History

Little is known about the early history of Fort McHenry’s cemetery. Eight markers indicating a cemetery was found on a map showing that one existed on the south grounds near the old 1814 water battery. Seven graves remain unknown, however, one has been identified as Lieutenant Thomas I Lawrence, 1st Regiment, U.S. Infantry who died on September 22, 1799. In 1836, when the old battery was removed, the cemetery remains were relocated to the new site. The first known inventories in 1873 and 1878, provide the only accounting of who was buried here. From 1883 until May 31, 1895, “Decoration Day ” was sponsored by the Sons of Veterans of Maryland. That summer, because of shore erosion, the remains were removed to other locations in Baltimore, such as the Loudon Park National Cemetery, and other sites unknown. Listed are the names of 170 soldiers and civilians once buried here. Today, the Fort McHenry cemetery site is unmarked