Union and West End Cemetery

On Friday, May 30, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. the Military Order of the Purple, Chapter 190, Allentown, PA, will celebrate the traditional Memorial Day at the Union & West End Cemetery.

Take note that while others celebrate this sacred event on Monday, May 26, this group of veterans will be celebrating on the traditional day of observance. The traditional Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, is on the 30th of May.

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868

We all need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten.

Over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.

Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general publics' nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."



Come join the veterans of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 190, and the officers and directors of the Union and West End Cemetery for a beautiful and solemn Memorial Day Celebration.

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Oliver Wendell Holmes, Boston's distinguished man of letters, followed the war news with interest. Holmes wrote; "We must have something to eat, and papers to read. Everything else we can do without...Only bread and newspapers we must have."

To satisfy the public appetite for news a small army of Northern correspondents was organized. So thorough was their coverage that opposing generals sometimes learned more from enemy newspapers than from intelligence reports. General William T. Sherman, carrying on his own private war with the newspapers, grew apoplectic on the subject. "Reporters print their limited and tainted observations as the history of events they neither see nor comprehend," he wrote in agitated fury.

The Civil War also saw the dawn of pictorial journalism. Vivid eyewitness sketches by Alfred and William Wand, Henri Lovie, Winslow Homer and Edwin Forbes turned up in Harper's and Leslie's, bring the experiences of war vicariously to thousands who would never see a battlefield.

The best known photographers, Mathew Brady and Alexander Garner and others were recording the tragic scenes of the great conflict as well. Hundreds upon hundreds of period photographs survive and can be found in the collection held by the Library of Congress. Most of the scenes, of necessity, were taken of battlefields after the battle was fought.

Horace Greeley, the incomparable eccentric, was a leading figure in his own right. Across the nation Greeley's Tribune was the family news source. Horace was not above advising the President if he deemed it necessary. Lincoln often invited reporters to the White House, in fact. "I am always seeking information," he explained, "and you newspapermen are so often behind the scenes at thew front I am frequently able to get ideas from you which no one else will give."

The South had few, if any, professional reporters in the field. Most small Southern newspapers relied on soldiers sending letters for the war news. The newspaper Editors would recruit soldiers from hometown units to periodically send back letters reporting on the movements of a particular regiment or graphically detailing the events of a battle they had participated in. But whether amateur or professional, reporters reported and the news was printed. The citizens hungered for news of the war, both North and South and relished reading any scrap of information on the events of the war.

All photographs shown above, courtesy of the Library of Congress

Despite the fact that the Nation was at war, Lincoln faced re-election in the autumn of 1864. Lincoln, of course, was a Republican or Union, as the Republican party called itself in 1864. His opponent, General McClellan, the erstwhile commander-in-chief of the Union army, who had stood on the sidelines since his departure as commander-in-chief in late 1862.


There were a number of issues that marked the campaign, the concerns over prisoners of war and how best to achieve peace with the South. Lincoln felt that peace could only be achieved through victory, while the Democrats sought peace through negotiation.

A major factor in the public's war weariness was the presence of many thousands of Northern soldiers in Southern prison camps, where living conditions were atrocious and the death rate was alarmingly high. In the initial years of the war the opposing governments had operated on a system of prisoner exchanges, by which prisoners would be periodically repatriated on a man-for-man basis. But by 1864 the system had broken down, and when Grant took control, he had no intention to put it in repair. With pitiless logic, Grant argued that to resume exchanges would simply reinforce the Confederate army. Union soldiers in Southern prison camps would have to stay there, and if they died like flies, that was regrettable but unavoidable.

The Presidential campaign of 1864 was, all in all, about the most crucial political contest in American history. It was a campaign in which what men said made very little difference. Speeches were of small account. It ultimately came down to what the men in uniform did that mattered most. If the war was alleged to be a failure on election day, then the Republicans, or Union Party would go down in defeat. If however, if on election day the war were clearly being won, the Democratic campaign would come to nothing. Everything depended on the fighting men. If they were winning, then Lincoln would win. He would not win otherwise.

Although General McClelland, the former commander-in-chief of the Union army was running against Lincoln, the troops in the field voted four to one for Lincoln. This was a higher percentage than Lincoln enjoyed among civilians. Lincoln carried all the states voting with the exception of Kentucky, Delaware and New Jersey.

Yes, there are a number of angels in the Union & West End Cemetery, but the particular angel that is the subject of this post is, or was, headless.

Hard to believe, but back in 1998 the cemetery was abandoned. The grass and weeds were higher than many stones. Vandalism was a serious problem. Someone had climbed up on the above monument and managed to decapitate the angel. As you can see, this was and is a beautiful angel, carrying a child or young adult to heaven.

