Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn

[elisabeth]

Remarkable for its high tally of distinguished dead, and its plethora of LBH connections.

Myles Keogh is buried here.

So is his friend General Andrew J. Alexander -- commanding officer of the 10th Missouri Cavalry in the latter years of the Civil War -- under whom Benteen served as field commander of that regiment.

So is their mutual friend General Emory Upton, of Tactics fame. Two LBH connections for him: (1) he was among those who endorsed Benteen's application for a regular army commission after the war, and (2) he was the one who got the West Point job Custer was hoping for in 1869.

So is General William H. Seward, who was a pallbearer at Keogh's funeral.

So is his father, former Secretary of State Seward, through whom Keogh received his original commission in the Union army.

Other luminaries, without LBH connections, include Frederick Seward (who was wounded along with his father on the night of Lincoln's assassination); Harriet Tubman; and Martha Coffin Wright, the pioneer feminist. Quite something for just one cemetery, don't you think!

[Melani]

Upton killed himself about two miles from where I work, at the Presidio. I think of him whenever I drive through there, and wonder which building it was--most of them are still in use. Varnum and DeRudio are buried at the Presidio.

[zekesgirl]

Melani, would you educate an inlander? What exactly is the Presido? I've heard of it, think there was a movie made there or about it?

[conz]

Feb 12, 2009 12:30:24 GMT -6 zekesgirl said:

Melani, would you educate an inlander? What exactly is the Presido? I've heard of it, think there was a movie made there or about it?

Ah, the Presidio...jewel of the posts of the Old Army. Ranks right up there with the Panama posts and Corregidor for the "good life" in senior Army ranks.

If the walls of the Officer's Club at Presidio had ears, during the period, say, from 1880 through 1938, what unbelievable tales would be told about modern day "Knights"...

Clair

[Melani]

Here you go: www.nps.gov/prsf/index.htm
It was the original Spanish base in what became San Francisco, and in 1994 became a cultural center. George Lucas now has a big facility there as well. It's got a very large military cemetery, and even a pet cemetery. They are currently having an exhibit on dissent during the Spanish-American War, and some of the Living History Players from Hyde Street Pier went there back in the fall to portray civilians both pro and con. The Spanish-American War soldiers from Angel Island www.angelisland.org/ often join us at Hyde Street Pier, since we are doing the same time period, so we reciprocate when they need civilians. At the Presidio, I was arbitrarily cast as an anti-war protester, but I told the guy in charge I'd be happy to change sides for one of his replica "Remember the Maine!" buttons. He very kindly gave us each one for Christmas.