot.
The Honor Walk, heading up towards the Civil War Soldiers’ Lot.
Drummer Boy Steven Badamo stands next to the monument to "Our Drummer Boy" Clarence MacKenzie. Steven is 11 years old and, remarkably, just got a drum two weeks ago. Clarence was 12 when he was killed in Maryland.
Drummer Boy Steven Badamo stands next to the monument to “Our Drummer Boy” Clarence MacKenzie. Steven is 11 years old and, remarkably, just got his drum two weeks ago. Clarence was 12 when he was killed in Maryland. He was the first casualty of the Civil War–but far from the last–from Kings County.

The program at the Soldiers’ Lot included interludes of Civil War songs by balladeer Linda Russell, playing the dulcimer and guitar.

A descendant talks about his Civil War ancestor at the Soldiers' Lot.
A descendant talks about his Civil War ancestor at the Soldiers’ Lot.

At 2:30, Green-Wood’s 17th annual concert kicked off, featuring the music of composers Leonard Bernstein, Claudio Graffula, and Louis Moreau Gottschalk, as well as the work of lyricist Fred Ebb.

Just a part of the crowd at the concert.
Just a part of the very large crowd at the concert.
The ISO Band, led by Conductor Brian Worsdale.
The ISO Symphonic Band, led by founder and conductor Brian Worsdale. It was their 8th consecutive year of performing brilliantly at Green-Wood’s Memorial Day Concert.

All of this, to honor the service and sacrifice of so many who are interred at Green-Wood.

3 thoughts on “Remembering Their Service, 150 Years Later”

  1. It was a lovely weekend and the luminaries on Saturday night were impressive. This project has been an important part of my life for the past 12 years and I look forward to it continuing – if not the Civil War then maybe WWI?

    Reply

    • Thanks for all your help–sharing your family’s research and photographs. Happy to tell his story–and that of another 5,200 Civil War and 200 World War I veterans–and others–who are interred at Green-Wood–and whose biographies can be found on the Green-Wood website.

      Reply

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