Letter for reinterment
Source:

Office of the Quartermaster General to Rev. A. Gladwin, January 1865, [File], [393], National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.

Read the Transcription

Head Quarters Military Governor Alex. Va January 3/65
Rev[eren]d A.
Sup'dt of Contrabands
Per: The General Commanding directs me to inform you, that the disinterment and removal, of the bodies of Colored Soldiers from the Freedman’s Cemetary, to the U.S. Military Cemetary will commence tomorrow A.M.”

Respectfully Your Ob'd Servant,
Wm. J. Harkisheimer
Lieut. & A.A.D.C.

  • Letter for reinterment

Approval Orders

Less than a month after receiving the letter of petition, the Quartermaster Department issued orders to disinter the bodies of U.S.C.T. buried in the Freedmen’s Cemetery and move them to the military cemetery. As soldiers, Meigs’ orders stated that they had the right to be buried in the Soldiers’ Cemetery alongside the white soldiers. All U.S.C.T. who died in Alexandria after Meigs’ order were to to be laid to rest in Alexandria National Cemetery. Immediately following the Quartermaster’s orders, 122 Colored Troops were removed from the Freedmen’s Cemetery and reburied in the national cemetery.

Instructions

Look at the source carefully and answer the questions below:

How would these orders for Alexandria National Cemetery have had an impact at other national cemeteries in the country?
Why would this order of reburial have been significant for Colored Troops? How could this have been seen as a step towards equality?