Bath National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Bath National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located the village of Bath
, in Steuben County, New York
. It encompasses 28.9 acres (116,954.3 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 13,048 interments.
, which was established in 1877; the cemetery was officially dedicated in on December 25, 1879. In 1930, it became part of the National Cemetery system.
In 1987, archaeologists digging in Fort Erie
discovered the remains of 28 American soldiers who died at the time of the Niagara campaign
during the War of 1812
. They were reinterred in Bath National Cemetery.
United States National Cemetery
"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...
located the village of Bath
Bath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
, in Steuben County, New York
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
. It encompasses 28.9 acres (116,954.3 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 13,048 interments.
History
The area was originally part of the New York State Soldiers and Sailors HomeOld soldiers' home
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...
, which was established in 1877; the cemetery was officially dedicated in on December 25, 1879. In 1930, it became part of the National Cemetery system.
In 1987, archaeologists digging in Fort Erie
Fort Erie
Fort Erie was the first British fort to be constructed as part of a network developed after the Seven Years' War was concluded by the Treaty of Paris at which time all of New France had been ceded to Great Britain...
discovered the remains of 28 American soldiers who died at the time of the Niagara campaign
Niagara campaign
The Niagara campaign was the final campaign launched by the United States to invade Canada during the War of 1812. It occurred in 1814.The American forces were commanded by General Jacob Brown and General Winfield Scott.The U.S...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. They were reinterred in Bath National Cemetery.
Notable monuments
- A 40 feet (12.2 m) high granite "Preservation of the Union Monument" which was dedicated to Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
soldiers, erected in 1892. - The "1812 monument" marks the burial place of the 28 soldiers from the War of 1812 who were reinterred at the cemetery.
Notable interments
- Seaman James Roberts, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for action at the First Battle of Fort FisherFirst Battle of Fort FisherThe First Battle of Fort Fisher, was a siege fought from December 23 to December 27, 1864, was a failed attempt by Union forces to capture the fort guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the South's last major port on the Atlantic Ocean...
. - Corporal George M. Grueb, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of Chaffin's FarmBattle of Chaffin's FarmThe Battle of Chaffin's Farm and New Market Heights, also known as Laurel Hill and combats at Forts Harrison, Johnson, and Gilmer, was fought September 29–30, 1864, as part of the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War.-Background:...
. - Sergeant Charles E. Morse, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of the WildernessBattle of the WildernessThe Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
. - Sergeant John Kiggins, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Third Battle of Chattanooga.
- Private George Ladd, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of WaynesboroBattle of WaynesboroThe Battle of Waynesboro was fought on March 2, 1865, in Augusta County, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It was the final battle for Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, whose force was destroyed.-Background:...
. - Private Robert Knox Sneden, parts of his 5,000 page memoir and numerous drawings during his service in the Civil War were published in Eye of the Storm: A Civil War Odyssey.
See also
- United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsThe United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
- United States National Cemetery
- Old soldiers' homeOld soldiers' homeAn old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...