Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-11
Federal and Confederate Dead at vlcksburg.

The Cincinnati Commercial cores
pondent who has visited the scene OF the
late conflict around Vicksburg, says:
have been into the cemetery into
which has been gathered the Federal
slain, and observed upon the head-boards
the number 1887. There are acres of
graves, and yet many of the bones of the
fallen heroes have not been gathered up
by those appointed for that purpose On
one of the old battle-fields we observed
in one pile the skeletons of seven men.
The bones had been washed or plowed
no, and were piled by an old stump, as
irreverently and indiscriminately as we
have seen powders in a stony field. In
one of the skulls observed the gold
filings of the dentist, as perfect as when
first placed in the cavities Here and
there over large plowed field could be
detected human remains. What a com
mentary was here upon the glory Of war
Who were these fallen braves? They
fought for their country's flag, put stars
upnn their Generals shoulders, added
brilliant chapters to American history,
won the theoretical applause OF their
country, and, so far as personally con
cerped, have served no higher purpose
than to enrich u Mississippi cotton-field
with their blood and muscle, and reap
pear in rich growth o; cotton and corn
1t is horrible to think Of the blood OF our
Union soldiers being coined into gold
but the next crop OF cotton, by the trans
mutations of nature and the commlng-
ling laws of the vegetable aud animal
world. will present some of them 10
the market in the lint of the great staple
of the Southland they will be quoted
in the price currents of Liverpool by the
penny, and those of New York by the
cent. | hope the officers entrusted with
the work will, at least, take care OF the
bones of these heroes.
Inside the wasting Notifications of the
enemy the Confederate dead are buried,
and their graves are in no better condl-
ton than those OF the Feneralss The
ladies' of Vicksburg have, however,
adopted preliminary measures Tor the
reinterment of the Southern dead and
the decoration of the places where they
sleep. While the government is engaged
in removing the slain of its own armies,
would it not be a magnanimous thing
TO include the rebel dead ? When the
graves of Confederate dead we're decora-
ted by the ladies of Columbus, Mississippi,
they did not neglect to spread garlands
over those of the Federal soldiers buried
in their midst. This simple incident OF
unselfshness and womanly delicacy has
doubtless been properly appreciated all
QUAR- the North Human nature is so
organized that if Congress would include
in its plans and appropriations proper
regard for the remains Of Confederate
soldiers buried in the various battlehelds,
that it would tend greatly to the reinsti-
tuition Of good feeling among the people
of the two recently hostile sections. The
people of the South are paying their
proportion Of taxation, and 1t is a sad
spectacle to them TO see their own sol
diers' remains left by the Government
they help to support, neglected, and
frequently exposed by the very dlslnter-
ment of the Federal dead. The dictates
OF Christianity would seem TO demand
that Congress should make some provi-
sion for the proper care of the COnieder-
ate dead. We are sure no generous
mind could oppose it. and as
"0ne touch Of nature makes the whole world
kim
il would have the effect, in some meas
ure, to restore that fraternal feeling so
much needed in the present hour.