Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-14
MEMORIAL DAY.


Gle.
The Augusta Fire Company, Capt. Waters,
| and the Deaf and Dumb and Blind Fire Com
pany Capt. Frou, turned out in their beautiful
uniforms The 'Stonewal'' Band and the Blind
Band, of this place. were both present to add in
terest to the occasion.
| At the church, which was crowded to over
flowing, the Rev. VIM. E. Baker, of the Presby-
terrain Church, offered up fervent prayer for
our country and for the uplifting of the hand
istrate, Jefferson Davis.
Col Bolivar Christian, in introducing the ora
tor of the day, made some brief, but eloquent and
appropriate remarks, and read with great effect,
the following touching poem, written for the Me-
mortal Association of Fredericksburg, by Father
Ryan, of Knoxville, the author ofthe Conquered
Banner" and the "Sword of Lee:'
! Gather the sacred dust
OF the warriors tried and true,
/ Who bore the flag of our Nations trust,
And fell in the cause, though Lost, still Just,
| And died for me and you.
| Gather them each and ALL
| From the Private to the Chief
| Come they from howell or princely hall,
| They fell for us, and for them should fall
The tear of a Nations grief.
Gather the corpses strewn
Ger many battle plain,
From many grave that lies SO lone,
Without name and without stone,
Gather the Southern slain.
We care not whence they came,
Dear is their lifeess clay
Whether unknown or known to fame,
Their cause and country still the same
They died-and wore the Gray.
Wherever the brave have died.
They should not rest apart
Why should the hand of Death divide
A single heart from hearth
Gather their scattered clay,
Wherever it may rest;
Just as they marched to the bloody fray,
just as they fell on the battle day,
Bury them breast to breast.
The foeman need not dread
This gathering of the brave;
Without sword or flag, and without soundless
tread,
We muster once more our deathless dead
Out OF each lonely grave.
The foeman need not frown;
They are all powerless now
We gather them here, and we lay them down,
And tears and prayers are the only crown
w bring to wreathe each brow
| And the dead thus meet the dead,
| While the living FER them weep;
| And the men whom Lee and StonewalP' led,
| And the hearts that once together blcd,
Together still shall sleep
| Col. c. 7. O. Ferral the selected orator of the
OCCASION then delivered the anniversary ora
tion-marked with beautiful thoughts and Ian
guage and touched the hearts of many of those
present, causing the tear of affection and sorrow
to flow down the cheek of many heart-stricken
one. He referred to number of the ''brayest
and best men of our town and county who fell
I L.. e IL. -
memories will ever be cherished and whose graves
will be kept green by the tears and consecrated
| by the prayers Of their loved ones in their now
bereaved and desolated homes. An allusion to
the self-exiled Early, the latest commander OF
the forlorn hope in the Valley drew forth an ire
pressible tribute of applause.
| AT the close of Col o. Ferralrs address, the
Rev. Jno. L. Clarke, pastor of the Methodist
| Church, pronounced the benedction. The order
ofprocession to the Cemetery was then announced
by Col. Baldwin, the chief Marshall as follows ::
l. Stonewall Band, No;
2 Band of D. g. d, 6 B. Institution, G Ma!t
q Ppr raGgsy' Marshal.
s. Confederate Soldiers, Maj. Hall, Marshal.
6. Fire Companies, Capt. Waters, Marshal.
Z. Female Schools, Col. Christian and Captain
Berkely, Marshals.
8. Ladies, Maj. Hanger and Capt. Harrison, Mar
: shals
8. Male Schools, Capt Bumbgardner Marshal.
| TO- Citizens, Capt. Balthis and Capt. Arnall,
Marshals.
| The long procession of near mile in length,
was scene of touching interest; and, arriving at
the Cemetery, the gentlemen stood reverently
with uncovered heads, while the ladies in tender
silence spread wreaths of evergreens and flowers
of early spring upon the graves of the loved and
| lost. Amid these sacred scenes-the solemn pre-
cincts of the dead-only the magnanimous feel
| ings of our common nature had place-any emo
tions ofhostility which may have survived civil
strife, were suppressed; for it was observed in
the evening that the graves of the federal SOL
ders, killed in battle and temporarily buried
there were all religiousy respected and gar
| nshed.
The ceremonies of the Cemetery being conclu-
ded, the procession returned in order to the town
and was dismissed by the chief Marshall. The
events of the day can but impress upon the ladies
of the Memorial Association how truly their la
bors of love are appreciated by our people
The distant friends of the dead may we'll feel
comforted in knowing from the spirit of this oc-
casion, that these hallowed graves will ever be
tenderly cherished
1.-THE sunshine of the Southern sky
| Smiles sweetly on them here
And loving hearts and hands watch by
Each hero's sepulchre."