A Place of Honor and Remembrance
Station Eight brings you to the hillside cemetery where thirty‑six memorial stones commemorate soldiers of the 9th Michigan Infantry and related units who died during the winter of 1861–1862. Disease claimed far more lives than combat, and this quiet slope became the resting place for many who never saw battle.
The Soldiers Buried Here
Most of the men memorialized here died from measles, typhoid fever, pneumonia, or dysentery — illnesses that swept through the regiment during the fort’s construction. Although many of the bodies were later reinterred at New Albany National Cemetery, the stones remain as solemn markers honoring their sacrifice.
Preservation of the Cemetery
Volunteers and local historians have worked for decades to preserve this sacred ground. The memorial stones, arranged in neat rows, reflect the respect shown to the soldiers who endured harsh conditions while helping secure the Union’s strategic foothold in Kentucky.
What to Notice Here
- The alignment of the memorial stones along the hillside
- The peaceful setting chosen for the cemetery
- The proximity to the hospital area where many soldiers died
- The enduring legacy of the 9th Michigan Infantry
Continue the Tour
When ready, continue along the trail to Station Nine, where you’ll explore the southern earthworks that protected the fort’s most rugged approach.