Chalmette National Cemetery

The Chalmette National Cemetery is a rectangular parcel of land measuring 250 feet by 2200 feet. It runs from the Mississippi River on the south to West Saint Bernard Highway (Louisiana Highway 46) on the north. The Chalmette National Battlefield bounds the cemetery on the west, while there is an industrial manufacturing facility on the east. Military Cemetery Road runs the length of the grounds from the entrance at West Saint Bernard Highway to the levee along the Mississippi River. The cemetery's headquarters are near the entrance of the cemetery grounds. The Monument to the Grand Army of the Republic is at the opposite end of Military Cemetery Road, which runs lengthwise through the center of the cemetery.[4][3]

Though now closed to new interments, it is the final resting place of over 15,300 veterans and casualties of American military campaigns starting with the American Civil War and extending to the Vietnam War. There are also four graves of War of 1812 soldiers, one of whom participated in the Battle of New Orleans. There are approximately 7000 unknown soldiers buried there, mostly soldiers who died in the American Civil War. Graves at Chalmette National Cemetery range from simple square markers to elaborate monuments.[5]

Sarah Rosetta Wakeman is buried at Chalmette National Cemetery. She enlisted in the Union Army of the Civil War disguised as a man, under the name Lyons Wakeman. She died of disease, not combat, in New Orleans in 1864.[6] One British seaman, able seaman Watcyn G. Jones, of the Royal Navy is among the war dead from World War II buried at Chalmette National Cemetery.[7][8]

Chalmette National Cemetery was originally known as Monument Cemetery.[3] It had been used as a burial ground prior to its establishment as a national cemetery. In the early part of the American Civil War, former slaves were buried at the site as were both Confederate and Union troops.[5]

In 1862, the federal government of the United States created the system of national cemeteries. Its purpose was to provide cemeteries for soldiers who died in service of the nation and included the acquisition of land. Chalmette National Cemetery was established as a United States National Cemetery in 1864 as a place to inter the Union troops. Even though Louisiana was part of the Confederate States of America, nearby New Orleans was occupied by the Union Army for the majority of the conflict, which is there was need for a Union cemetery in the New Orleans area.[9]

Originally some Confederate soldiers were buried there but were moved to the now defunct Cypress Grove #2 Cemetery by the Ladies of the Benevolent Association of New Orleans. After the Civil War, makeshift battlefield burial plots around the state had their interments moved to the more permanent national cemeteries. The remains of nearly 12,000 soldiers were moved to Chalmette National Cemetery at that time, many of whom were unknown soldiers. At about the same time, the remains of approximately 7000 African-American civilians that were buried on the grounds of Chalmette National Cemetery were reinterred at the adjacent Freedmen's Cemetery. Other civilians were also buried there in the early history of Chalmette National Cemetery, although this practice was discontinued in 1867.[5]

As part of the Chalmette National Historical Park, the cemetery was transferred to the stewardship of the National Park Service in 1933. The cemetery and battlefield were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The cemetery and battlefield became part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in 1978.[5]

Floral design

Civil War Monument at Chalmette National Cemetery

Consistent with widespread interest in the language of flowers during the late 19th century in the United States, designers of the cemetery made extensive use of landscaping to honor the deceased. These plants and trees in the 19th century landscaping of the cemetery included arbor vitae, cedar, magnolias, weeping willows, roses, olive trees, sago palms, and laurels, each species having symbolic value.[5][3]

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  Chalmette Battlefield map showing the Chalmette National Cemetery (courtesy of the National Park Service)
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  Old trees along Military Cemetery Road
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  Two graves of United States Colored Troops (USCT)
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  Grand Army of the Republic Memorial at Chalmette National Cemetery, as seen in 1910
• 
  Pvt. Lyons Wakeman headstone in the Chalmette National Cemetery. Her real name was Sarah Rosetta Wakeman.

• United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• Historic Cemeteries of New Orleans

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chalmette National Cemetery.

• Official website
• National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory: Chalmette National Cemetery (1988)