Marietta National Cemetery

There is a National Cemetery in Marietta, GA. It was established in 1866 for internment of the thousands lost in the Civil War. Originally, it was suggested that both union and confederate solders be buried here, as a way to honor that they died together and to encourage peace between the sides. BOTH sides rejected this idea, so the Marietta Confederate Cemetery was established, not far from here. Only Union soldiers are buried at the Marietta National Cemetery, along with military who served in more recent wars. I saw these government-issue white marble gravestones honoring soldiers from the civil war, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars.

There were also TONS of markers for soldiers whose remains could not be identified or whose identity was otherwise unknown. Some gravestones simply stated Unknown Soldier, while other markers were small square marble structures, also signifying unknown soldiers. The unknown soldier markers are scattered throughout the grounds.

Section F was known back in the day as the United States Colored Troops section, and there appears to be a greater number of unknown soldier markers grouped here. In the midst of them lies Emma Stephenson. She was born into slavery in Tennessee, and was liberated by the Union Army. She chose to join up with the Union with General Sherman’s army, serving as a nurse, in the Spring of 1864. She served at the United States Army 17th Corp Hospital (previously the Masonic Hall) in Marietta, GA. A Union soldier’s letter to home noted that “we have a slave women” who “has kindness and treats us with tender care.” Emma passed away from disease on July 16, 1864, which would have been just after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864. She would have treated the injured from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain just before her death.

At nearby Kennesaw Mountain, the Union Army suffered significant losses, technically losing to the Confederate Army, which successfully delayed Sherman’s march to Atlanta by two weeks. The delay was not enough to hold Sherman back, and as we all know, his army blazed through Atlanta; when Atlanta fell on September 2, Lincoln was assured re-election that November. Anyway, I thought the timing of Emma’s death was interesting. Emma’s story is featured in the PBS documentary “Civil War: The Untold Story.”

Emma Stephenson, Union Army Nurse and Freed Slave, Civil War (Section F, #4841)

The cemetery also includes a memorial for the fallen on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor and one for soldiers Missing In Action, among other highlights.

Expanse of the grounds.

It was a beautiful day to tour this lovely setting and to honor and contemplate all of these sacrifices.