Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-06
For the Chronicle.


my Ieet
In my last number published elsewhere
in 1862, promise was made 10 continue the
subject, rs quoted, at the expiration Of the
war should life be spared. The battle is
ended, and peace has been proclaimed We
have fought and have been defeated. And
we submit sincerely desiring to pursue our
ordinary avocations, as good and constitu-
tional citizens Of the United States. If we
were to take retrospective view of the
eventful struggle, the thrilling scenes, the
frightful and terrible ordeal recently passed,
we should extend this article beyond its de-
sirable length, aud somewhat foreign to the
subject. Many hearts have been made to
bleed for the lost loved ones. Many are
penniless and homeless to day, farms desc
lated stock and implements of husbandry
all gone. Nothing left, but honor with a
mind and will to work, and to abide the
consequences. Is il not small boon to ask
Of the victors, to give credence to our solemn
pledges that we win abide the issue, and
that we sincerely desire the peace Of
our country, and the administration
of that rule of action and that principle Of
law that is calculated to promote harmony,
good morals, equity and justice.
In this recent trying crisis of the nature
and dispositions Of the minds and hearts OF
men, many have come out unsullied and
untarnished. Their reputation and honor as
gold tried in the furnace, shining the bright
er and brighter Some, it is regretted, covet-
ed, and have taken the Babylonish garment,
the pledge Of gold, and with their ill-gotten
gains are now revelling in sensual pleasures
for season. But, oh, their end, their
dreadful end; the cup Of misery will soon
overflow, remorse, death and despair, will
reign in eternal silence there. Whilst in the
accumulation of misery vast and terri ible in
extent, the fruits of their dreadful carnage
much good has also been accomplished.
Under the kind ministerial offices of chap
lains in the army, many soldiers were made
wiser and better. Revivals of religion in
camps and in hospitals, by scores and hum
dreds, gave evidence Of the presence of the
good spirit and of the grace and mercy o;
God
But in this vast and extensive field for the
work Of the ministry, in the midst of the
harvest it was lamentable and sad to find
that some abandoned the sacredotal Office
and engaged in secular employments. Per-
haps it WIS thought lit would not pay"
And even to-day, some men of the same
high and exalted profession, have siace the
great struggle, abandoned, or are blending
the ministerial Office for, or with the bust
mes, Of a secular nature.
We do not include in these remarks those
who are engaged in the laudable work Of
teaching and training the minds of the young
in lessons of useful knowledge.
And now we propose to consider in what
way we can perpetuate the virtues of the
dead, for the benefit of the living, for this
is our main purpose.
Erect no marble pillars or monuments
over the grave, ms it often indicates a spirit
of ambition, pride emulation and ostentation
And sometimes an expensive and labored
attempt is made to impose upon the commu-
nifty, deceptive character for virtues and
usefulness, never exhibited in the life of the
deceased. But plant the rose the "queen
of flowers" at the head, and decorate the
grave with the lily, or any of the chaste and
beautiful flowers of nature, and you may
read in their delicate tracery, the memento
of friendship, love and affection. 1t is q
beautiful custom, said to be continued in
France, for the populace to assemble on the
first day of May, bearing wreaths of ever.
greens and flowers, with which they decorate
and adorn the graves of departed loved ones
These simple, innocent and artless tokens
carry to the mind and hearts a sincerity O
purpose, and deep and abiding interest il
cherishing the memory of deeds of vaor ant
acts of kindness, Of our friends. The finely
polished marble, executed and embelished
by the skill of the artist and sculptor, may
invite and attract our notice and admiration
when visiting the city of the dead, but ou
minds and thoughts are more impressed will
the ingenuity of the workman, and the ex
pense of the structure, than in meditatinl
: upon the life and character of the one VIII,
lies beneath the sod. There is in remote
city, a soldiers burying ground, and man.
valcrous and noble soldiers are quietly rest
ing there. In the graveyard, can be seer
the remains, and sleeping side by side, tn
Tennesseean, Mississippian, Floridian, Texial
and from every State, who participate,
upon the Southern side in the great conflict
Letters from relations and friends of tn
deceased soldiers, were received from dis
lance, containing a request 10 designate tn
: grave of some soldier, that Of son or brothe
by some plain mark, so that it could be re
| cognized at some future day. After this wa
, done, and on the first day of May, the man,
wreaths Of eyergreens and flowers, vhicl
adorned the grave, gave evidence of tn
sympathies and kind feelings of the fair sel
and that in the absence of dear mother an,
: fond sister, the soldier although FAR fror
home, should receive every care and atten
ton when sick and dead, his remains shoul'
be honored. This simple act Of kindnes
was heralded far to the Southern homes, an,
the mother and sister wept tears ofgratitud
, for these tokens of sympathy among stran