The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-26
To the People of the South.

"The Ladies' Memorial Association for Confed-
crate Dead OF Oakwood,' near Richmond, Virgil
MIA was organized permanently on the 10th April,
l.6G for the purpose Of rescuing from oblivion the
names and graves of the gallant Confederate dead
who sleep ut Oakwood Cemetery.
This Cemetery, situated one mile east OF the
city, contains sixteen thousand Confederate sol-
dies graves q larger number than any other in the
south, including representative dead from every
southern State.
The graves are In neglected condition, the
names of the occupants marked only by rude pieces
Of board carelessly and slightly put in the earth
The grounds are desolate and unenclOsed.
The Common Council of the city OF Richmond
has undertaken the work of enclosing the Gene
terry and has made the requisite appropriation for
that purpose.
The work of love, gratitude, and duty which this
Association proposes for itself is simply this
First To turf each grave and mark it with neat
wooden head board, upon which Is to be inscribed
the name of the occupant, his State, regiment, and
company, and other information in regard to him.
Secondly. To lay out and decorate the grounds,
and TO redeem them from their present condition OF
utter cheerle ssness and desolation And
Thirdly. At some future day. when the finances
of the Association shall permit II, to replace the
wooden head boards with enduring marble, and TO
erect handsome monument for each State OF the
SOUTH commemUratins it's dead #a
To effect these purposes il is necessary to appeal
to the people Of the south for pecuniary assistance
The Association is poor, the people OF Richmond
are poor and the work 10 be done is for the honor
and credit Of the entire south. II would be an in
delIibIe shame and an ever present disgrace il,
having the power to honor our dead, to perpetuate
their names and memories, and To preserve and
protect their graves our people should suffer them
to lie neglected and forgotten until the frail re.
cords of their names, death and burial places are
totally destroyed by decay, and the task rendered
impossible. How many families throughout the
south have representatives sleeping at Oakwood
Cemetery! How many mothers, and sisters, and
fathers and brothers, and frie would be sooh I'd
and gratiGed to know that their brave dead were
honored and their graves cared for and tended
Who would not be shocked and panied TO witness
the present lanentable condition Of these graves,
and TO see how rapidly the hand OF Time u obj
terating all traces aud memorials OF the gallant
dead who died Tor Us . ..-g.
Could the people Of the south look upon the
lonely, desolate, and neglected graves, no appe3'
would be necessary. The silent reouke o' 'i'''
forgotten heroes would reach tho hear" anu -,
sciences OF every Christian man ana "ohiAr - 'A0
south. x. 1, 4,
This Association il not TOR day or ay0af,
not the passing fancy OF an hour % ~.
crsa,nre al a moInentary Impulse Pe1ma
o uently organized, with aIrsady two hundred and
,,.nhsr, IL will know no rest until its
ny are successfully and fully achieved !.
P ,,il /, cannot fail, il should not fall, until
" .nhood Of the south has lost It's chivalry, and
Iii ~ women have ceased to mourn tor their
.b,IIren because "thcy are not" d.
In this work OF piety and care the Association
soIemnly pledges It's honor 10 tha people OF the
south to apply faithfully and economically the
funds which may be contributed. /.
Editors friendly TO the purpose OF this Associa-
ton will confer favor by copying into their pa.
pers this appeal. /. lsr rg,l,-.s5 a..: s.sl sa
Contributions are urgently solicited "a
they may Ds sen. 10 the Rev. John Z. Edwards,
Rev. A. E. Dickinson, Rev. VIM. Norwood, Rev. =,
b. Price, Richmond, Va, to Mrs. h Iarpih,
Treasurer OF oakwo ood Memorial association, Rieh
nond, Va. " MRS. NJ. II. SMITH, President.
Mrs A. r. CouKrSEy. Secretary. !. n9fp -
my 26--dSswiw #a4 E.E +lsbsglc. 10