Springfield National Cemetery is a

United States National Cemetery The United States National Cemetery System is a system of 164 cemeteries in the United States and its territories. The authority to create military burial places came during the American Civil War, in an act passed by the U.S. Congress ...

located in the city of

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

, in

Greene County, Missouri Greene County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915. making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri. Its county seat and most-populous city is Springfield. The county was organized i ...

. Administered by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers ...

, it encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 14,685 interments.

History

Established in 1867 as a place to initially inter

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

Union soldiers During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to the ...

, many of whom died at the

Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri. Missouri was offi ...

. In 1871 a section for

Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

was added. It has since been expanded and opened to all veterans, and now has the interred remains of soldiers from wars dating back to the Revolutionary War. The cemetery lends its name to National Avenue in Springfield, which formerly passed by the cemetery prior to the southern expansion of the city decades ago. (includes 30 photographs from 1998)

Notable monuments

* A marble pillar dedicated to Union General

Nathaniel Lyon Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 – August 10, 1861) was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War. He is noted for his actions in Missouri in 1861, at the beginning of the conflict, to forestall secret secessionist plans of th ...

in 1888. * A bronze sculpture dedicated to Confederate General

Sterling Price Major-General Sterling "Old Pap" Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the American Civil War. Prior to ...

in 1901. * The

Memorial. * A monument dedicated to Pearl Harbor survivors, erected in 1992. * The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial, dedicated to the Continental Army soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War.

Notable interments

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor ...

recipients ** Sergeant Harrison Collins (1836–1890), for action in the Civil War ** Corporal

Orion P. Howe Orion Perseus Howe (December 29, 1848 – January 27, 1930) was among the youngest recipients of the Medal of Honor for his service in the American Civil War as a Union drummer boy. He was awarded the medal on April 23, 1896. Early life Howe wa ...

(1848–1890), for action in the Civil War ** Pharmacist's Mate Chief Petty Officer Fred H. McGuire (1890–1958), for action in the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War or Filipino–American War ( es, Guerra filipina-estadounidense, tl, Digmaang Pilipino–Amerikano), previously referred to as the Philippine Insurrection or the Tagalog Insurgency by the United States, was an arm ...

** Captain Patrick Pentzer (1838–1901), for action in the Civil War ** Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams (1924–1945), for action in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

* Others **

Horton Smith Horton Smith (May 22, 1908 – October 15, 1963) was an American professional golfer, best known as the winner of the first and third Masters Tournaments. Tournament career Born in Springfield, Missouri, Smith turned professional in 1926 and w ...

(1908–1963), World War II US Army Air Corps captain and professional golfer ** Major General

Ralph E. Truman Ralph Emerson Truman (May 10, 1880 – April 30, 1962) was an American major general who led the 35th Division of the Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska National Guards between 1938 and 1941. In addition to World War II, he served in the ...

(1880–1962), career Army officer **

Richard Hanson Weightman Richard Hanson Weightman (December 28, 1816 – August 10, 1861) was an antebellum delegate to the United States Congress from the Territory of New Mexico. He was also a district commander of the secessionist Missouri State Guard during the ...

(1816–1861), Delegate to the US Congress from New Mexico Territory and Civil War Confederate officer ** Various

Buffalo Soldier Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment (United States), 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by N ...

References

External links

National Cemetery Administration

Springfield National Cemetery
* * * {{National Register of Historic Places in Missouri Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri Historic American Landscapes Survey in Missouri United States national cemeteries Buildings and structures in Springfield, Missouri Protected areas of Greene County, Missouri Tourist attractions in Springfield, Missouri National Register of Historic Places in Greene County, Missouri 1867 establishments in Missouri