The first soldier buried here died from...the measles?
Who knew?
The first burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Last Monday saw the 155th anniversary of the first military burial at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery was established during the Civil War on the site of Arlington House, General Lee's former home. After Lee joined the Confederacy, his wife’s mansion near Washington, D.C. was turned into a military cemetery for two reasons: two lighten the load on already crowded cemeteries in the area, and to make sure the Custis-Lee family couldn't move back after the war.
Union soldiers at Arlington House during the war
The place was officially designated as a national cemetery on June 15, 1864, but the first burials had taken place a month before that. The first soldier to be buried, on May 13, 1864, was William Henry Christman. Christman hailed from an impoverished family with 7 children in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. His older brother Barnabus joined the Union army and was killed in battle in June 1862, leaving William the oldest child.
In March 1864, William followed his brother's example and enlisted in the 67thPennsylvania Infantry Regiment, possibly for the $300 enlistment bounty given to volunteers. He sent the $60 advance on his enlistment bounty and his one-month advance salary back home with plans to eventually buy a family farm.
William Christman's enlistment papers
In late April, with the regiment on the march in Virginia, Christman was stricken with the measles. He was sent to Lincoln General Hospital on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., a hospital specifically built for the Civil War and demolished afterwards. After 11 days in the hospital, he died on May 11, either to the measles, or peritonitis (which might have been a complication of the disease or contracted due to poor hygiene). Through sheer coincidence, he happened to be the first soldier to be buried at Arlington two days later.
Lincoln General Hospital, where Christman died
Private Christman was the first of three soldiers to be buried on Friday, May 13, 1864. William H. McKinney of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry was buried after him. Like Christman, he too died of disease (pneumonia) rather than combat-related injuries. His was the first burial at the cemetery which was attended by the deceased's family. Private William Reeves, also buried the same day, became the first draftee to be laid to rest there. He was wounded in action on May 5, the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness, succumbed to his wounds on the 13th, and was buried the same day.
Contemporary artist's depiction of one moment of the Battle of the Wilderness, the action in which William Reeves was mortally wounded
The first man who died in combat was buried at Arlington the next day, on May 14th. Private William B. Blatt perished on the battlefield during the two-week-long Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The first two Unknown Soldiers were laid to rest on May15th, paving the way for approximately 5,000 more unidentified heroes.
Spotsylvania Court House
The first couple of graves were dug and cared for by James Parks, a former black estate slave at Arlington House. As thanks for his services and his later help in restoring Arlington House to its former glory, he himself was buried with special permission at Arlington National Cemetery, becoming the only man in history who was both born and buried there.
James Parks, former slave and the first caretaker of Arlington National Cemetery
Who knew?
The first burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Last Monday saw the 155th anniversary of the first military burial at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery was established during the Civil War on the site of Arlington House, General Lee's former home. After Lee joined the Confederacy, his wife’s mansion near Washington, D.C. was turned into a military cemetery for two reasons: two lighten the load on already crowded cemeteries in the area, and to make sure the Custis-Lee family couldn't move back after the war.
Union soldiers at Arlington House during the war
The place was officially designated as a national cemetery on June 15, 1864, but the first burials had taken place a month before that. The first soldier to be buried, on May 13, 1864, was William Henry Christman. Christman hailed from an impoverished family with 7 children in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. His older brother Barnabus joined the Union army and was killed in battle in June 1862, leaving William the oldest child.
In March 1864, William followed his brother's example and enlisted in the 67thPennsylvania Infantry Regiment, possibly for the $300 enlistment bounty given to volunteers. He sent the $60 advance on his enlistment bounty and his one-month advance salary back home with plans to eventually buy a family farm.
William Christman's enlistment papers
In late April, with the regiment on the march in Virginia, Christman was stricken with the measles. He was sent to Lincoln General Hospital on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., a hospital specifically built for the Civil War and demolished afterwards. After 11 days in the hospital, he died on May 11, either to the measles, or peritonitis (which might have been a complication of the disease or contracted due to poor hygiene). Through sheer coincidence, he happened to be the first soldier to be buried at Arlington two days later.
Lincoln General Hospital, where Christman died
Private Christman was the first of three soldiers to be buried on Friday, May 13, 1864. William H. McKinney of the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry was buried after him. Like Christman, he too died of disease (pneumonia) rather than combat-related injuries. His was the first burial at the cemetery which was attended by the deceased's family. Private William Reeves, also buried the same day, became the first draftee to be laid to rest there. He was wounded in action on May 5, the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness, succumbed to his wounds on the 13th, and was buried the same day.
Contemporary artist's depiction of one moment of the Battle of the Wilderness, the action in which William Reeves was mortally wounded
The first man who died in combat was buried at Arlington the next day, on May 14th. Private William B. Blatt perished on the battlefield during the two-week-long Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The first two Unknown Soldiers were laid to rest on May15th, paving the way for approximately 5,000 more unidentified heroes.
Spotsylvania Court House
The first couple of graves were dug and cared for by James Parks, a former black estate slave at Arlington House. As thanks for his services and his later help in restoring Arlington House to its former glory, he himself was buried with special permission at Arlington National Cemetery, becoming the only man in history who was both born and buried there.
James Parks, former slave and the first caretaker of Arlington National Cemetery
