New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-13


CHARLESTON. May g. 1865.
The graves Of our martyred soldiers, who
persisted from cruelties spd hunger and cold on tb'
and buried by the Rebels In trenches
oofIinless and naked, were visited May .dsy-ss
Monday-by such procession OF friends and
as South Carolina or the United States never be
fore told you several weeks ago that party OF
Northern paid visit TO the Race one Sab
bath morning. and the long " graves near by
In an open field unbonored and unfenced exposed to
the PROCLAMATION Of the Rebels unhaowed feet and the
hoofs Of uncean cattle, and how they resolved. then
and thcre, TO have the sacred soil nclosed aud monu
nent raised 20 the memory Of the martyrs told you
aferward that their chairman visited LOYAL church
OF Mere II could only be colored church,. and
asked for to volunteer TO put up rude fence,
preserve tho spot from further proclamation until
per mapent inclosure could b. erected. Twentyeighi
ooored loynlsts volunteered; and about 10 days ago.
days work having been spent on It, without pay OF
any other material rcwsrd-a substantial wooden fence
close 10 feet high, whtewashed with nne gate, and
over IT, neatly painted arch In black letters and
In black border. on . white ground. the Words
"uARTYRs OF THE RAcE-coURsE'
had bees finished BY these friends Of our brave enlisted
men, whose herosms the field Of battle and on the
boring deader field Of death had helped to make
them free.
IL was resolved to dedicate this battle-ground on
May Day and to cover the red graves with and
the choicest flowers Of the season.
May Day. therefore. was Q holiday and about
O'Clock, nearly. II not more than 10000 personsmen.
women and children-hsd assembled on the Race
course All the lcolored school children nearly 1000
were there most Of them with boquets 10 their hands
q oy~A adj NJ
city. A for flowers especially the roses. there were
few Of them left unplucked In Charleston.
The children formed in . procession. perhaps two
miles long. marched around the Race-course.
gng the John Brown" song and then went over To
the burial. ground. With uncovered heads and In
perfect silence they entered IT, and marched around the
graves and threw their flowers thereon. Before the
children had finished their march, not Of tho 257
graves but bore these floral gifts. Then came the
Patriotic Associationa society Of some 300 colored
women organised to help In the free distribution Of
tho clothing sent 70 the liberated race by the kind
hearts Of oar generous North-And they too. came
bearing baskets Of flowers wresths and and
large boques with which 10 adorn and do honor TO the
burial spot Of their martyred deverer After these
worthy women % many Of them with tears-had also
marched In and out revsrenty and In silence the
Mutual Aid Society"-a benevolent association Of
coorsd mendid likewise; and after them camo crowds
OF other citizens in order and quietly who added to
the beautiful covering Of the graves. When all had
Ieft, the holy mounds-the tops, the Sides and the
spscess between them-werc one mass Of flowers not
spcck Of earth could be seen and the breeze waited
the sweet perfumes from them, outside and beyond, to
the sympathetic multitude. there were few eyes among
those who knew the meaning Of the ceremony were
not dim with tesrs ofjoy. Ofthe white ladies who saw
the sight not one but wept. And. among them saw
one old mother clad In black, who had all the way
from Boston to recover the bones Of beloved who
had been borne sick from tho Racccourso and carried
from hospital to the Potters Field.
While the admits were marching around the graves
the children gathered IN 4 neighboring little
grove, and were singing " riea." "We'l rally
round the Flag" and the " S.ls-: slid Banner"
AS soon az the last Of the proec' had gone ont
the gate was shut and only the " friends Of the mar
,,r. clerRymep or "leRderyp q feplle choir svIse