San Antonio National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
San Antonio National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
in the city of San Antonio
in Bexar County, Texas
. It encompasses 3.7 acres (14,973.4 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 3,163 interments.
Union
soldiers reinterred from the city cemetery and outlying cemeteries, over 300 of which are unknown.
San Antonio National Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 1999.
Four Medal of Honor recipients are buried in the cemetery as unknowns:
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...
in the city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in Bexar County, Texas
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
. It encompasses 3.7 acres (14,973.4 m²), and as of the end of 2005, had 3,163 interments.
History
San Antonio National Cemetery was a part of the city's cemetery, which was deeded to the federal government 1867. The first interments were 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...
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...
soldiers reinterred from the city cemetery and outlying cemeteries, over 300 of which are unknown.
San Antonio National Cemetery was listed in 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 1999.
Notable monuments
- A monument dedicated to the unknown dead buried in the cemetery. Erected in 1912.
Notable interments
- Private David B. BarkleyDavid B. BarkleyDavid Bennes Barkley , often spelled Barkeley, was a United States Army private who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War I in France...
, 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 in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Private Frederick Deetline, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of Little Big Horn during the Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. - Sergeant Henry FalcottHenry FalcottHenry Falcott was a French-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 8th U.S. Cavalry during the Apache Wars. He was one of thirty-four men received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in several battles against the Apache Indians in the Arizona Territory from August to October...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in Arizona TerritoryArizona TerritoryThe Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
during the Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. - Second Lieutenant George E. M. Kelly, namesake of Kelly Air Force BaseKelly Air Force BaseKelly Field Annex and is a former United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas. In 2001, the runway and land west of the runway became "Kelly Field Annex" and control of it was transferred to the adjacent Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio...
. - Private John Harrington, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars.
- Corporal Henry A. McMastersHenry A. McMastersHenry A. McMasters was a United States Army Corporal during the Indian Wars who received the Medal of Honor on November 19, 1872, for service at Red River, Texas on September 29, 1872.-References:...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars. - Private James J. Nash, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American WarThe Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. - Private Solon D. NealSolon D. NealSolon D. Neal was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas-Indian Wars. He was one of thirteen men who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against the Kiowa and Chief Kicking Bird at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12,...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars. - Private Simon SuhlerSimon SuhlerSimon Suhler was a private in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.-Biography:...
aka Charles Gardner, Medal of Honor recipient for action in Arizona Territory during the Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. - Gustav SchleicherGustav SchleicherGustav Schleicher was a German-born Democratic United States Representative from Texas. He was an engineer who served briefly in the Texas legislature, and was a veteran of the Confederate Army.-Early life:Schleicher was born in Darmstadt in the German principality of Hesse in 1823...
, US Congressman. - First Lieutenant Lewis Warrington, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars.
- Corporal Harry M. WurzbachHarry M. WurzbachHarry McLeary Wurzbach was the first Republican since Reconstruction to represent Texas for more than two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Robert B. Hawley had previously served as a Republican for a Galveston based congressional district from 1897-1901...
, US Congressman
Four Medal of Honor recipients are buried in the cemetery as unknowns:
- Private William H. BarnesWilliam H. BarnesWilliam Henry Barnes was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
, 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:...
in the 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...
. - Private George W. Smith, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars.
- Corporal John J. Given, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars.
- Sergeant William De Armond, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Indian Wars.
- 281 Buffalo Soldiers
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 CemeteryUnited 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...