Cemetery walks highlight civil war soldiers

Crook County Library will be hosting two cemetery walks again this summer, kicking off with the Mt. Moriah Cemetery Walk in Sundance this Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Cemetery walks are a great way to learn more about the history of Crook County and share the stories of our early residents.  During the course of the evening, we will “visit” a number of “residents” of the cemetery, relate their biographies and share stories or memories about them.

Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Atlanta – the names evoke great battles, great soldiers, the honor and glory of war. The hard reality was young boys fighting a slog of endless skirmishes, disease, hunger, fear, boredom.

Often brother fought against brother, father against son. Travel was primarily by foot – one regiment commander said, “Summed up, the aggregate distance traveled by the regiment is eight thousand one hundred and seventy-five miles; and we have served in ten states of the Confederacy.”

This year we will “meet” a number of early Crook County residents who served during the Civil War. They represent a mixed bag of nationalities, backgrounds and professions.   

Some fought for the Union, some for the Confederacy; some were infantry, some were cavalry. They served in a mix of volunteer regiments from all over the eastern half of the United States – Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas.

The cemetery walks are open to all and free – an enjoyable way to spend a summer evening -- simply meet at the cemetery at 6:30 p.m.  Cemetery walks this summer include Mt. Moriah on August 1 and Hulett Cemetery on August 15.

For more information, please contact Jill Mackey at (307) 290-3111 or email [email protected].