The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-01-04

knoll OF the extreme western terminus
of the Cemetery. The James river
dashes angrily among the rccks at it's
base, while the eternal bass music of the
falls, and the whirr of the mills, make
hoarse medley, which comes up on the
air, subdued by distance. The tomb is
scarcophagus in shape, ofgranite, en-
closed in a frame work Of iron about
twelve feet high, and Gothic in form.--
One side bears this inscription on n
bronze plate ",James Monroe, born in
Wcstmoreland county, 2sth April, 1853
died in the city of New York, 4th July,
1881
"By order of the General Assembly
of Virginia, his remains we're removed
to this Cemetery, 9th July, 1858.
"As au evidence of the affection Of
Virginia for her good and honored SON.
On the reverse "The eminent servi-
ces performed by the patriot for his
country are enduring monuments OF his
wisdom and virtue"
Two ancient twin oaks, born perhaps
before tho great statesman, but now in
decay, entwine their withercd branches
above the tomb, like two aged mourners
in a grief embrace. The earth around
the tomb il innocent Of vcrdure, attest
ing the frequent presence Of ycnerating
feet.
THE GRAVE OF GENERAL STUART.
Returning in a meditative mood from
the tomb Of Monroe, We saw in gentle
knoll, glimmcring through the green
cedar, the white head board that marks
the grave of General J T. b Stuart,
the ''aower Of cavaliers" standing like
his ghost at his head. We draw nigh
aud read this inscription---multum N
parro of his life and dcath---''Gcneral
Stuart wounded May II 1864 died
May i2"
The grave is rounded up aud full
we'll sodded the head board massive.
To those acquainted in life with the
form, features aud bearing Of the dead
cavalier, it is not easy, as they stand
over the grave, to resist the conviction
that the mound has taken the shape
il the mound only oi the noble form 1t
cneloscs and that the blast Of buglc,
calling TO horse" would raise it erect,
plume noddiDg in the wind and sabre in
! hand
Around the grave are evidences Of
the presence ofgeutlc hands, aud an
almost observable circular path is beat
en- round the mound. The grave is
quite alone; none others are near II, as
though designed as a retreat where
Fancy might while repair
And weep, in sweetest silence there. ~
OTHER NOTABLE GRAVES
ara scattered around Among them we
may briefly mention Brigadier General
James j Archer, Of Maryland, who was
taken prisoner with Johnson's command
at spottsylyauia Court House, and sub.
scquently died in Richmond Colonel
Ellery, who commanded one Of the do
partmental battalions, aud was killed at
Green Farm Captain Dickson Noah
Walker, son of Noah Walker, Of Balti-
more Captain o. Jennings Wise of
the Edgecomb Rifles, killed at Roanoke
Island, and young Wyatt, First North
Carolina Volunteers, one Of the first
martyrs of the war, being killed at the
battle of Little Bethel.
TIE PRIVATE MONUMENTS AND LOTS,
occupying the central knolls forming
the Cemetery grounds, are numerous,
beautiful, and tastefully ornamented and
preserved. But twilight i falling, and
the declining sun il sending its golden
arrows through the forest branches,
bathing the crimson foliage of the oaks
into deeper red. The dogwood is
burning on the hem Of the forest the
little ground squirrels, startled by our
step among the dead leaves upon the
graves of the dead, jump and chirp
among the tomb-stones; and the wood
| pecker hammers mournfully against the
sides of dead oak.
We paused beside the railing sur
rounding three little graves, all of diff
ferent sizes and degrees of inscription,
showing that the oldest came to reside
in the city of the dead first, and the
youngest last The two longest graves
are marked by tiny, baby marble tablets
but the shortest had none, and the fresh
earth said plainly that the mothers darl'
ing hadn't been in Heaven long. Beside
the graves, in watchful posture, stands
a bronze mastiif, and chair, the seat
Of the mourning Rachel, when sh'
comes to weep for her children, andwil
not be ccmforted, because they are not
Ronnets nf flowers Law nnon the grave!