The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-06

yirons the history of those on whose COinDs
affection is not permitted to she'd single tear.
A solemn and painful interest IS thrown
around this burial plot, from the considera-
ton there are none to watch them VINO nave
a personal interest in it. They died far from
home and kindred. None to sooth them III
their last moments. None to close their eyes
in their final sleep. None to receive the last
thoughts from all else withheld. Strange
hands administered to them the relief their
necessities required. Strange voices were
around them. Amid the din OF battle,
or in the discomforts of a soldiers hos
pital, they passed TO their hnal nome,
and now the strife of conflict Is over, the
government in whose interest they fought
and died, have disinterred and gathered
their remains from the unavoidable isolation
of first burial, and having recased them,
they have placed them permanently IN TINS
cemetery under compensated guardlancy
to await the trump of the Arch angel, IN
the final resurrection.
What mattersit, though no obelisk points
its shaft to heaven; though no broken col
umn emblematical of the quiet sleeper;
though no sculptured rose dropping on its
shattered stem, representing the death OF the
Young and ardent though no stately monu-
ment lifts its gorgeous pile within this en-
closure, reared to rank and greatness this
where Others than ourselves may come, and
receive instruction in the silent and modest
appeal of the soldiers grave The sun
shines, but they hail not its light; the wind
blows but they feel not the breeze the sea-
SONS revolve, but they heed it not; the voice
of business and pleasure is as loud as ever,
but they hear 1t not the voice of mercy
is proclaimed and the song of praise sung,
and the cry of prayer presented, but they
know it not. Thus hushed in deaths last
sleep lie the former bone and sinew of the
nations defense.
Their graves have become legacy around
which precious memories cluster. Their
epitaphs are written on tablets which confla-
grations or innundations cannot reach. His
tory may not deal in individuality, according
to each their sphere or place of action, in
camp and field, but when the record of the
fearful struggle of the seven years is writ
ten up, full Justice will he done the rank and
file of the armies of the Republic, and Il
halo of glory will wreatha the memory of
those who shared the toll and danger of the
achievement or fell in the contest.
The best Generaship in the world, (and
ours was second to nonc) could not have
been substituted for those who backed the
knapsack and carried the musket, persevering
through mud and dust on the weary march,
or hreasting the combat firmly and untlincl,-
ingly contesting the advance or pursuit.or re-
coil, and at hazard of}ife and limb, bearing the
old flag back to It's i?final position. Their
devotion to the cause was equal, If not more
than equal to the history of ancient or mod
ern warfare.
Instances of the most thrilling interest
were witnessed. Said a man wounded
in the battle of Fredericksburg. Boys, l
am shot. don't wait for me; just open the
folds of the old flag let me see it once more"
and while the film of death was on his eye.
he caught it in his hand, pressed it to his
lips, and under the booming of cannon and
fire of musketry, the noble spirit of Captain
Perry sought tairer, purer sky.
"He sleeps his last sleep, he has fought his last
battle,
No sound can awake him to glory again.
Among the 117S, who are intoombed
in these grounds, consecrated by the govern
ment as soldiers cemetery, 545 are I'M
known. No trace is left to mark their birth
trace their history-all is a blank, unknOacn.
''Like dew on,the mountain,
Like the foam on the river,
Like bubble on the fountain,
They are gone, and forever"
They were doubtless the pride of some
mothers heart They were probably the
stay and staff of fathers hope. Around
them loving arms were entwined in wifely or
sisterly affection. The burden of their alb
sence lies heavily on some mind. Where
where. in the universe ofGod was the place
of their abiding Tell me! Oh tell We spir-
its of the slumbering dead, what is thy
name, and where is the bosom that nour-
ished thee |? Break, break the deathly
silence of thy tomb and unravel the painful
mystery involved in thy death and burial
L., H., tl 81,
Speak this is the nation memorial dav for
her buried dead, her slaughtered millions
They do not ansaoer. After lifes fittul fever,
they sleep we'll" Wrapt III the mystery of
the grave, all speculation is unavailing We
must leave them in the dead quiet of their
graves, until the sea yields us her quota with
the earth. and The dead small and great. |
stand before God" OF them and their
friends it may be said:
"The hearth, the hearth is desoate, the fire is
quench and gone;
That into happy chidhood's eyes, once bright
ly laughing shOne
The place where mirth and music met, is hushed |
through day and night,
y, for one Sultfay face of all that once there |
shed their light"
Inyour prosperity and enjoyment of peace,
forget not those whose plaintive notes went
up around the camp fire and from the battle |
Speak kindly of the soldier Intuse cheer
into the home he has left dcsoate Let not |
your eyes look coldly ON the vacant chair
the war has occasioned give your influence |
and patronage to those who were the means |
OF preserving your country. Unnumbered !
generations must pass away before these will |
cease to invite your kindest regards. Be- |
cause soldier is maimed and crippled, it is |
no reason why he should be cast aside |
Give to him some business, where one arm |
and one leg will serve him in obtaining |
subsistence.
To deck these graves with flowers is very |
small affair, and only a trif1ing tribute to |
the memory of the dead. If our sympathy |
is limited to the acts of to-day. 10 will be |
poor return for periled I1Ie. 1t would be a |
sad cnn,.-.cnU upon humanity, should any
withhold such a contribution to strangers |
grave, and more sad still. if any should wish
to mar what death has left of frail mortal |
ity, and carry out the instinct of the hyena
in attacking defenceless bones to satisfy
sectional prejudice. The innocent cause of
such feeling can well afford to do without
a flower grudgingly withheld. Can such a
spirit succeed by engendering strife and re-
elimination q? Will such spirit bear the
scrutiny of offended justice? 1t is a bur
lesque upon humanity and civilization
From such spirit, angels and ministers of
grace defend us p Oh, that God would
open for the nation Bethesda in which this |