Academic

Memorial Day: Fredericksburg National Cemetery

By Alfred Brophy

Since this is Memorial Day weekend, I thought that I'd dip into my stock of photos and post something from a National Cemetery.  Close readers of the blogosphere (and my friends) will recall that one of my areas of interest is cemetery law.  Cemetery law and monument law.   I'm particularly interested in issues of access to graves--like Thomas Jefferson's grave (and more here).

The image at right is of the Fredericksburg National Cemetery.  It sits on a ridge overlooking Frederickburg (which Confederate soldiers occupied during the battle).  Law professor (and at that point Confederate General) Thomas Cobb died in fighting a few hundred feet below that ridge.

The other image is of a private, family cemetery also on the ridge, next to the National Cemetery. That cemetery existed at the time of the battle.  Note the damaged granite column to the left of the gate.  That was caused by a United States canon ball, apparently.  Pretty amazing how the evidence of  damage wrought during the war has been preserved for what, 147 years?

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on May 25, 2009 (boomark / email).