The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-11
RICHMOND MONDAY MORNING, JUNE H. 1866


gaye no sign of fatigue in the journey of
more than n milc-yet there were little
children in the throng that did not seem to
| bc more than five years old. Their glow
/ ing countcnanccS and bright satisfaction al
! the parts they performed in the pageant OF
the day was conspicuous feature Of the
celebration. The observer could not fail
| 10 be touched with deepest sympathy and
admiration at the display of beauty and in
noccncc in that part Of the line which pre-
cricd the soldiers.
la descending to and rising from the ra-
vine between the city and the old cemetery
of Blandtord, fine opportunity was ai.
forlcd for viewing the line. t. thc spec
tator hcholding ii from the cemetery hill
as il emerged from the city and took its
way towards the cemetery, it presented an
appearance So remarkable as not 10 nr for
gotten. Combining, aS it did, the beauty
and the chivalry of the town, taking age
and infancy in its train, and tlorid with the
brightest blooms Of summer intcrtwIncd
with living green, the picture was as rare
! aS ii was beautiful. Behind was the lovely
city cmbowcrcd in trees. To behold its
population thus arraycd, and moving from
/ its gates on II mission at once devoid OF
every selfish and ignoblc feeling, and ami
mated by the purcSt motives that could
inspire the heart, one might almost fancy
/ that he bchcd procession III Paradise
itself.
! THE CEMETERY.
! The procession entered the cemetery and
proceeded to pay the appropriate honors to
/ the dead. The appearance on every SIDE
showed that there had been industrious
hands al work 10 prepare for the day.
! At the principal gate was large arch
inscribed with these words: WE MOURN
/ THOSE VINO vAINLY, RRAvELY DIED FOR TIE
+ LAND THEY CorLD NOT SAVE" Already had
the hand al affection bestowed flowers and
cvcrcrrcmS upon the graves, and hung the
monuments with wrcathS.
BONES FROM FORT STEADMAN.
The first ceremony. according to order,
was the iutcrncut OF Il number of remains
picked up at Fort Stcadman. 1t will be
remembered that at this fort took place
one of the bloodc>t fights of the war.
GoRpoN'S intrepid soldiers assaulted and
carried il, bat found themselves exposed
/ to Il fire 50 deadly that they could not hold
the position. They rrtrcated, leaving the
ground covered with their brave comrades.
/ Here the citizens Of Petersburg gathered
these remains. and brought them to the
cemetery, where they were Inferred with
I aluropratc honorS, witnessed by all OF the
multitude who could reach the scene.
Being lowered in the grave, Captain X. u.
PrGRAM, Of Petersburg, came forward amt
. delivered the following address
LnEcS ant Cti1pso Of PdC'SJuy:
Not quite fifteen months ago yon vacant
trenches were occupied by opposing armies
about to engaged in deadly strife. The
little band oi southern heroes which had
50 long held the Confederate lines were
preparing for the accomplishment OF deed
Of extraordinary peril and daring. 1t wd~
enough for them to know that the master
mind OF Lee had determined upon IN oilcn-
sivc movement against the foe. Confident
of their great leaders foresight and skill,
those tattcrcd and war-won veterans stood
in Carcr expectation OF the signal which
they doubted not would conduct them TO
victory or glorious death. Fort Stccdman,
it is speedily known, Is the point to hc at
tackled. Silently, and amid the stiffness and
darkness ut the waning night, our attack
nr column moved forward, each man de-
t,rmincd 10 do or die. The fortress is sur
priScd and won, and tie southern cross
surplants the stars and stripes. But alas,
the iron hail Of shot and she'll, winch now
bursts upon our devoted soldiers heads AMI
dccimatcs their ranks, soon proves that the
captured work is uutcnahlc, and that We
must rclinquiSh uurprizc. Retreat becomes
inevitable, and with fearful loss our BAT
fled but not defeated troops Suilcnly
return TO our lines, leaving the ground
within and without the fort Strcwn with
their dead and dying comrades.
We have assembled here to-day around
this open grave To- pay the last sad tribute
Of respect and reverence to the remains
of a few Of those heroic dead. To no
more fitting hand than your could be con-
! tidrd the task of committing these honorcd
remains TO the tomb. For many long aud
weary months these gallant men withStood
the enemy at Your gates; and indeed il
NAV with truth be said that il was IN de-
| fence of YOU and yours that they have
fallen. With feelings OF the proluundcSt
gratitude. as well as the highest and holicst
reverence, approach this hallowcd spot,
and decorate with your floral offerings the
last rcSting-placc OF the ScnSclcSs clay.
Here. within the sight Of yon grim fortress,
which they 50 gallantly scaled and Won, Ill
full view of the distant spires of the city
which they 50 long and yalantly defended,
we commit their ashes to the earth, ana
inscribc upon our grateful hearts, in fade
less characters, the deathcSS memories oil
their fame. To-day witnesses the com
mcncemcnt, upon our part, OF the perform
aucc of the pious duty Of rcclaiming the re-
mains OF the iluStriouS dead, and dcpoStlng
them in sacred grounds. Let every SOUTH
crn man, matron, and maiden lend willing
aid in the accomplishment of this high and
holv purpose. Remember that IL is for
Won. for your rights, and in the mainte-
nance of vour cause that they have died.
II i true that we have failed, and that our
flag has been forever furlcd. Defeated but
| NOT diSgraccd we have surrendered our
claim to a separate nationality, but we still
and will forever cherish the memory of the
sad but glorious past. Forget our buried
| chiyalrv whose deeds amazed the world
We could not do it if we would. The
brightest page OF history will be that which
nerpetuates their fame. Let the sons and
daughters of the south make frequent pll-
rrimaces to the soldiers graves let such
mute but beautiful memorials as these flow
ers bear constant attestation to the fervOr
and intensity Of a stricken peoples grati-
| tude and love. To the women OF the south
who never faltered or wavcred in the dark