Headstones and wildflowers at Chalmette National Cemetery

Is this cemetery the oldest national cemetery? Chalmette National Cemetery is not the oldest national cemetery, but it is the oldest in-ground cemetery in the New Orleans area. President Abraham Lincoln approved legislation on July 17, 1862, establishing national cemeteries for armed forces that fought for the United States. Chalmette National Cemetery was established in May of 1864.

What is the earliest burial at the cemetery? The earliest burial was just after the cemetery was established in 1864. The first burials were disinterred soldiers from local hospital cemeteries in New Orleans which continued until 1866. Between 1867 and 1868, over 7,000 internments would be from surrounding city and fortification cemeteries.

Are there special rules about visiting Chalmette National Cemetery? Yes, out of respect for those buried here, please obey the following rules:

• No pets are allowed in the cemetery, not even on the roadway or gravel trail. As always, service animals are welcome anywhere.
• Picnics, sports, and games including jogging, skating, bicycling, and political gatherings are not allowed in the cemetery.

How do I find if someone is buried at Chalmette National Cemetery? Click here for the list of Chalmette National Cemetery headstones. Remember to try different spellings, like "Green" and "Greene."

I'm a veteran. May I be buried at Chalmette National Cemetery? The cemetery is closed to new interments because space is no longer available. Exceptions may apply if burial space has already been identified or set aside. For information about national cemeteries, including the locations of those closest to Chalmette National Cemetery, visit the national cemeteries website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Roughly how many troops are buried in the cemetery? The estimated number is close to 16,000. Numbers on stones show 15,228, but there are many mass burials of unknown numbers.

What became of the Confederate dead that once were buried in this national cemetery? There were 132 Confederate prisoners of war interred in Chalmette National Cemetery. In 1868, the Ladies Benevolent Association of New Orleans received permission to remove the Confederate remains to Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans. 

Are there troops from other countries buried in the cemetery? One British seaman is buried in Section # 171 near the brick wall: Able Seaman Watcyn G. Jones died on May 16, 1943, on his ship the HMS Hunter in the port of New Orleans. Sylvester Gredzinski, a Canadian, was an Instrument Repairer in the Canadian Air Force who died on August 17, 1941; he is buried in Section #170, Grave #14179. Pedro Floresca, a veteran from the Philippine Islands, died December 14, 1939, and is buried in Section # 163, Grave # 14044.

What became of the British soldiers after the Battle of New Orleans? They are not buried in the cemetery. There is no conclusive evidence where they are buried. One reference claims a British surgeon stated that he helped dig mass graves at the Villere Plantation. The only deceased soldiers taken back to England were Major General Edward Pakenham, General Samuel Gibbs, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rennie.

Where is the grave of the woman who disguised herself as a male Union soldier? Rosetta Wakeman disguised herself as a man under the name of Lyons Wakeman and joined the New York Volunteer Infantry. She was stationed at nearby Jackson Barracks where she died of dysentery in 1865. She is in Section # 52, Grave # 4066.