Who would do such a thing? What mindless idiot would take pleasure in defacing beautiful monuments in a cemetery?

The head lay on the ground among the overgrown grass and weeds. How long the head lay there is not known. But one day, while out on a stroll in the cemetery, Mark Kintzel, who does not live too far away, noticed the angel head lying in the weeds. He picked it up and took it home for safe keeping. The angel head resided with Mark until the year 2007, almost a decade. Then Mark contacted the cemetery President, Chuck Canning and indicated he had the head and would like to return it to its appropriate place in the cemetery.

The cemetery association was once again in possession of the angel head. On September 16, 2007, Chuck Canning, President and Everette Carr, Vice President, were in the cemetery along with Gene Litgeb, who owns a backhoe. With Chuck precariously positioned in the bucket of the backhoe, it was raised to a position that would allow Chuck to glue the head back on the shoulders of the angel.

A short time later, the angel with head restored (see rope securing it temporarily), was once again a beautiful and magnificent monument gracing the cemetery grounds.

Sherman had taken Atlanta and was prepared to leave Atlanta on his march to the sea. Grant, in the Shenandoah Valley had Lee on the run and the Federals controlled the Mississippi River. The capture of Mobile had long been desired. It was an important base of operations and blockade-running could not be entirely prevented with vessels outside the port

The principle defenses of Mobile Bay were Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, three miles to the northwest. The passage between these two forts was obstructed by torpedoes strung out from Fort Gaines to a point nearly to Fort Morgan. An opening at the eastern end allowed blockade-runners to enter the port.


Rear Admiral David G. Farragut made plans to take possession of the port He needed and wanted a military force to attack and capture the forts, and when the forces were provided, Farragut made careful preparations. The attacking column consisted of four iron-clad monitors and seven wooden sloops-of-war. The heaviest fire was anticipated to come from Fort Morgan, on the right, or starboard, side. The Brooklyn headed the line of the wooden vessels, because she was equipped with an apparatus for picking up torpedoes. As they approached, the forts and the Confederate fleet opened fire upon them. The Hartford, Farragut's flag ship, their primary target. A hundred and twenty-pound ball was lodged in the mainmast, sending splinters flying across her deck killing many of her crew. The other wooden vessels suffered in like manner as they approached. But when they came abreast of the fort they poured in rapid broadsides of grape-shot, shrapnel, and shells, which quickly cleared the bastions and silenced the batteries.

Admiral Farragut, through out the battle was in the rigging of the Hartford where the quartermaster had tied him to the shrouds, so that if he were wounded he would not fall to the deck. All of the Confederate gun boats were captured in short order. The Confederate ram, Tennessee, continued the fight, steaming boldly into their midst and firing in every direction while also attempting to ram them. One of the Federal monitors fired a solid shot that penetrated her armor; they jammed her shutters so that the portholes could not be opened; they shot away her steering-gear and knocked off her smoke stack, so that life on board her became intolerable, and she surrendered. Her commander, Franklin Buchanan, formerly of the U. S. navy, had been seriously wounded.


The victory cost Farragut's fleet fifty-two men killed and one hindered and seventy wounded in addition to one hundred and thirteen that went down when the Tecumseh hit a torpedo. The Confederate forts were soon after surrendered to the land forces. Mobile Bay was now occupied by the victors. Sherman would soon split the Confederacy down the middle.

On Saturday, October 20, the officers, directors and a number of volunteers attended a rodeo in the cemetery. The participants gathered on the main road of the cemetery on that Saturday for a morning of fun and laughter. It was a beautiful day in the Lehigh Valley, with lots of sun and a light breeze.

The participants gathered to receive instructions on the operation of the some of the cemetery's equipment. The cemetery owns several commercial lawn mowers that are somewhat intimidating. These units a powerful units that are classified as zero-turn machines. They can literally turn on a dime. They are steered using two handles that are positioned across the body as you sit on the lawn mower. The participants are all familiar with the traditional long hood mowers with steering wheels, but levers is a whole different matter. It is the levers and the power that tend to intimidate. Many of the participants in the rodeo had never even sat on one of the commercial mowers, much less operated them under power.


The Scag was purchased new in 2001, so it has a little age on her and a few bumps and bruises. Her meter show 893 hours of operation. She is equipped with a 19.0 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine and because of her age, is a little sluggish, but still spry.

The Gravely is a model 148Z. Her name is "Zoey" and she has a 21.0 horsepower Kawasaki engine. She was acquired just this past August and was a demonstrator with only 79 hours on the meter. Zoey was a gift to the cemetery association from the Ariens Company, Brillion, WI. Zoey is powerful, responds like a thoroughbred and can race across the cemetery purring like the confident, contented creature she is.

