
Cypress Hills National Cemetery is among those cemeteries of the National Cemetery System which date their establishment from authority granted in an omnibus act containing legislation on a variety of subjects approved by President Lincoln on July 17, 1862. Section 18 of the act provided: "That the President of the United States shall have power, whenever in his opinion it shall be expedient, to purchase cemetery grounds and cause them to be securely enclosed, to be used as a national cemetery for the soldiers who shall die in the service of the country."
By the summer of 1862 it was increasingly evident to the governments and armies of both the United States and the confederacy that the war, entered with such confidence by both sides in 1861, would be a long and difficult struggle. Casualty lists of the dead, the wounded and the sick reflected all too poignantly the intensity and completeness of the great struggle which was testing and trying the very existence of a young nation. Metropolitan areas such as New York City, though distant from areas of armed conflict, saw the establishment of military hospitals to care for some of the wounded and sick from the battlefields of war.
Burial space for the dead from these hospitals became increasingly necessary, and it was under these circumstances than Cypress Hills National Cemetery had its beginning as a zone of the interior military cemetery located within the boundaries of Cypress Hills Cemetery, a large private cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, established in 1849. The site set aside for the burial of Civil War dead became known as the Union Grounds, and comprised 2.75 acres. Private Alfred Mitchell, a young soldier of the 1st New York Engineers who died on April 13, 1862 was the first Civil War casualty to be interred in this designated cemetery area. the Union Grounds were deeded to the United States by the Cypress hills Cemetery Corporation on March 29, 1870 for a consideration of $9,600.
The report of the Inspector of National Cemeteries under date of September 2, 1870 indicated that 3,170 Union soldiers and 461 Confederate prisoners of war were then interred in Cypress Hills National Cemetery. Burials were of the dead from the various military hospitals in and about New York City. Also, reinterments were made in this cemetery of remains previously interred at hart's and David's Islands in Long Island Sound, and from the soldiers' burial ground near Providence, Rhode Island. The Inspector of National Cemeteries further noted the existence at Cypress Hills National Cemetery of a superintendent's lodge containing two rooms and a kitchen, and that the cemetery was under the charge of a superintendent, a one-armed man. Appointment of cemetery superintendents and the erection of lodges for their housing were authorized by legislation approved February 22, 1867. The first superintendent of Cypress Hills National Cemetery was John Bryson, a former Private with the Thirtieth New York Volunteers.
Eligibility for burial in national cemeteries was initially restricted to the soldiers of the United States who fell in battle during the Civl War or died of wounds in hospitals during that war. In 1873 additional legislation was approved which gave rights for burial in national cemeteries to surviving honorably discharged soldiers, sailors or marines who served during the war in either regular or volunteer forces. Cypress Hills National Cemetery, by its location in a metropolitan area, particularly felt the impact of the liberalized burial regulations, and it became evident that additional land would be necessary for cemetery purposes to supplement the 2.75 acres utilized since 1862 and acquired by purchase in 1870.
