of perfecting arrangements for alleviating the sufferings and ministering to the wants of the wounded and dying. He readily approved of the plan submitted by Mr. Wills, appointed him agent of the State, and authorized him to open a correspondence at once with the Governors of other States, whose soldiers had been killed in the battle, and whose bodies were buried on the battle field.

Mr. Wills lost no time in entering upon the duties for which he had been appointed. He communicated with the Governors of the loyal States, and took immediate steps for procuring the land necessary for the contemplated Cemetery, the particulars of which were made known to him in the following letter:

GETTYSBURG, August 17th, 1863.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY A. G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania.

SIR,—By virtue of the authority reposed in me by your Excellency, I have invited the co-operation of the several loyal States having soldier-dead on the battle field around this place, in the noble project of removing their remains from their present exposed and imperfectly buried condition, on the fields for miles around, to a cemetery.

The Chief Executives of fifteen out of the seventeen States have already responded, in most instances, pledging their States to unite in the movement; in a few instances, highly approving of the project, and stipulating to urge upon the Legislatures to make appropriations to defray their proportionate share of expense.

I have also, at your request, selected and purchased the grounds for this Cemetery, the land to be paid for by, and the title to be made to, the State of Pennsylvania, and to be held in perpetuity, devoted to the object for which it was purchased.

The grounds embrace about seventeen acres on Cemetery Hill, fronting on the Baltimore turnpike, and extending to the Taneytown road. It is the ground which formed the apex of our triangular line of battle, and the key to our line of defences. It embraces the highest point on Cemetery Hill, and overlooks the whole battle field. It is the spot which should be specially consecrated to this sacred purpose. It was here that such immense quantities of our artillery were massed, and during Thursday and Friday of the battle, from this most important point on the field, dealt out death and destruction to the Rebel army in every direction of their advance.

I have been in conference, at different times, with agents sent here by the Governors of several of of the States, and we have arranged details for carrying out this sacred work. I herewith enclose you a copy of the proposed arrangement of details, a copy of which I have also sent the Chief Executive of each State having dead here.

I have also, at your suggestion, cordially tendered to each State the privilege, if they desire, of joining in the title to the land.

I think it would be showing only a proper respect for the health of this community not to commence the exhuming of the dead, and removal to the Cemetery, until the month of November; and in the meantime the grounds should be artistically laid out, and consecrated by appropriate ceremonies.

I am, with great respect,

Your Excellency's obedient servant.

DAVID WILLS.

PENNSYLVANIA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRISBURG, August 31st, 1863.

DEAR SIR,-Yours of the 26th instant was duly received, and ought to have been answered sooner, but you know how I am pressed.

I am much pleased with the details for the Cemetery which you have so thoughtfully suggested and will be glad, so far as is in my power, to hasten their consummation on the part of Pennsylvania.

It is of course probable that our sister States, joining with us in this hallowed undertaking, may desire to make some alterations and modifications of your proposed plan of purchasing and managing these sacred grounds, and it is my wish that you give to their views the most careful and respectful consideration. Pennsylvania will be so highly honored by the possession within her limits of this Soldiers' mausoleum, and so much distinguished among the other States by their contributions in aid of so glorious a monument to patriotism and humanity, that it becomes her duty, as it is her melancholy pleasure, to yield, in every reasonable way, to the wishes and suggestions of the States who join with her in dedicating a portion of her territory to the solemn uses of a National sepulchre.

The proper consecration of the grounds must claim our early attention; and, as soon as we can do so, our fellow-purchasers should be invited to join with us in the performance of suitable ceremonies on the occasions.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

A. G. CURTIN.

DAVID WILLS, Esq.

It will thus be seen that before six weeks had elapsed from the days of the great battle, the land for a cemetery in the most desirable place had been purchased; and fifteen out of the eighteen loyal States which had been invited to co-operate in the movement so promptly set on foot by the State of Pennsylvania, through Governor Curtin and Mr. Wills, responded favorably to the call. These States, through their several Chief Executives, agreed to unite in the movement, and to urge their Legislatures to make appropriations to defray their proportionate share of the expense of carrying out the contemplated work.

Meanwhile, that no time should be lost, Mr. Wills made arrangements with Mr. William Saunders, an eminent landscape gardener, to lay out the grounds in State lots, apportioned in size to the number of marked graves each State had on the battle field. This number was obtained by having a thorough search made for all the graves, and a complete list taken of the several names marked on them. Great care was taken to identify the bodies of the dead. In most instances the names of the occupants of graves were written upon small rough boards with a lead pencil. In others they were identified by letters, papers, receipts, certificates, diaries, memorandum books, photographs, marks on the clothing, belts or cartridge boxes, etc. In this manner, out of 3,564 bodies interred in the Cemetery, the names of 2,585 were ascertained, while 979 remain unknown.

As soon as the grounds were laid out for the Cemetery, the bodies were carefully taken up, placed in separate coffins and re-interred in the places assigned them, so that the soldiers from each State were laid together. A large number of articles were found on the bodies, which aided, in a great measure, to identify them. These were carefully preserved and arranged in a room assigned for the purpose, where the families and friends of the deceased could obtain them upon application. A list of these articles, with the names of the soldiers upon whose bodies they were found, is printed in the Report of the Select Committee relating to the Soldiers' National Cemetery, presented to the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, in 1865. A list is also preserved in the register of the dead, at the Cemetery.

