PETERSBURG, VA - CEMETERIES – Poplar Grove National Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Federal camping ground and Poplar Grove National Cemetery: 1936 Feb. 24 Research made by Dorothy Gray Pilout Cemetery Location: On the Vaughan Road, one mile west of the A.C.L. Railroad, and three miles south of Petersburg, Virginia DATE: 1864 OWNERS: United States of America DESCRIPTION: On the site of the old rustic chapel built by Fiftieth Regiment New York Engineers, now stands the flagstaff of the Poplar Grove National Cemetery. At the entrance thee is a Maltese Cross planted in Boxwood which was the emblem of General Mead’s Corps during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, during the War Between the States. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: On the Vaughan Road, one mile west of the old Waldon Railroad, upon what was then the estate of Dr. Flowers, camped the Fiftieth Regiment of New York Engineers, under General Mead, in the winter of 1864-1865. This Camping Ground was known as “Poplar Grove Camp” being named for a spring in the vicinity. They erected a rustic chapel for the use of the Federal soldiers, and in this chapel, a daughter of General Mead was married. This chapel was torn down in 1872, due to its state of decay. In 1866, upon the site of this old Camping Ground, was established “Poplar Grove National Cemetery”. This Cemetery consists of eight and one-half acres of land, and is enclosed by a brick wall covered with ivy. On this peaceful hill side, under a grove of original growth pine and cedar, rest the remains of six thousand, two hundred and sixty-four soldiers who lost their lives on the field of battle. The remains of these 6,264 soldiers are interred in five thousand, six hundred and twenty-four graves, due to the fact that six hundred and forty remains were interred, from one to four in each grave. Among the remains interred here, there are thirty-eight Confederate Soldiers, six thousand, two hundred and eighteen Federal Soldiers and eight World War Soldiers. The majority of the soldiers buried here were killed in the Siege of Petersburg and battles in the surrounding territory. These remains were transferred from approximately two hundred and twenty different locations, principally from the following battle fields: Richmond Turnpike – Half-way House, June 17th and 18th 1864 Mead Station – June 21st and 22nd 1864 Battle of Crater – July 30, 1864 Yellow Tavern – August 18 and 21, 1864 Poplar Spring Church – September 30, 1864 Hatcher’s Run – October 27, 1864 and March 27, 1865 Stony Creek – December 6, 1864 Fort Stedman – March 25, 1865 Burgess Mill – March 30, 1865 White Oak Road – March 31, 1855 Five Forks – April 1, 1865 Sailors (Saylers) Creek – April 6, 1865 Appomattox – April 9, 1865 SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informant: A Mr. Moore, the caretaker of this site Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________