The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-01
rI,O THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH.

=. The Ladies' Memorial Association for Gonfed-
crate Dead Of Oak wood," near Richmond, virgil
mia W a. organized permanently on tho 18th April
1885, for the purpose Of rescuing from Oblivion the
names and graves of the gallant ConfedsFats dad
mi. CpmeterY' situated one mile east Of the
civ contains sixteen thousand Confederate sol-
dies graves, larger number than any 8tnsfIn tne
southern State. - -,
The graves are I'm a neglected condition, the
names Of the occupants marked only by rude pieces
of board csrelrssiy and slightly put In the EARN.
The grounds are desolate and unenciossd:
has undertaken the work Of enclosing the ceme-
terry. and has made the requisite appropriation Tor
Thr work OF love, gratitude. and duty which this
Association proposes for itself is simply this
Fir,t. To turf each grave and mark i with neat
the mar e Of tho occupant, hs State, regiment, ana
company, and other Information In regard 70 Nun.
and TO redeem ihea from their prsssn, o
inter cheerlessness and desolation. And
Thirdly. At some future day, when the finances
If the Association shall permit it, to rspiace me
wooden head boards with enduring marble, and 70
erect a handsome monument for each state OF the
south concentrating its dead.
no effect these purposes II 10 necessary To appeal
to the people Of the south for pecuniary
The Association is poor the people 81 k nc nnr
and credit Of the entire south. II would be an IN
,iellible shame and an ever-present disgrace u,
having the power to honor our dead, TO perpetuxte
their nanes and memories and to preserve snd
protect their graves, people should sn1er them
10 lie neglected and forgotten until the iran Ie.
cords Of their Names death, and burial places arc
toiaIly d.struyed by decay, and the task rendered
iInIo;sible. How many families throughout the
south have representatives sleeping al oakWooI
Cemetery How many mothers, and sisters, sna
fathers and brothers, and friends. wonid DE
ami p-atilsd TO know that their brave desd wsi,S
honorsd and their graves cared Tor ara rnuea.
Who would not be shocked and pained 20 NIuoas
the present iameniabls condition OF ahsss ohIss
ana TO zee how rapidly the hand OF Time a,.e
tersting all traces and memorials OF 'uo ssASus
dead who died for usI -, ,ook unon TIA
Conld the people OF the south look upon Ut
Io,siy de.olate and neglected graves. no sPPesl
wouIl be Necessary. The slishs . 81 ~ 80.
,,ysns,an heroes would reach the hearts Ans con.
lotsot.e 49,. rory ChTistian man and woman OF the
soath. -. t,rs d.v oy a vsay. A n
IL, ~, n..,ing fancy OF sn hour, or the epnemerai
~. w, of a moInsntsry impulse peru:
| n.ntIy organized, with alrsaay TWO nunaIea sno
I'M. ~. LIZ m.mbers twill know no rest until 10
MY are successfully and fully achieved. y
p No, fail IL cannot fall 10 should not fall, unf!
" nsnho.d 81 the south has lost It's chivAIry, ana
.nv ,G ia women have ceased 10 mourn for thsk
.hiidrrn because : they are not"
In this work OF piety and care the Association
snIsmniy pledges rs honor to the people OF the
funds which may be contributed.
Editors friendly to the purpose OF this Associa'
ton will confer favor BY copying Into their pa
rcontribuslons are urgently solicited.
They may be sent to the Rev. John 3. kdwards'
Rev <. L. Dickinson, Rev. WIN. Norwood, ksv.
b. Price, Rev. J. A. Proctor, Richmond, Va. OF q
'''o' MRS. VI. H. SMITH, President
Mrs. A. r. COURTNEY, Secretary.
my 26--i&sWlw