CONSECRATION OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

It being deemed advisable to consecrate the Cemetery with appropriate ceremonies, as soon as the bodies were all re-interred, and before the season suitable for such ceremonies had passed, Mr. Wills, as agent for the Governor of Pennsylvania, with the consent of all the Governors, addressed a note to the Honorable Edward Everett, inviting him to join in the ceremonies, and deliver the oration on the occasion, which it was proposed should take place on the 23rd of October following. To this the following reply was received:

BOSTON, September 26th, 1863.

MY DEAR SIR,-I have received your favor of the 23rd instant, inviting me, on behalf of the Governors of the States interested in the preparation of a Cemetery for the soldiers who fell in the great battles of July last, to deliver an address at the consecration. I feel much complimented by

this request, and would cheerfully undertake the performance of a duty at once so interesting and honorable. It is, however, wholly out of my power to make the requisite preparation by the 23rd of October. I am under engagements which will occupy all my time from Monday next to the 12th of October, and, indeed, it is doubtful whether, during the whole month of October, I shall have a day at my command.

The occasion is one of great importance, not to be dismissed with a few sentimental or patriotic common-places. It will demand as full a narrative of the events of the three important days as the limits of the hour will admit, and some appropriate discussion of the political character of the great struggle, of which the battle of Gettysburg is one of the most momentous incidents. As it will take me two days to reach Gettysburg, and it will be highly desirable that I should have at least one day to survey the battle field, I cannot safely name an earlier time than the 19th of November. Should such a postponement of the day first proposed be advisable, it will give me great pleasure to accept the invitation.

I remain, dear sir, with much respect,

Very truly yours,

EDWARD EVERETT.

DAVID WILLS, Esq., Agent for the National Cemetery.

In accordance with the wishes of Mr. Everett the dedication took place on the 19th of November, 1863, accompanied by appropriate and imposing ceremonies.

CHARTER OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY.

The commissioners of the several States having lots in the Cemetery, held their first meeting at Harrisburg, on the 17th of December, 1863. Twelve States were represented, and the remaining five signified their assent in the action of the convention. At this meeting the following plan for holding the land purchased for the Cemetery and its general management was agreed upon.

First. "That the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall hold the title to the land which she has purchased at Gettysburg for the Soldiers' National Cemetery, in trust for the States having soldiers buried there, in perpetuity, for the purpose to which it is now applied."

Second. "That the Legislature of Pennsylvania be requested to create a corporation, to be managed by trustees, one to be appointed by each of the Governors of the States represented at the meeting, or which have consented to join in the purchase of the land, and in otherwise carrying out the plans contemplated for the Cemetery; which trustees shall, at their first meeting, be divided into three classes.

The term of office of the first class to be one year; the second, two years; and the third, three years. The vacancies thus occurring to be filled by the several Governors; and the persons thus appointed to fill such vacancies, to hold their office for the term of three years. The corporation to have exclusive control of the Soldiers' National Cemetery."

At this meeting estimates were submitted of the cost of the Cemetery and proposed monument, and the several States appointing trustees, were to be asked to appropriate a sum of money, to be determined by a division of the estimated expenses, according to their representation in Congress, to be expended in defraying the cost of removing and re-interring the dead, and finishing the Cemetery, under the directions of the corporation. A committee was appointed at this meeting to procure designs for a monument to be erected in the Cemetery.

In compliance with the wishes of the Commissioners as above stated, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at the January Session, 1864, passed the following:

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has purchased seventeen acres of land on Cemetery Hill, on the Gettysburg battle field, in the county of Adams, for a Cemetery for the burial of the remains of the soldiers who fell in the battle of Gettysburg, and the skirmishes incident thereto, in defence of the Union, or died thereafter from wounds received in that battle and the skirmishes; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the titles to the said lands purchased, as set forth in the foregoing preamble, are hereby ratified and confirmed, and shall vest and remain in said Commonwealth, in fee simple, in trust for all the States having soldiers buried in said grounds; and the said grounds shall be devoted in perpetuity to the purpose for which they were purchased, namely: for the burial and place of final rest of the remains of the soldiers who fell in defence of the Union, in the battle of Gettysburg; and, also, the remains of the soldiers who fell at other points north of the Potomac river, in the several encounters with the enemy during the invasion of Lee, in the summer of one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, or died thereafter in consequence of wounds received in said battle and during said invasion. SECTION 2. That B. W. Norris, of the State of Maine, of the State of New Hampshire; Paul Dillingham, of the State of Vermont; Henry Edwards, of the State of Massachusetts; John R. Bartlett, of the State of Rhode Island; Alfred Coit, of the State of Connecticut; Edward Cooper, of the State of New York; of the State of New Jersey; David Wills, of the State of Pennsylvania; Benjamin Deford, of the State of Maryland; John R. Latimer, of the State of Delaware; of the State of West Virginia; Gordon Lofland, of the State of Ohio;