by Roxy Triebel
treebz65@hotmail.com

Francis Van Kleeck was an older brother of my great great grandfather, David Van Kleeck, who also enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War.  Francis enlisted in the 5th New York Heavy Artillery on February 11, 1864.  He was captured in Staunton, Virginia, on June 12, 1864 and died in the prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia, on September 15, 1864, leaving a wife, two small sons, and a baby on the way.  Francis is buried in grave number 8806 in Section H in Andersonville National Cemetery.

A cousin visited Andersonville National Historic Site in 2003 and took numerous photos, some of which I include here with permission.  Click the small photos to see larger versions.

•  The main entrance to Andersonville National Historic Site.

•  The National Prisoner of War Museum.

•  Prisoner of War monument.  The base reads:  "Turn You to the Stronghold Ye Prisoners of Hope" -- Zechariah 9:12

•  Map of the cemetery.  Francis is buried in Union Burial Trench H.

•      New York monument.  The inscription reads:

  This monument erected by the state of New York commemorates the patriotism sacrifices and fortitude of about nine thousand New York soldiers of the Union Armies in the War of the Rebellion who were confined in the Confederate States military prison at Andersonville Georgia, of whom twenty-two hundred and sixty one are known to have died in prison and were buried in this cemetery.

  Erected AD 1911

  
  

•    Union Trench "H" in Andersonville Cemetery.  Our cousin is standing behind Francis Van Kleeck's grave.

•      Grave of Francis Van Kleeck (stone reads "Van Kleck").

•    Reenactors at the prison site.

•  A hole dug under a tree.  This may be either an escape tunnel or a well dug in an attempt to get fresh water to drink.

These names are visible in the full-sized original photos.  Most of the inscriptions in the small copy photos above are not legible due to the small sizes of the images.

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