Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-07
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH.

'aThe Ladies Memorial Assoeiatiorff for Confede.
rate Dead of Oakwood," " near Richmond, Virginia,
was organized permanently on the 10th Of April,
1885, for the purpose Of rescuing from oblivlonthe
names and graves of the gallant Confederate Dead
who sleep at Oakwood Cemetery.
This Cemetery, situated one mile east OF the city,
contains sixteen thousand Confederate Soldiers
Graves. A 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 carelessy 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 Cemete-
ry, 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 a
neat wooden ead-board, upon which is to be i'll
scrbed the name of the occupant, his State, regl-
ment and company and other information in re-
gard to him.
Secondly. To lay out and decorate the grounds,
and to redeem them from their present condition
of utter cheerlessness and desolation. And
Thtrdly At some future day, when the finances
of the Association shall permit it, to replace the
wooden headboards with enduring marble, and to
erect handsome monument tor each State OF the
South, commemorating its dead.
To effect these purposes it is necessary to appeal
to the people of the South for pecunay assistance
The Association is poor, the people OF Richmond
are poor, and the work to be done is for the~honor
and credit of the entire South. 1t would be an in
deble shame and an ever present disgrace II, hav-
ing the power to honor our dead, to perpetuate
their names and memories and to preserve and pro-
~ Hcr1f9a IN
lie neglected and forgotten until the frail record of
their names, DEATH and burial places are totally de-
stroyed by decay, and the the task rendered impos
sible. How many families throughout the South
have representatives sleeping at Oakwood Cemete-
y? How many mothers, and sisters, and fathers,
and brothers, and friends, would be soothed and
eratifed to know that their brave dead were hon.
ored, and their graves cared for and tended? Who
would not be shocked and .pained TO- Witness tho
present condition Of these graves, and to see how
rapidly the hand of Time is obliterating all traces
and memorials of the gallant who dead who died
for us?
Could the people of the South look upon the
lonely, desolate, and neglected graves, no appeal
would be necessary. The silent rebuke OF these
forgotten heroes, would reach the hearts and con-
sciences of every Christian man and woman OF the
South. =.
The Association is not for day or year; it is
not the passing fancy of an hour or the ephemeral
creature of q momentary impulse; it is permanent
ly organized, with already two hundred and fifty
active members 1t will know no rest until ITS
purposes are successfully and fully achieved It
will not fail, it cannot fail, it shall not fall until
the manhood of the South has lost Its ohlvalry'
and until its women have ceased to mourn for their
children because "they are not. -.
In this work of piety and love the Association
sojemnv pledges its honor to the people Of the
Sonth to apply, faithfully and economically, the
funds which may be contributed.
Contributions may be sent to the Rev: a, E.
Dickinson, Rev. VIM. Norwood, Rev. P. B: Price,
Rev. J. A. Proctor, Richmond, Va, or to Mrs. E.
S. Turpin, Treasurer Of Oakwood Memorial Asso-
ciation, Richmond, Va. -,
Mrs. NJ. H. SMITH, President
Mrs. A. Y. STOKES, Vice President.
Mrs G. PoYTHREss, Secretary