The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-21
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
Honors to the Confederate Dead ut Montgomery
White sulphur Springs.
CHRisrIASsBuRs, Va, Au

CHRlSflANSBUR", VA, august II, ''''.
On the 10th instant about five or six hundred cin
,ens Of Montgomery county met at the call Of tn
Ladies' Memorial Association to honor the me
nUry Of those who had died in onr defence am
were buried at this place. The whole lawn wa
filed with vehicles, while crowds cam" on me
extra t,ain sent from tn" Central depot uilde'
dating CAPTAIN T. .BonGuran,.. .,., =
Al 1? o'clock NJ the assnc'a,"h Was p eaiisa i
order by the President, Mr. c2"si hooer rc, ~.
pied one of the pCricus-th1 vast CroWa oe!S Nsa'-
ed on the grass Under the shade OF the eurrouh"'hS
Colonel Preston, rs aid 10 tn" President, intro.
duced the speakers lie said IN the ginning thAl
MO came To- rryrr renee tn. memories of our poor
bows who had los, their lives in vain He felt sad
himself and had no doubt that al felt sad as they
thought Of their sucrinss and their inournlul cnd
No man said he, honors Bob Lee more than h"h
Preston hut honor more the brave boy who had
property or reputation ~ ,iak', pnt l"uSn' I H.
died alone for principle and from PATRIOTISM ms
remarks were brief bnt pointed, and Overlooking
with the generous impulses of his kindly soul.
PRAYER asking God 10 teach Us submission, ana 10
bless the widow and orphan; and To- restore peace
an" Kew T Hooper Srt was then introduced as the
orator Of the occasion. who spok" for about nan
al hour give yon mere outline o. ms rem, IN
wears since 10 these same springs, and drew con
irs>t between iha, scene and this Then hundreds
from all parts of our peaceful land were gathered
a. see sars Of health or ~ pleasure. ia! lhr"'es
Ser. gathered IN the bali-room. where all Went
merry a. y marriage bell. But now, alas now
chanrod' Were these scenes to be re enacted, The
aud each fo"t.iep would shake the ashes OF the
Sr"ans Of The wounded and the emaciated. We
Can see the feeble form of the wretched conva.
descent H. be- Crneps across this lawn, ana FITS
under the shade Of these beautiful trees. 49,
He then r.poscd 10 discuss the meaning ot these
memorial associations. They were not an e'l-
denc. of di>iuyaty tn the Federal Governmeht;
We had all taken the oath Of allegiance, and
southern men are not the men TO want"niy violate
IN ir covenant engagements. lie had never seen
adm tad son her who had direction Ia
the Federal Constitution. On the contrary, we had
shown appreciation Of it by shaping IN" Con
Tolerate Cou,tiiutiou upon the same general prin-
ciplcs While. then, we do not pretend to love
Yankees. and never eSpectedt to, y"twe ii" not M
tend L. violate our ouths of allegiance and never
,xpcct or intend To raise our arms against the TO-
vernmcnt of the United States,
But these associations furnish an evidence 81 the
fact that we not ashamed of the cau>e toi
which th"s" gallant soldiers fought and died Inc
son al cuprit, when his father Is hung, VIII viHli
his grave in secret To wee there IN hllai ahec"h
and If We were ashamed OF our cause We would not
come in such teeming muliitudes, with gaiiahds
10 deck the graves of those who had fallen in a
Sishonor.d aid disgraceful cause We rctract no.
thing, recant none of our princIpicS OUT III CIV
ing up the only feel that all Is lost say"
These associations were also intended 10 teach
our reverence for the dead. He here aiiud'd 70
lands, where grand mausoieums are erectoa 10
But mere than this, they teach the warm brother.
hood of Confederate soldiers. on TINS POINT ne
alluded tn the warm greeting which mel every
man in grey during the war. Reminded me rem
nant that was left of the old times III the weary
march and around the camp Hres, and arpeaied 10
them still 10 keep the fires Of brotheriy affection
burning brightly for ihos WHO had fallen IN GaT
when tina. kind lady said of a nane!ess boy, " Let
lie kiss him for his mother and reminded me
ing to these graves Virginia, all over the south
mothers and sisters were decorating the grave 81
our gallant sons who had fallen upon their sou
The same common affection and common berea'e-
ment still bound Us together.
He then drew contrast between the solder ii% 70
dies in the deadly charge, with the shouuhs VI
comrades, the roll of the nusketry, the nashiE vi
saores, and the voice of command urging mem nll
and he who drags out months OF WEAKNESS am',
from kindred-no sister to battle his fevered brow,
and no mother to close his eyes when ne i soh''
/. Congratulated the ladies on their success.
They ssessd their S5 Sans o lh
enclose these grave-yards and I" put up nea "a
boards at every grave THIS was and tn deco.
thsm-to protect these lonely iho"huS anu " "''''
He reminded the audience that as patriots We
must hope for better things. the emo IS III, III.
world hs no human power can control them
God has his own way OF DOM thihss IN tn,s
world and no man can stay his hand, or say un"
ana in conclusion, as minister of Jesus, he rs.
minded the vast sssemblase that they were a9ou'
then, our own mortality. The spade that aug lhsse
graves will soen dix ours. The oods OF the valley
uuon ours The coffin that encloses their mottai
Temains will soon enclose ours. Let US, then,
nnder these solemn truths, emulate tho example ol
the noblest of our Confederate dead. and 30 lve ny
faith i'm the Son Of God, that when we come To d!e
we may be able To- say, - Let us cross over the
river and rest under the shade of the trees. .
After the delivery of this address Coiohei nun
ford formerly of the Eleventh Virginia regiment
repeated q most beautiful aud touching poem
which he had written for the occasion. TINS VIII
be sent you, as u COPY Of the poem ana address
were both requested For publication; and We re
gret that the address was not written In full
After these public exercises, and an lntermis-
sion for pie mic dinners-which the ladies had
furnished in profusion-thc procession WAS formed
and proceeded at once Ia the burying grounds
The graves were found To be in bad condition, a.
they are out upon the common, and many OF the
names have been entirely obiterated. But every
grave was decorated with wreaths aud crosses OF
evergreen and flowers, and Rev. Mr.. Ligget again
offered an importunate prayer for the friends oi
those whose bodies were buried In this secluded
vale Of the Allegheny. In the mean time the ex-
ecutive committee held a meeting and let out the
work to former soldier. The head boards to be
made Of locust timber, painted white, ana the
names distinctly marked. The enclosure 70 oe
plain oak plank and locust posts, and AL 10 DC
completed by the 18th Of October.
Thus, after spending sad but pleasant DAY, we
again took the cars, and reached home about sun,
down, under the pleasant reflection thar We had
added our mite m paying respect TO the lnehory VI