The New York herald., 1868-05-30

The Patriotic Duty Of fTe-DNy-~The Ceremonies
aNf1s of Decorating Soldiers, Graves.
To-day viii be memorable from the fact that 1t IS
the first occasion on which the touching ceremony
which has long prevailed in the South of decorating
with flowers in the spring time the graves OF our
dead has been adopted in the North. This ceremony
has all along been peculiar alone to the sunny SOUTH
where the first floral offerings Of the year are in
variably culled and formally strewn upon the graves
of the beloved dead by mourning trains of widows
or orphans clad in the sombre habiliments that
have prevailed in that land Of broken hearts since
the close Of our unhappy struggle. Now, however,
we are beginning to have the same warmth OF feeling
instlled into the cold Northern heart and the same
beautiful expressions Of regret love- and pure affec
ton to obtain among US have been heretofore
characteristic only of lands where the struggle for
bread is not bitter nor the path Of life so continuous
ly rugged. and where sentimental flowers do not
wither so early beneath the storm The bitter afiic
tion OF war-the grief of an entire natOn-has
sensibiites, and the ceremonies OF to-day in honor
OF our gallant dead are the result
Ils oDselyahGe n & rs ~ diamgsa as 10 oe gg%nela, %
cemetery or wherever Union soldier has fallen ON
the field Of glory. over the humblest grave OF the
unnamed soldier on the mountain side Of Chatta-
nooga the deep trenches and pits on the banks OF
the Rappahannock or in our Northern cemeteries
this floral memorial service Is being religousy per-
formed by the rrends relatives and comrades Of the
dead heroes.
In this vicinity Cypress Hills the principal place
war, many Of whom died Of wounds under hospital
treatment the islands or in the metropolis, the
here inferred Of oO Soldiers who
died In the hospitals established during
the the 1xnson %s RS rSs Ss sSad
David's Island. Several hundred bodies have been
removed, leaving about the number above stated at
Greenwood, Calvary and the Evergreens, Holy Cross
and Naval Cemeteries, which delegations OF soldiers
visit Greenwood, Gree Evergreens Holy Gross and Naval
Cemeteries will assemble at the Brooklyn Post once
on Saturday at nine A. n Comrades desirous OF ac.
time to 60 to Cypress Hills Post Wadsworth, No. A.
will assemble at their rooms at twelve NJ for escort
duty The other posts viii assemble at the Post ONCE
The ceremony at Cypress Hills win consist Of read
ing the burial service Of the army prayer and nd,s
has kindly volunteered, and win play dirge and
national airs while the graves are being decorated.
Congregational church, at eight O'Clock, and will
consist Of vocal music by q choir and OF short ad-
dresses by Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Gallagher, Dr. Cuyler
The transportation for the army and the public
win be by special cars direct to the grounds 1t Is
nished by the committees. The soldiers of New
their c commander esi r. In addition e. these arrange
nrents Post Sedgwick, No, II, G. A. r., held me-
mortal exercises at their rooms last evening.
Post Phil Kearny, No. 8, G. A. R., will hold
services ON Sunday afternoon at their hail. corner
of Broadway and Thirteenth street. at three O'clock,
to which all comrades and friends are invited. Post
No. 80 has appointed Sunday morning, at ten O'Clock,
for their floral visit to Cypress Hills Cemetery.
Is that owing e the nSsr %e Of
which to do full floral honors to the heroes. 1t has
been arranged that the ceremonies shall be continued
on Sunday, and doubtless the crowds Of to-day will
be doubled in the throng Of visitors who viii TO-
morrow visit the well kept cemeteries In our suburbs
to witness or take part In the cOmmendable cere-
monies expressive of nations appreciation Of the
heroes who noby died to insure its perpetuation.