The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-11-04
NO. 40.
The Confederate Dead.
BIT VIM. ARCHER COOKE.

Our exchanges inform us of movement CO..
extensive with the area Of the late Confeder-
ate States, to provide Cemeteries suitable to
the Confederate dead.
| The very term Confederate dead, has an
| eloquence which reaches the heart 1t does
not embrace those who lived, while they lived,
on pelf, and died of rottenness in comfortable
chambers, far away from the roar of artillery,
and the rattle Of musketry, where men laid
down and died with the life blood flowing from
them. No, the Confederate dead, means those
brave, honest patriots who for country barred
their breast to the storms of war; for liberty
died under the flag of their native land, or
with sickened body and mutilated limb perish
ed In the hospital. These are cur Confederate
! dead, who sealed their love of principle with
a deathibed scene that,will forever stamp their
names on the roll Of honor. oft- -. j.,
They are in character
''Majestic men, whose deeds have dazzled faith"
| OF each may it be said,
"With his back to the field and his feet 10 the foe'
And leaving in battle no blood on his name ;'9ii
Look proudly to Heaven from the death bed of
fame
Bury our Confederate dead in beautiful
cemeteries Let the chisel of the artist, tbs
cunning OF the artisan decorate their graves +;
let the innocent MARBLE Of the forest sonoster
DC heard in the willow that weeps above the
monumental stone. Let woman come with
her plastic hand, and pure Christian heart,
and plant fresh flowers around the last resting
place OF lberty's martyrs. Here the sweet
young wife may gather at early morn and
dewy eve, and, as she mingles her tears of de-
votion with the dripping of the flowers, she p.
can tell her orphan child how noble father
fell. Here the aged matron and feeble sire
may totter around the heaving earth that holds .
the remains of the only stay and prop of their Z
declining years. rdr 1T .75'... risy6 ~ b.
Does any one ask ,, .,
Scan storied urn animated bust, a.
Back to its mansion call the fleeing breathg
Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or aattery soothe the dull, cold ear Of death
Alas no but the gratitude of people for
a soldier band of such worth and character
and honor as s'our Confederate dead,'' should 3.
be perpetuated in history on the canvass, upon
the breathing marble. The settles of the
should receive the Establishment of art
the cultivation of taste, and, above all, let the
rising generate see and feel that though un-
successful against mighty armies, yet their
names are to memory ever dear, and those who
are now younger brothers, or little orphan
boys may see that brothers ard fathers, though
sleeping beneath the sod, are still remember
ed by grateful people. -el..,
Nor is it an empty honor, we do justice to
our own appreciation of all that is excellent;
we erect shrine where genius and worth may
offer their devot7ons, We open school where
the ardent young mind may cultivate an un-
dying admiration not for the glare Of military
tinsel, but for heightened chivalric honor-for
unshrinking valor.
Embcllish these hallowed spots; engrave
upon marble and upon granite your gratitude
and your appreciation for moral worth 4; you Is
are re enacting the history of classic Greece
and Rome; you are adding another tune to
the melody Of song-additional fire to the
blaze Of eloquencc, a fresh stream Of devotion
to the genius of Liberty -F ~ ~ .s-iisyt