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAMS | A. B. | PVT | K | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 8/5/63 | 748 | N.C. |
| ALLEN | R. F. | 1LT | C | 38TH NORTH CAROLINA | 8/20/63 | 861 | N.C. |
| ALLEN | ROBERT H. | PVT | I | 43RD NORTH CAROLINA | 6/12/65 | 2516 | N.C. |
| AMOS | DAVID | PVT | B | 1ST TENNESSEE H.A. | 12/11/64 | 1937 | N.C. |
| ANDERSON | JOSEPH R. | PVT | C | 8TH VIRGINIA | 5/11/65 | 2763 | N.C. |
| ANDERSON | LEROY | PVT | F | 1ST MARYLAND | 8/27/63 | TAKEN TO MARYLAND BY HIS FATHER | |
| ANDERSON JAMES | LIEUTENANT | 12/2/63 | DIED FT. LAFAYETTE, NOT LOCATED | ||||
| ARCHIBALD | E. N. | PVT | B | 7TH ALABAMA CAV | 12/17/64 | 1269 | N.C. |
| ATLEBERRY | CHARLES | PVT | C | 2ND TEXAS CAV | 11/26/64 | 2181 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAILEY | W. | 1ST GEORGIA | 7/3/62 | 148 | N.C. | ||
| BAKER | G. D. | CSA | 7/6/62 | 158 | N.C. | ||
| BARBURY | J. E. | D | 28TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/7/62 | 4443 | N.C. | |
| BARKER | KILLIS C. | PVT | K | 13TH MISSISSIPPI | 8/14/63 | 788 | N.C. |
| BARNES | JAMES | PVT | A | 1ST ALABAMA ART | 11/14/64 | 1840 | N.C. |
| BARTLEY | SMITH | 5/20/62 | 4452 | N.C. | |||
| BASS | JETHRO | PVT | C | 2ND NORTH CAROLINA | 6/3/65 | 9232 | N.C. |
| BEALL | JOHN YATES | CPT | CSA | 2/24/65 | NOT LOCATED,DIED FT. COLUMBUS | ||
| BEARD | JAS. O. | PVT | A | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA RIFLES | 5/23/65 | 2861 | N.C. |
| BECKMAN | W. H. | PVT | K | 33RD NORTH CAROLINA | 5/18/65 | 2820 | N.C. |
| BELLSHAW | JOHN | PVT | E | VIRGINIA MIL. | 7/3/65 | 3085 | N.C. |
| BENNETT | A. W. | PVT | 10TH ALABAMA | 4/17/65 | 3592 | N.C. | |
| BENSON | JESSE W. | PVT | B | 45TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/25/63 | 688 | N.C. |
| BIRD | JOSIAH | PVT | A | 3RD NORTH CAROLINA ART | 5/22/65 | 2855 | N.C. |
| BIRD | W. L. | PVT | G | 2ND SOUTH CAROLINA | 8/29/63 | 830 | N.C. |
| BLAKE | A. P. | PVT | CARPENTER'S VA. BATT | 8/18/63 | 789 | N.C. | |
| BLANKENSHIP | J. T. | E | 37TH NORTH CAROLINA | 9/24/62 | 432 | N.C. | |
| BLOCK | C. | PVT | K | 38TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/19/63 | 659 | N.C. |
| BLOOD | L. W. | PVT | G | 13TH NORTH CAROLINA | 8/13/63 | 783 | N.C. |
| BLOUNT | HOSEA G. | PVT | F | 7TH N.C. | 9/29/61 | 4444 | N.C. |
| BLUNT | T. H. | PVT | D | 2ND GEORGIA | 8/8/63 | 755 | N.C. |
| BOGGS | JOHN D. | SGT | C | 55TH NORTH CAROLINA | 69/29/65 | NOT LOCATED, DIED HART'S ISLAND | |
| BOUGHMAN | H. L. | PVT | C | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/21/65 | 2844 | N.C. |
| BOULDIN | N. H. | PVT | F | 57TH VIRGINIA | 5/1/65 | 2677 | N.C. |
| BOWINE | JAMES | A | 13TH FLORIDA | 7/18/63 | 651 | N.C. | |
| BOYLE | STEPHEN | PVT | A | 55TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/23/6 | 3049 | N.C. |
| BOZEMAN | M. | PVT | E | 22ND BATTN GEORGIA H.A. | 4/28/65 | 2641 | N.C. |
| BRADBURY | WILEY | PVT | A | 41ST GEORGIA | 7/3/65 | 3080 | N.C. |
| BRADLEY | CSA | 7/14/62 | 199 | N.C. | |||
| BRADSHAW | J. P. | SGT | E | 13TH NORTH CAROLINA | 8/9/63 | 772 | N.C. |
| BRAMHAM | W. | PVT | I | 46TH VIRGINIA | 5/22/65 | 2854 | N.C. |
| BROWN | CSA | 10/26/61 | NOT LOCATED,DIED FT. COLUMBUS | ||||
