Danville National Cemetery (Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Danville National Cemetery
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 277 N. First St Danville, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1862 |
| MPS | Civil War Era National Cemeteries |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000591 |
| Added to NRHP | 1998-05-29 |
The Danville National Cemetery is a special burial ground in Danville, Kentucky. It's a place where brave soldiers who served the United States are laid to rest. This cemetery is managed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. About 394 people are buried here. Today, no new burials happen at this historic site.
Contents
About Danville National Cemetery
The Danville National Cemetery is found inside another cemetery called Bellevue Cemetery. It's in the northwest part of Bellevue Cemetery. The national cemetery covers a small area, about 0.3 acres. It has 18 burial plots arranged in a rectangle shape.
Special Markers and Features
Near the middle of the north side, there is a bronze plaque. It says "Danville National Cemetery" and shows the seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs. At each corner of the national cemetery, you can find a square limestone post. These posts have the letters "U.S." carved into them. A tall flagpole, built in 1971, stands just south of the bronze plaque. There are no buildings or fences inside the national cemetery. The graves are marked with upright marble headstones.
History of the Cemetery
The Danville National Cemetery was created during the American Civil War. In 1862, the government took over 18 burial plots from the Danville City Cemetery. This small area was then named a National Cemetery.
Burials During the Civil War
The cemetery is divided into six sections. Five of these sections are for soldiers. The sixth section is for civilians. The first people buried here were Union soldiers. They had died while being cared for in military hospitals in Danville. Right next to the Danville National Cemetery, there is a separate area. This area holds the graves of 66 Confederate soldiers.
Danville During the War
In early 1863, Confederate groups moved into areas protected by Union soldiers in Kentucky. On March 24, 1863, Confederate General John Pegram and his cavalry took over Danville. This happened even though Colonel Frank Lane Wolford and his Union cavalry fought bravely. Danville was also important because it had several hospitals. These hospitals cared for soldiers wounded during the Civil War.