The City of Allentown Traffic Department supplied large orange cones that were used to lay out an obstacle course. Each participant, after being thoroughly indoctrinated in the operation of the equipment, gingerly maneuvered the machines through the course. Cones were bumped, moved, shoved aside, run over, mashed and mutilated. It was a riot! Laughter permeated the air as the ones on board the powerful machines muttered under their breath. In time, however, they became less wary and more comfortable with the equipment. Each and everyone eventually mastered the equipment and they are now ready to take the machines out into the cemetery where they will face the challenge of trying not to knock over any stones.

Nikki

The rodeo was a great success and after many a laugh at the expense of the trainees, we all enjoyed a cookout, with hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, apple sauce, chips, fudge, a cake and a beverage of choice.

It was great fun and a very enjoyable day in the cemetery. You could have been there. If you wish to volunteer, send us an e-mail. It isn't all hard work and no pay!

While Lee lay helpless in Petersburg, Sherman began his march to the sea. Lee cast about for some maneuver that would force Grant to pull troops away from the Union Army and weaken the siege. An opportunity came when General Jubal Early chased Federal forces from the Shenandoah Valley, freeing him for other operations. Lee authorized Early to cross the Potomac and threaten Washington. Lee knew that Grant would have to send reinforcements to the capital.

With 17,000 men, Early and his Confederate forces headed north at the end of June, 1864.As Early approached Maryland, the only Federal detachment of 6,000 Union forces under the command of Gen earl Lew Wallace. They were easily routed and Early continued on toward Silver Springs, Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington. He arrived on the 11th of July. At that time, Early could have taken Washington had he pursued an aggressive attack, but he received reports of Federal reinforcements pouring into the city from Grants forces.

By the 14th of July, Early was back in Virginia and heading for the Shenandoah. Lee had anticipated that Grant would send more Federal forces from Petersburg to chase Early, and indeed, Grant did just that. He dispatched General Phil Sheridan with 48,000 troops into the Shenandoah with there primary job being to wreck the farms, burn the crops, and confiscate the livestock. The Federals pushed into the Shenandoah leaving a trail of fire and devastation in their wake.

The Federals caught up with Early at Winchester. Early' forces, battered fled south with Union cavalry in pursuit. Sheridan attacked Early again at Fisher's Hill, where the Rebels had dug in strongly. The Confederates were routed again. Sheridan then turned North to commence again the work of destruction.

Early reorganized his Rebel forces and began to harass the Yankees. General Sheridan was called away to Washington to confer with his superiors. On his return, on October 18, he stopped off at Winchester, some 20 miles from where his army was encamped at Cedar Creek. The next morning, Sheridan awoke to the sound of firing in the distance. Sheridan quickly mounted his charger and took to the road. As the firing was approaching him faster than he was approaching it, he realized that his men must be retreating under pursuit and heavy fire.

Galloping over a rise, Sheridan saw his army in full flight. Early had mounted a surprise attack on the sleeping Federals and they had bolted out of camp and were running for their lives. Sheridan took note that many in their underclothes still held tight to their rifles. As he charged down the road, hat waving over his head, the soldiers cheered. As he roared by screaming like a demon, the word spread to the far reaches of his scattered army. It took a full two hours to get the Federals ready for battle. Meanwhile, the Rebels dallied around the abandoned Federal camp eating the Federals food and drinking their whiskey.

Sheridan and the Federal troops swept out to the attack, the sound swelling like an oncoming cyclone. The Rebels had little choice but to skedaddle as fast as they could, every man for himself. The battle of Cedar Creek finally ended Early's power in the Shenandoah valley. In March 1865, General Custer's cavalrymen wiped out the remains of the Confederate army under Jubal Early at Waynesboro. Early and two officers escaped with only twenty men. Sheridan completed his mission by the sacking of the once-beautiful valley, destroying or confiscating its farms, crops, animals, mills, powder works, barns, tanneries and railroads. Then he headed back to join Grant in his efforts to finish off General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.

Painting of General Sheirdan's ride, Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University.

On Tuesday, September 4, 2007, the Union and West Cemetery was the recipient of a wonderful gift from the Ariens Company in Brillion, Wisconsin. The cemetery association took delivery of a Gravely model 148Z zero turn commercial mower. This Gravely unit was a demonstrator which was donated to the cemetery association by the Ariens Company, the manufacturer of Gravely products.

This is a great addition to the cemetery's aging fleet. The mower has a 48" deck. The cemetery association is indebted to the Ariens Company and to the President and CEO, Daniel Ariens, in particular. Thank you Ariens Company, the association members are appreciative of your generosity and your willingness to help a historic cemetery in need.