The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-02-28
An Army Graveyard.

A Fortress Monroe correspondent of the
Boston Journal Tins feelingiy and beau;i.
fully alludes TO the soldiers graveyard:
We turnod of last from our toilsome but
interesting ride on the SANDY shore, into q
path which led through tho woods. How
changed tho scene! At tho entrance was
the picket-guard, looking picturesque in
their house Of boughs, and beneath tho pine.
trees, with their rifles stacked near, ready
for uso nj moments warning That ride
through tho Virginia forest we shall long
rorpomber. Tne Iivo-oak abounded with its
brilliant green leaf. IL was twined and
wrea,hed with many vine, londing its grace
and charm in rcturE for tho support its
strength afforded. There, too, stood tho
holly-tree. with its splondor of clustered ber.
ries, making II SOON deckcd with tubies
from the crown to the very skirt OF its green
robe Of Leaves.
Riding on, VIC soon camo to paling, and
there, within, were many graves of soldiers
who bavo died near or in the fortress in
past years, or in this eventual ono. so soon
to be numbered with the past. The como
terry is in little pine grovo. and tho lofty
trees seemed signing sad yet noble ro:
QUEEN over the graves of the sleeping sold.
iers bonoath. Ah we'll, BY the sido of
most Of these, wife or mother never stood
10 chant that solemn requiem or.lct fall the
tear Of sorrow. Let tho winds of heaven
chant the strain through the pino.trees
above, and let the clouds drop tears, pure
as tho sweet heavens, over those graves
which kindred may never 500. It looked
almost strange to observe in that soldiers
cemetery one or two graves of women, and
one wherein the passionless forms Of two
twin children slept. These. doubtless, be-
long to tho families of soldiers, who followed
thom to the fortress, and here fouud-a
grave.
The cemetery has rustic entrance, a
portion Of which is formed into that emblom,
dear to every Christian, though onco
symbol Of obloquy-the cross. A part OF
the fence has fallen, however, and, despite
tho picturesqueness of the spot, tho grave.
yard looked neglected and somewhat desc.
lato, as is almost unavoidable hero now.
Very beautiful are the sighing troes typical
of "glory, honor, and immortality" are the
chapiets OF iive-oak and holly which stand
near tho bed of those silent sleepers; but
very cold and dosolate look tho graves be-
meath, made in the sand. whose whitencss
speaks Of the winding. sheet and tho pallor
OF ioath.
cemetery, in which we noticed that the
graves were mostly Of marines and sailors
in the navy, whose bodies have been borho
hero for interment, those who once ton
anted them departing life in the harbor or
near the shore. Yet we noticed one or two
soldiers graves here also, and could not
understand the reason of the division of the
cemeteries. unless one was reserved for
those Of tho Roman Catholic faith, as is
very probable.
We spoke no word in that army and navy
cemetery; and yet not wholly voiceless was
that solitude. Deeper, more solemn, and
yet moro sweet than that eternal dirge
which the pine-grove and the resounding
sea near it are chanting. our hearts heard a
voice telling us not chiefly of death, but. il
NO and those silont sloepors were true sold
iers of the Cross. or, IL those departed
sailors had Jesus for their pilot over lies
solemn soa, that voice spoke for them and
US nobier word it was--immortatty!