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12-30-2012, 02:55 AM,
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RE: Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree
Since this appears to have been a mass burial site, I wonder if more remains will be found.
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12-30-2012, 10:39 AM,
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Linda Anderson
Legendary Member
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Posts: 1,086
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RE: Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree
Lafayette Square was also once a burial ground.
"Old Jake, whose hair and beard are as white as his skin is black, says the old Seward house which Mr. Blaine lives in was once the site of a graveyard, and once the bodies were removed sixty or seventy years ago, one grave was overlooked by the workmen and that this buried skeleton has queered the house which was built over its resting place."
Daily Illinois State Register Feb. 16, 1890. (Thanks to Betty for finding this article.)
Washington Evening Star
April 19, 1913
OLD WASHINGTON
Lafayette Square
by James Croggon
"Was Once a Graveyard.
Christian Hines, in his reminiscences, refers to graves being in the southwest corner of the square about 1800, and an old resident states that in his boyhood, about 1840, there were evidences of a graveyard found in the northeast part - skulls, bones etc., and common report was that it had been the burial place for slaves and in the preceeding century, and part of a pear orchard encroached the northern border. There had been erected a fence of three narrow planks prior to 1834 when $1,000 was appropriated to repair it and plant trees. At each corner of the square a stile prevented the intrusion of horses and cattle, and the paths made were well worn, the center especially, by the department people. Down to 1850 it was a playground for the boys, and not infrequently were snakes found there. When Gen. Taylor occupied the white house, 1849-18?? his war horse, Old Whitey, often browsed there as well as the cows of a cabinet officer."
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12-30-2012, 02:54 PM,
(This post was last modified: 12-30-2012, 07:02 PM by L Verge.)
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L Verge
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Posts: 9,092
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RE: Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree
Just another trivial link, but I noticed from the stone that had marked the Lincoln Oak that it had been planted by the Admiral Foote Post. Rear Admiral Andrew Hull Foote died in 1863 from wounds suffered in battle. However, he had been instrumental in assisting Grant in campaigns along the Mississippi River. When the navy realized that Washington was poorly defended by water, they constructed Fort Foote.
Work on constructing the fort (one of over sixty that surrounded Washington, D.C. during the Civil War) began shortly after the 1862 battle between the Monitor and Merrimack when authorities realized that the only marine defense on the Potomac for the nation's capital was Fort Washington, about fifteen miles downriver. The site chosen for the new, earthen fort was just six miles from D.C. in Prince George's County (Rebel country). It distinguished itself by being home to a number of large Parrot Rifles and Rodman Cannons -- several of which still exist at what remains of the fort.
Fort Foote opened in the fall of 1863, with Lt. Col. William H Seward, Jr. in command of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. Secretary Seward visited the fort frequently while his son was in command, and President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and high ranking officers visited at least once in August of 1863.
Isn't it amazing how you can link so much history to Mr. Link-em?
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12-30-2012, 11:26 PM,
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RE: Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree
(12-30-2012, 08:24 AM)BettyO Wrote: I would think that yes, being a "mass burial ground" that there may be more poor souls interred there.... I would assume that they will do research into this area to determine this - and if so, in my estimation, something needs to be done.
I guess I should have more carefully phrased my question. I am wondering if they will search for more burials in the area. Since one has been found, and there are more, will they try to remove more and rebury, or just rebury the one found under the tree?
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Gruesome discovery made underneath a "Lincoln oak" tree
