Resting in Peace: Civil War Leaders in Cave Hill Cemetery
By: Bryan Bush
Rich in history and tradition, Cave Hill Cemetery has long been recognized as Kentucky's premier cemetery. A casual stroll down its tree-draped avenues reveals more than just rows of monuments - the tombstones represent lives with rich stories to be told and passed down through generations. A further glance at the epitaphs recorded on the monuments - like James Guthrie's, which reads, "Would you know his worth, ask his neighbor, his city, his state and his country" - makes one wonder what each person did to receive such lasting recognition.
As one of the most decisive events in the history of the United States, the Civil War pitted brothers against brothers and was an event that involved an entire nation. Louisville, Kentucky was a geographically central location during the Civil War and had many connections to both the Union and Confederacy. Cave Hill Cemetery was, therefore, an ideal place to bury both high-ranking officers and ordinary citizens. There are 6,100 Union soldiers and 228 Confederate soldiers buried in the National Cemetery, but this does not include the numerous soldiers who are buried throughout the massive grounds.
Local historian Bryan Bush has done a tremendous job documenting the lives of Civil War leaders now "Resting in Peace" in Cave Hill Cemetery. The Cave Hill Heritage Foundation is delighted to have this extraordinary collection of stories officially recorded in such a clear and easy-to-use guidebook. Visitors to Cave Hill Cemetery will enjoy and appreciate the detailed cemetery maps, photographs, and well-researched history of the cemetery's role in the Civil War. Resting in Peace: Civil War Leaders in Cave Hill Cemetery is a wonderful resource and a treasured collection of stories from the Civil War that are permanently recorded in stone
~ J. Michael Higgs, Foundation Coordinator, Cave Hill Heritage Foundation, Inc.