Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-27
The Southern Dead.

We take great pleasure in copying the follow
ing beautiful tribute to the Southern Dead from
the Columbus San and Times Its suggestions
are worthy of our heroic women and the loved
ones they propose to commemorate. 1t would
be ''gilding refined gold to add a single word
to this touching appeal, and five dare say aught
further, it is that the ladies of Columbus may
not be alone in this holy undertaking Let the
ladies' of Staunton, and of the South at large,
emulate a grand duty so worthily inaugurated:
CoLUMBUsn Ga, March 10, 1866.
Messrs. Editors The ladies' are now, and
have been for several days, engaged in the sad
but pleasant duty of fornamenting and improving
that portion OF the city cemetery sacred to the
memory of our gallant Confederate dead, but
we feel it an unfinished work unless day be
set apart annually for its special attention. We
cannot raise monumental shafts, and inscriba
thereon their many deeds of heroism, but We
can keep alive the memory OF the debt we gowe
them, by at least dedicating one day in each
year to embelishing their humble graves with
flowers Therefore, we beg the assistance OF
the Press and the Ladies throughout the South.
to aid us in our efforts to set apart certain day
to be observed from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande, and be handed down through time as a
religious custom of the country to wreathe the
graves Of our martyred dead with flowers. we
would propose the I'd Wednesday in May, as at
that time our land may be truly called the land
of tiowers.) Let every city, town and village,
join in the pleasant duty; let all be alike re-
membered, from the heroes of Manassas to those
who expired amid the death throes of our hal
lowed cause Wen crown alike the honored
resting places OF the immortal jackson, in Vir-
ginia, johnson, of Shiloh, Cleburne, in Tennes,
see and the host of gallant privates who adorn-
ed our ranks-all did their duty, and to all We
owe our gratitude.
Let the soldiers grave, for that day at least
be the Southern Mecca, to whose shrine her
sorrowing women, like pilgrims, may annually
bring their grateful hearts and floral offerings.
And when we remember the thousands who
were buried with 'their martial cloak around
them, without Christian ceremony of inter-
ment for their beloved bodies, we would invoke
the aid Of the most thrilling eoquence through
out the land, to inaugurate this custom by de-
livering on the appointed day, this year, an eu-
logy on the unburied dead of our glorious South,
ern army. They died for their county,
Whether their country had, or had not, the
right to demand the sacrifice is no longer u
question of discussion with us. We leave that
for the future nation to decide. That it was de-
manded that they nobly responded, and fell
holy sacrifices upon their country's altar, and
are thereby entitled to their country gratitude,
none will deny. Hl9' neF
The proud banner under which they rallied
III defense of the noble cause for which heroes
fought, or trusting women prayed, has been
furled forever The country for which they
suffered and died has now no name or place a.
mong the nations of the earth Legislative en-
actments may not now be made to do honor to
their memories-but the veriest Radical that
ever traced his geneology back to the deck Of
the May Flower, could not deny us the sim.
pie privilege of paying honor to those who died
defending the life, honor and happiness Of the
SOUTHERN WoMEN,