Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-31

edIIIl. anu ldu uiGu1 dliu hCIC llOW tOIEOLleus
for time had erased their names, and the record
of their faults and many virtues from the stones
erected BY friends to tell to the passenger the
history of each; and these ancient monuments
stand here like ghosts refusing to speak
their appointed words, but are now pointing
with spectre looks and expressive gestures, To-
wards the earth and plainly saying this Is THE
LAST OF EARTH" It's populOus city; hundreds
sleep there; and around it are marked the graves
of five generations of men. at length l found
the object of my search--the grave Of General
Putnam No lofty shaft marks the spot where
lie buried the bones of hero and patriot; no
chiselled sculpture adorns the place; no refined
and cultivated taste has surrounded his grave
with the evidence of an appreciative remen-
branee. His grave is indicated by monument
of the humblest pretensions.
His grave is north and west of the ancient
place of burial and near the west end of the Gem
etery. There is an oblong square wall surround
ing the grave of faced granite laid in cement,
which is raised to the height of three feet and
upon the top is laid plain, white marble slab.
The only attempt at ornament which l could dis-
cover, was small groove, or moulding worked
around the edges of the slab. Upon this sab
is engraved the following beautiful, chaste and
touching inscription:
Esquire, senior Major General in the Armies Of
the United States of America, who was born at
Salem, in the province of Massachusetts, on the
seventh day of January, A. d. l7Is, and died on
the twenty-ninth day of May, A. d. $780,
Passenger, if thou art soldier, drop tear over
the dust of hero, who, ever attentive to the
lives and happiness of his men, dared to lead
where any dared to follow If patriot, remem-
Der the distinguished and gallant services rem
dered thy country, by Patriot who sleeps be-
meath this marble. If thou art honest, generous
and worthy render tribute of respect to man
whose generosity was singular whose honesty
was proverbial--who raised himself to universal
esteem, and office of eminent distinction by per-
sonal worth and useful life"
read this Epitaph with much interest and
deep feeling. Long did muse over the grave
of one who, in life, displayed SO much manly
courage, SO much intrepidity, acton and ener
gy, so filed the measure of the worlds gaze; but
in death was sleeping so quietly and apparently
so neglected. The thrilling events of his long
and useful life passed in review before my minds
eye. His early feat in the VOLTS den-his cam
paigns against the Indians-his prowess in the
French and Indian war-the manner with which
he received the news of the battle of Lexington
and the lighting of the Scamp fires of the Rev
olution," and his prompt and decisive action
thereat-his services in the army--his courage
III batte-his wonderful escape at Horseneek-
his quiet, peaceful and secluded life,-all passed
in panoramic view before my mental vision as
veritabIe realities. 1t warmed my heart and
glow spread Overmy entire system. Time sped
swiftly away, and the distant village clock call
ed me from my reverie in tolling the hour of
noon. Never did so fully appreciate the self
sacrificing exertions of the Heroes and Patriots
of the Revolution, or look upon the glorious
and free institutions which was the result of
their action with more veneration and patriotic
pride as on this occasion.
This humble 1fonument of General Putnam's
has fallen into decay, and neglect has marked
the spot where it stands with unerring certain
a has 494n ai4Rn m 3 II thf 5y Ta Been % 0F sWa7 b the
h md of some curious and ruthless vandal who
has visited the grave. The vandals have been
here their footprints are upon and about the
shrine which Patriotism has erected over one
of her Heroes They have seolloped the mar
ble in frequent places by breaking pieces from
the edges they have also much defaeed the
marble by the rudest possible engraving of
their names and initials upon its face, and in
places have carried it so far as to nearly destroy
the inscription. An itching desire for notOriety,
feeling which they take for patriotism but
which is its counterfeit, or something else, has
prompted these people to write their names, if
not upon the scroll Of fame, at least upon the
monuments of their eountry's greatest men,
thinking, poor souls, that SO trifing an act will
accord to them Immortality, which, perhaps, no
one will question-but it will be an immortality
of infamy / have Transcribed few of them,
for the exeeration of your readers, and if noto-
riety is what they are after, they shall have it
toIthe extent of the circulation of this sheet
Here they are:
"H Webb" ar D. Cook, Woonsocket,
l." "W. V. Wales, Woonsocket, R. 1, 1858. u
al B. A, Is40.' IS. Barrow" "J. H W
Cott" "L. C. Miller
There has been a movement of late In the
Legislature of Connecticut, looking towards the
erection of suitable monument to the memory
of General Putnam. 1t has been proposed to
appropriate $4,000, by the State, upon condition
that tho citizens of the State would raise like
sum towards the same object This is right
and for one should rejoice to see it succeed.
"Not as a record be lacketh stone"
but the citizens of Connecticut, yea, of the en-
tire country, should do this thing as poor pay
ment of the great debt of gratitude they owe
the memory of one who, in the hour of then
country's trial, rendered eminent services in be
half of freedom and civil liberty and as small
token that the services of so good and great {
man, his patriotic effort, his undaunted hero
ism, his simple honesty and open-hearted gen
erosity, have not, so soon, been forgotten by hi
countrymen who are enjoying the sweets of tha
Independence which his strong arm contributed
materially to gain.
" Raise him Shrine l'i
Yours, &c, JUNIUS, JR.
~ DR.. Lyons Office is removed from 81