| BROWN | ELISHA B. | PVT | D | 15TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/21/65 | 3122 | N.C. |
| BROWN | H. E. | PVT | B | 13TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 10/12/63 | 898 | N.C. |
| BROWN | HENRY | PVT | BURDALL'S LA. BATT | 4/27/65 | 2615 | N.C. | |
| BROWN | J. J. | PVT | I | 6TH SOUTH CAROLINA CAV | 5/5/65 | 2686 | N.C. |
| BROWN | JNO. | PVT | H | 34TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/3/65 | 2938 | N.C. |
| BRYAN | JOHN J. | PVT | F | 48TH MISSISSIPPI | 8/23/65 | 3163 | N.C. |
| BULLIS | DAVID W. | PVT | F | 52ND NORTH CAROLINA | 8/3/63 | 742 | N.C. |
| BULLIS | SIMEON | PVT | C | 26TH NORTH CAROLINA | 9/2/63 | 847 | N.C. |
| BURDICK | E. W. C. | PVT | G | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 4/23/65 | 2591 | N.C. |
| BURMINGHAM | JNO. | PVT | D | 11TH MISSISSIPPI | 7/25/63 | 686 | N.C. |
| BURNES | PATRICK | PVT | 15TH TEXAS VOL | 11/19/64 | 1353 | N.C. | |
| BURNETT | WM. T. | PVT | E | 13TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/11/65 | 2750 | N.C. |
| BUSHING | CSA | 7/6/62 | 132 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMDEN | J. S. | PVT | H | 27TH VIRGINIA | 8/31/63 | 832 | N.C |
| CAMHILL | CHARLES | CSA | 6/27/65 | 3062 | N.C. | ||
| CAMP | JAMES | PVT | A | 6TH SOUTH CAROLINA CAV | 5/5/65 | 2708 | N.C. |
| CAMPBELL | E. | PVT | A | 16TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/6/65 | 2729 | N.C. |
| CAMPBELL | R. J. | PVT | C | 4TH SOUTH CAROLINA ART | 4/19/65 | 2571 | N.C. |
| CAMPBELL | ROBERT | PVT | H | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA INF | 5/18/65 | 2814 | N.C. |
| CANNON | JOHN | PVT | F | 9TH FLORIDA | 2/20/65 | 2302 | N.C. |
| CARLTON | JAMES C. | PVT | B | 9TH FLORIDA | 2334 | N.C. | |
| CARROLL | JOHN | PVT | E | 14TH NORTH CAROLINA | 5/20/65 | 2715 | N.C. |
| CARTER | TIMOTHY | PVT | H | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/19/65 | 2819 | N.C. |
| CARTLAND | FRANCIS | PVT | C | 10TH NORTH CAROLINA | 5/28/65 | 2900 | N.C. |
| CARVER | LEWIS C. | PVT | A | 16TH BATLN VA ART | 5/8/65 | 2742 | N.C. |
| CASEY | A. M. | PVT | MARION SOUTH CAROLINA ART | 5/8/65 | 2605 | N.C. | |
| CASH | PETER | PVT | E | 48TH ALABAMA | 9/1/63 | 833 | N.C. |
| CHAMBERS | G. W. | SCA | 7/16/62 | 215 | N.C. | ||
| CHAMBERS | HARVEY R. | PVT | G | 48TH ALABAMA | 8/2/63 | 729 | N.C. |
| CHAMPION | WILLIAM | PVT | F | 2ND NORTH CAROLINA | 6/17/65 | 3020 | N.C. |
| CLARK | JOWEPH W. | PVT | K | 53RD VIRGINIA | 6/14/65 | 2948 | N.C. |
| CLARK | W. F. | COIT'S VIRGINIA BATT | 5/7/65 | 2740 | N.C. | ||
| CLIFTON | GEO. | PVT | B | 47TH NORTH CAROLINA | 4/29/65 | 2663 | N.C. |
| COFFEY | J. G. | PVT | F | 26TH NORTH CAROLINA | 8/24/63 | 824 | N.C. |
| COLEMAN | HAZEL | PVT | D | 33RD NORTH CAROLINA | 5/17/65 | 2812 | N.C. |
| COLLINS | JAMES | CSA | 8/20/62 | 345 | N.C. | ||
| CONDREY | JEFFERSON | PVT | D | 14TH VIRGINIA | 7/8/65 | 3096 | N.C. |
| CONETRAIN | J. | CSA | 7/16/62 | 211 | N.C. | ||
| COOK | SAMUEL F. | PVT | E | 28TH BATTN GEORGIA SIEGE ART | 5/5/65 | 2710 | N.C. |
| COSART | LEWIS | PVT | C | 35TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/29/64 | 1266 | N.C. |
| COSTELLE | PATRICK | LEE'S VIRGINIA ART | 8/16/63 | TAKEN BY HIS BROTHER TO HUDSON CITY, N.J | |||
| COUSINS | JAMES | PVT | C | 41ST VIRGINIA | 6/9/65 | 2969 | N.C. |
| COVINGTON | ELIJAH | PVT | D | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/24/65 | 2874 | N.C. |
| COWARD | N. M. | PVT | B | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA M. | 5/10/65 | DIED HART'S ISLAND, NOT LOCATED | |
