Des Arc citizen., 1866-05-05

bus, tseorgia-the noble women of Mem Phis gathered themselves together on shs 26th of April to pay aaffectiors tribute to their sleeping dead This custom Is, that on the Anniversary of the surrender of the Confederate armies the 26th of April of each year, the women of the South as- semble themselves to scatter flowers over the graves of the loved and noble sons of tba South whose lives went out in defence of home, honor and country From the account we have, the ceremony must have been impressive and touching. We give the following extract from an address de- livered by Rev. Mir FORD:
 "A year has passed since the curtain fell on the dread drama in whose early scenes these dead were actors Let us pause moment, and recur to the opening of that drama. How fresh are It's incidents. A word reproduees them in all their living, stirring reality. The country excited - The call to arms issued The young and brave mastering. We see them as the day of departure arrives Throngs are gathered The banner, woven by fair hands is presented, amid shouts and tears Partings. Farewells. The mothers fond embrace; the father's fearful ssGod bless you" The word to advance is given, and they are gone; gone to the front; gone to the trenches; to the cold and weary watch; to exposure and disease; gone to mingle ia the bloody fray, as fearless, as brave, as baoyant hearts as ever bounded forth at duty's call. Shall they return, and how Ler the scenes of the last four years an swerI
 ssTEe air is full of farewells to the dying,
 And waiEings for the dead;
 The heart of Rachel for her children signing
 Will not be comforted.'
 An many of them sleep on Belmont's bloody field; around Columbus and Bowl ing Green, and Chickamauga, and Frank lin; as noble, glorious dead as ever died. And some of them sleep here-
 Hail all hail. the patriots grave
 Valor venerable bed;
 '
 Hail the spirits of the deadv
 "Time their triumphs shall proclaim,
 And their rich reward be this,
 Immortality of fame
 Immortality of bliss"
 But while we dwell with tender interest on the memory of our own loved dead who rest here, or In their unknown graves at Shiloh or Chickamauga, we will not forget those who lie here with IS in our silent city, far from the home of their childhood. They came from Texas, from Louisiana, from Arkansas, from Mississippi and Mis- souri--went forth, as ours did, from the towns and cities of their native States, followed by the prayers and blessings of yearning hearts, They were brought back to our city from Belmont and Shiloh, and died in our midst; in the Overton and the Irving Hospitals, and many in your own households, they were watched and tend ed by the women of Memphis. Their last farewell whispers were caught by you and transmitted to anxious friends and distant homes. We closed their eyes n death and followed them to this sad spot. Away from lEIcHus3 hA1SJ WClc uBb lftE1luIGSs2. weep ing parents, whose soldier boys sleep here in graves intended by your care, your sons were watched when wounded and dying are remembered though dead, and on their mounds we place the votive offering of Springs floral tribute. Nor will we be censured even by those who opposed us in the conflict, for this token of regard for the fallen. These men went forth at the call of their States They were prompted by lofty sense of duty. Their courage and endurances were made glorious by principle.
 MR- FORD was followed by Rev MR. ROGERS, who paid an eloquent tribute to the memory of Gen. PRESTON SMITH, and the Confederate dead, who sleep in Elmwood; after which collection was ta- ken by the ladies for the purpose of erect ing suitable monument upon which the names of all their buried might be in- scribed. All then adjourned to their homes satisfied that they had done a noble duty THUS FAR, AND No FARTHER CAN
 VEGA