Fort Harrison National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Fort Harrison National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located seven miles (11 km) south of the city of Richmond
, in Henrico County, Virginia
. It encompasses only 1.5 acre (0.607029 ha), and as of the end of 2005, had 1,570 interments.
The cemetery was established in 1866. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1995.
as a place to reinter the Union
dead from the various battlefield sites around the area, including from the Battle of Chaffin's Farm
. The majority of interments at the cemetery are unknown, and also includes four Confederate
prisoners of war that were held at the Fort during the time it was held by the Union.
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 seven miles (11 km) south of the city of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, in Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It encompasses only 1.5 acre (0.607029 ha), and as of the end of 2005, had 1,570 interments.
The cemetery was established in 1866. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1995.
History
Established after the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The 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...
as a place to reinter the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
dead from the various battlefield sites around the area, including from the Battle of Chaffin's Farm
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
The 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:...
. The majority of interments at the cemetery are unknown, and also includes four Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
prisoners of war that were held at the Fort during the time it was held by the Union.
Notable interments
- Private George A. Buchanan, 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 Battle of Chaffin's Farm during the Civil War.