| COX | LEANDER | PVT | A | 37TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/9/62 | 3331 | N.C. |
| CRAWFORD | E. P. | PVT | G | 4TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/21/65 | 3003 | N.C. |
| CROUDER | WM. | PVT | A | LUCAS VA. BATT | 5/11/65 | 2764 | N.C |
| CUBBAGE | J. | PVT | D | 53RD VIRGINIA | 6/6/65 | 2954 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARROLD | J. L. | PVT | K | 11TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/26/63 | 679 | N.C. |
| DAVENPORT | M. C. | B | 33RD NORTH CAROLINA | 7/25/62 | 261 | N.C. | |
| DAVIDSON | LEWIS | PVT | F | 11TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/27/63 | 693 | N.C. |
| DAVIDSON | WM. T. | PVT | G | 9TH ALABAMA CAV | 5/2/65 | 2681 | N.C. |
| DAVIS | A. | PVT | E | 1ST NORTH CAROLINA ART | 6/5/65 | 2949 | N.C. |
| DAVIS | J. R. | PVT | K | 7TH SOUTH CAROLINA CAV | 5/11/65 | 2759 | N.C. |
| DAVIS | SAMPSON | PVT | E | 1ST BATLN. AL ART | 2/10/65 | 2294 | N.C. |
| DE BAR | L. W. | PVT | E | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/1/65 | 2568 | N.C. |
| DE BRADY | DE YOUNG | CSA | 2713 | N.C. | |||
| DEE | PATRICK | PVT | L | 22ND NORTH CAROLINA | 5/22/65 | 2856 | N.C. |
| DIXON | J. J. | PVT | NORWOOD'S FLORIDA | 12/15/64 | 1465 | N.C. | |
| DRUMMOND | JAMES | PVT | B | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/21/65 | 2471 | N.C. |
| DUDLEY | J. | CSA | 8/8/63 | 725 | N.C. | ||
| DUFF | B. R. | STURDIVANT'S VIRGINIA BATT | 4/28/65 | 2639 | N.C. | ||
| DUFF | JAMES A. | PVT | D | 4TH VIRGINA | 5/14/65 | 2783 | N.C. |
| DUGGANS | J. R. | PVT | M | 21ST NORTH CAROLINA | 10/15/63 | 900 | N.C. |
| DUGGINS | ROBERT | PVT | F | 9TH VIRGINIA | 6/23/65 | 3052 | N.C. |
| DULLINS | P. E. L. | PVT | L | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 7/30/63 | 2712 | N.C. |
| DUNLAP | J. S. | PVT | E | 12TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 9/6/63 | 841 | N.C. |
| DURISOE | C. L. | PVT | D | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 7/23/63 | 664 | N.C. |
| DURN | PERRY | PVT | F | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA H.A. | 7/3/65 | 3089 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EARLY | H. F. | CPL | D | 11TH GEORGIA | 7/23/63 | 673 | N.C. |
| EARLY | S. D. | PVT | E | 4TH VIRGINIA ART | 6/24/65 | 3031 | N.C. |
| ECKARD | CYRUS | C | 28TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/22/62 | DIED FT.COLUMBUS,NOT LOCATED | ||
| EDWARDS | J. H. | PVT | F | 16TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/6/65 | 2950 | N.C. |
| EDWARDS | T. D. | CSA | 8/14/64 | 1643 | N.C. | ||
| ELDRIDGE | D. | H | 37TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/9/62 | 182 | N.C. | |
| ELLIOTT | JOSEPH T. | PVT | B | 22ND NORTH CAROLINA | 5/21/65 | 2845 | N.C. |
| ELLIS | JOHN | PVT | H | 4TH TEXAS | 7/31/63 | 703 | N.C. |
| ELLMORE | JONA | PVT | C | 55TH NORTH CAROLINA | 6/17/65 | 3066 | N.C. |
| EMERSON | JOHN R. | 1LT | E | 26TH NORTH CAROLINA | 8/11/63 | 773 | N.C. |
| ENSTER | SAMUEL | PVT | M | 23RD NORTH CAROLINA | 5/13/65 | 2784 | N.C. |
| ESTIS | J. M. | PVT | A | 22ND NORTH CAROLINA | 5/14/65 | 2785 | N.C. |
| EVANS | JAY | PVT | G | 21ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 9/9/64 | 1841 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FARMER | J. L. | PVT | D | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/4/65 | 2941 | N.C. |
| FARMER | WM. M. | LT | H | 24TH GEORGIA | 9/7/64 | 1838 | N.C. |
