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January 18, 2006
Feature Photo - Chalmette Cemetery
A bit of a then-and-now this week at the Chalmette National Cemetery. Many people think that the cemetery is connected to the Battle of New Orleans, but the only link is location.
The cemetery was created in 1864, when the Union forces controlling New Orleans designated the eastern strip of the site of the Battle of New Orleans as a cemetery for Union troops who died in the Gulf Coast region.
When the cemetery was built, the entrance was located on River Road. The Grand Army of the Republic monument, above, marked the entrance. In 1911, the length of the cemetery was extended all the way to St. Bernard Highway (LA 46). The River Road entrance was closed and a new main gate constructed at the other end. So, now the monument is the "back" of the cemetery:
The cemetery sustained damage from the storm. The entire area was covered in mud and muck that is clearing away on its own to a large extent. The buildings in the cemetery were damaged, and some remains were exposed when trees were uprooted, but the NPS responded quickly and has been working on both the cemetery and the battlefield. They expect to re-open the sites in the summer.
Posted by YatPundit at January 18, 2006 7:44 AM