Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-04
SOLDIERS CEMETERY.


SOLDIERS CEMETERY
About the latter part of March 1866, few
Ladies of Staunton determined they would fix
I'D the graves of the Soldiers buried at this
place, and ornament the ground by planting
suitable trees and shrubbery in it. 1t then be-
ing too late in the season to put trees in the
ground, it was thought best to defer it until
late in the fall On the 4th of May, it was de-
termined to invite the ladies of Staunton and
vicinity to assemble at the Lutheran Church,
for the purpose of concerning measures to honor
our dead heroes Consequently, meeting was
held on the It'll of May, and it was concluded
to have floral procession on the 10th of May,
it being the university of the death of Stone
acaU Jackson" As the readers of the Spectator
are all well aware of the proceedings of that
day, we deem it unnecessary to say anything
more about it.
We believe the collections made on the 10th
of May were only about eighty dollars, not one
half of what might have been collected, had
there been more time to have matured the
plans-the whole affair having been gotten up
very hurriedly Since them about three hun
dred dollars more have been collected. Of this
less than twenty-five dollars was contributed out
of the county; the rest was collected in Staunton,
and other parts of Augusta county. A large
amount of work has been done at the Gene
terry, in fixing up the graves, and grading the
roads and walks; and the remains OF all the
soldiers Except those in private lots, have been
taken out of the old part of the Cemetery. and
inferred in the Soldiers Cemetery; and large
number of graves dug in two days, by the cltl-
zens of the town and vicinity, to bury soldiers
who are now lying in the battle-helds OF NC
DoweI. Port Republic and Piedmont, and va
rious other places uncared for. On Saturday
and Monday, the oath and Goth November,
thirty-fve to forty bodies were brought up from
Piedmont, and on Tuesday and Wednesday,
seven from Fishersville, all of which have been
inferred in the Soldiers Cemetery at this place.
OF those brought from Piedmont, the names Of
only six are known, viz Fl. A. Lane, 9th
Va. Battalion Capt J. M. Webb, 9th N.
Carolina Regt., Thomas Legion; W. L. More
head, Co. B. Goth Va. INIT; Lit. M. Blue,
Hampshire Co. Va; Sergt. D. W. Suite, 20.
E. Goth Va. INIT; Capt. J. P. B., Co. G. Both
Tenn. Regt From Fishersville, c. T. Bib,
Co. f. 5Oth Va. Regt, died Jan. II 1865; w.
Dawson, Co. E. 22nd Va. Regt., died Jan. 1st
1865; Geo. Walker, Co. G. 22nd Va. Regt.,
died Oct. 9th 1866; j. Williams, Co. G. Goth
Va. Regt, died Feb. 3rd 1865. These names
and dates are obtained from the head boards
Two are so nearly defaced that the names can
- h. .,oJo ont Ono oDpnarc to he marked
- SO far as visible. S. L. M......"ge, Go. K. 36th
Va. Regt, died Feb. 9Th 1865. The other
looks like it might be ......... Faro, or Frazer
.... Battery, thought to be Kutshaws, died
Jan. 18th 1865; and one in new coffin, no
name at all on it.
The people in the neighborhood of Piedmont,
and for several miles around, assembled on Sat
urday the oath November, and disinterred a
number of bodies, but were compelled to stop
for want of boxes, which did not arrive until
late in the afternoon of that day. They had
also met on the Saturday previous, but the
boxes not coming to hand, could do nothing
They expect to meet there again some day this
week, when it is hoped they will be able to
complete the work of disinterring the remains
of our dead Soldiers. For the prompt and care
full manner in which they and the people of
Thinking Spring congregation have attended to
this matter, they deserve great credit and have
the thanks of the Ladies of the Soldiers Gem
terry Committee at Staunton.
Much more work remains to be done at the
Cemetery, and money is wanted to pay for it.
1t is hoped that our citizens will not forget that
the bones of many of our brave Soldiers are ly-
ing about in the woods, and old fields, almost
uncovered, and totally uncared for. At Pied
mont, we understand, the feet of some are stick
ing out of the ground
The Ladies have recently called on all our
citizens-through the newspapers-not only
those in town, but those in the country, to bring
rich earth. Not one response has yet been
made. These poor men died while guarding
your soil. VIII you not give one load of this soil
as a grateful offering to their memory? This
earth is needed to plant the trees and shrub
berry in.
Persons have been written to at Mcdowell,
Port Republic, Striblings Springs and other
nlaces, and it is expected that great many