| FERGUSON | G. N. | CSA | 7/16/62 | 210 | N.C. | ||
| FEW | M. D. | PVT | E | 25TH NORTH CAROLINA | 4/26/65 | 2616 | N.C. |
| FISHER | ULYSSES W. | CPL | C | 6TH LOUISIANA | 9/6/63 | 843 | N.C. |
| FLEMMING | JNO. E. | PVT | I | 59TH ALABAMA | 6/8/65 | 2960 | N.C. |
| FLETCHER | CHARLES | PVT | K | 8TH VIRGINIA | 7/4/65 | 3083 | N.C. |
| FLOWERS | FRANKLIN | PVT | A | 1ST TENNESSEE H.A. | 12/2/64 | 2125 | N.C. |
| FOUST | JACOB | PVT | B | 27TH NORTH CAROLINA | 4/26/65 | 2612 | N.C. |
| FOWLER | S. B. | E | 57TH VIRGINIA | 5/6/65 | 2703 | N.C. | |
| FOWLER | T. | PVT | D | 53RD VIRGINIA | 5/5/65 | DIED HART'S ISLAND, NOT LOCATED | |
| FOX | JAMES F. | SGT | F | 14TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/30/63 | 704 | N.C. |
| FRANKLIN | R. L. | PVT | K | 13TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/23/65 | 3051 | N.C. |
| FREEMAN | JOHN | PVT | K | 3RD SOUTH CAROLINA ART | 6/7/65 | 2952 | N.C. |
| FULK | JOHN W. | PVT | I | 22ND NORTH CAROLINA | 5/12/65 | 2772 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAMMON | H. J. | PVT | H | 38TH VIRGINIA | 6/8/65 | 2961 | N.C. |
| GARDNER | F. M. | PVT | E | 12TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 7/23/63 | 668 | N.C. |
| GARRETT | JAMES | CPL | C | 59TH GEORGIA | 7/25/63 | 683 | N.C. |
| GAY | N. | CSA | 6/23/65 | 3044 | N.C. | ||
| GEISLER | JAS. W. | PVT | K | 26TH TENNESSEE | 6/28/65 | 3071 | N.C. |
| GIBBS | GEO. F. | PVT | PEGRAM'S VA BATT | 4/11/65 | 2503 | N.C. | |
| GICE | C. M. | M | 1ST ALABAMA CAV | 4/18/65 | 2542 | N.C. | |
| GILDER | J. A. | PVT | B | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 8/2/63 | 731 | N.C. |
| GILES | RICHARD | PVT | C | 1ST VIRGINIA | 8/21/63 | 815 | N.C. |
| GILLILAND | ABNER | PVT | C | 18TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/23/65 | 3042 | N.C. |
| GILMORE | HENRY J. | PVT | C | 18TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 5/10/65 | REMOVED | |
| GLASGOW | J. N. | PVT | G | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/13/65 | 2998 | N.C. |
| GLOVER | JOHN R. | PVT | C | 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA VOL | 5/20/65 | 2838 | N.C. |
| GOOD | A. H. | 2LT | I | 7TH VIRGINIA | 8/29/63 | 1114 | N.C. |
| GOODING | THOS. | PVT | D | 11TH SOUTH CAROLINA | 4/23/65 | 2589 | N.C. |
| GORDON | J. HARVEY | PVT | F | 35TH NORTH CAROLINA | 5/16/65 | 2796 | N.C. |
| GOTTE | JACOB | CSA | 6/28/65 | 3064 | N.C. | ||
| GOUGH | CHAS. A. | PVT | 3RD BATLN WASHINGTON | 7/29/63 | 700 | N.C. | |
| GRADY | C. M. | SGT | C | 21ST SOUTH CAROLINA | 6/17/65 | 3021 | N.C. |
| GRADY | W. S. | PVT | I | 1ST NORTH CAROLINA CAV | 4/25/63 | 2480 | N.C. |
| GREEN | B. M. | PVT | G | 5TH TEXAS | 2/15/65 | 1933 | N.C. |
| GREEN | MASTON | PVT | H | 44TH NORTH CAROLINA | 5/7/65 | 2737 | N.C. |
| GREGORY | CSA | 10/17/61 | DIED FT. COLUMBUSNOT LOCATED | ||||
| GRIFFIN | D. T. | PVT | C | 55TH NORTH CAROLINA INF | 1/20/64 | 990 | N.C. |
| GRIFFIN | SILAS | PVT | A | 14TH SOUTH CAROLINA MIL | 6/4/65 | 2935 | N.C. |
| GRIFFIN | WM. B. | PVT | H | 7TH NORTH CAROLINA INF | 9/28/61 | DIED FT. COLUMBUS, NOT LOCATED | |
| GRIFFITHS | F. O. | SGT | A | 63RD GEORGIA | 8/20/63 | 802 | N.C. |
| GRIGG | WILLIAM | PVT | F | 38TH NORTH CAROLINA | 7/21/63 | 656 | N.C. |
| GRUMBLES | PERRY B. | PVT | B | 4TH TEXAS | 8/19/63 | 803 | N.C. |
| LAST | FIRST | RANK | COMPANY | REGIMENT | DEATH | NUMBER | LOCALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAIR | W. J. |