The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1866-04-21
The Confederate Dead.

The undersigned having been appoint
ed committee by a public meeting of the
citizens of Winchester, (held in further
ance OF the design originated by Mrs.
Phillip Williams and Mrs A. H. II. Boyd !
to take measures to collect the remains
of the honored dead of the late Confeder-
ate army which repose in it's vicinity, and
to cause them to be rcinterred in suitable
ground to beAprovided and set apart for
that purpose, gladly accept the sacred
trust committed to them, and appeal to
those who sympathise in the object for
such pecuniary aid as they may be dis
posed to render.
! 1t is desired to effect this object with
the least possible delay, so that the trans
ference OF the remains shall be accom-
pllshed before the heat of summer shall
interpose to hinder their removal: and
this committee has already instituted
such inquiries as it is hoped and believed
will put them in possession of all the in
formation which can be had to enable
them to proceed at once to the execution
OF the purpose contemplated by their ap-
pointment.
There is scarcely a Southern State
which will not be represented, more or
less largely, in this proposed city of the
heroic dead and it is intended to assign
to each one of them separate and dis
tinct department in which the ashes of
its brave sons will repose side by side.
A record will also be preserved in an
enduring form of the names of the dead,
as far as they can be ascertained-the
State whence they came-the command
to which they were attached-and the
time, place and manner of their death;
and where We have the information each
grave will be provided witha head board,
on which the name of its occupant will be
inscribed
To carry out this design in manner
corresponding not only with becoming
sense OF what is due to the memory of the
dead, but to the sensibilities OF surviving
relatives ndfriends, will involve larger
expenditure of money than our own peo-
pie, III their present impoverished con-
dltion, could reasonably be expected to
supply. They, however, have done and
are doing what thay can; and we there
fore feel at liberty to ask that others, who
may participate in the feelings and mo-
tlves which have prompted this labor of
mingled gratitude and love, will aid in
its accomplishment by such contributions
as they may be able and willing to make |
But it is important that whatever may
be done i'll this way should be done speed
lily.
Any information which the friends or
relatives of deceased officers or soldiers,
may desire to obtain, as to the remains |,
of those who fell in battle, or who died at |
Winchester or its neighborhood, and
which may come to the knowledge of the |
will be promptly furnished |
by them on application by letter or other
wise.
The publishers of Southern papers, |
who may approve the object of this ap-
peal, would render an acceptable service
by either giving it a place in their col
umns, or presenting the subject to their
readers in such other form as may be !
agreeable to them.
J. II. SHERRARD, Chairman
WIN. r. DENNY.
N. Nj. CARTMELL,
JOHN 2. JENKINS,
CHAS. L. CRUM,
JOHN j. WILLIAMS.
Winchester, Va, February 22d, 1866. !