Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-06-20

| Innocence. Aclusled bv the puresi mo-
,i,es, they shrsnk no, from the perform
snce of thai which they deemed 10 be the
demand Of duty. In obedience to these
demands, no sacrifice was TOO great. no
burden OF griei TOO heavy. no danger 100
perious. To deter them from the perform
ance OF all things. in lur,herance OF our
cause, that came within the circle OF their
sphere. Whether il was to buckle the
sword on their loved ones, and bid them
do battle in defence OF the cause go dear
10 their hearts, or to minister to The des-
,i,u,e. the sick. aud the wounded, or 10
console the sorrowIng. or 10 perform the
las, Offices for The dying or the dead. or
though called upon To witness the desruc-
ton of their homes-ihemselves becoming
bouseless wanderers amid the desolsted
and blackened ruins Of their fa,herland-
or above all. to weep over the lille
mounds Of earth underneath Of which lay
the Iifsless forms OF those who had been
LIES dearest ireasures--,hey gave evil
dence Of tina, high and holy resignation oil
spirit. that calm. unruilled equanimily Of
soul that bespoke their daunlless heroism
and the faith Of their hearts in the justice
of our cause. Theirs was indeed, an he.
roic devotion, and. an angel like mission.
tina, did no. cease with the laN sigh of a
dying nation: i, survived The death OF our
brief, but honor-crowned nationality. and
by warding off The pi,iess fend Of star.
ra,ion, brough, smiles to many counte-
nance, aid sunshine to many heart,
which but for it, had been EMBODIED in
darkest clouds. As the silvery images
of the ,winkling stars. tina. hold their mys-
tic vipils around the midnight. are re-
Elected from the wavele,s OF running brook
and mrrmuring rill. go also. has the light
of hope been reflected from the pure and
| holy benevolenee and christian charity OF
our county women, and found all entrance
into the bereaved and sorowing hearts Of
our own loved Southland. Then who SO
well suited as they to perform this sacred
duty. TO these, our fallen braves, who
sumber near 10 The banks Of the beautiful
Po,omac-maLe classic, made doubly
beautiful. by association with the herolsm
and daun,less courage, which they dis
played along its winding course in &C.
fence OF our homes and their endearmen,s
TO these We bring our floral uibute-to
all these, the known and the unknown
to these, our friends and kindred, as we'll
as TO their heroic compairio,s Of the sun
ny South.
While over these graves only we strew
our floral offering. we will not forget,
along with these sleeping ones. to en-
shrine within our hearts and memories.
all those who fell in defence OF our cause.
whether in prson-c cell. in the shock OF
battle, or upon the gibiis erected for their
sacrifice For all over the land i'll hedges
and thickets, in the barren field and fer
tile gardens. along by.roads and highways,
in oceans and river, ten thousands OF
"somebody's darlings fell in our
defence-are sumbering in the arms Of
death, without either earlhen mound or
wooden slab TO mark their resting places.
While TO all our countrymen, who, for
their devotion to our canse, are Pning IN
exile, or are being gradually tortured 10
death in the national dungeons, from the
prisons of the Dry ''o:tugas 10 the bas-
tiles OF the North. we pledge our mos,
earnes, sympathy. Neither would we
forget to condoe and sympa,hize with
every home circle. thai yielded some
household Jewel as sacrifice 10 the US.
lice OF our Cause.
All. much do they mcdowell do they
deserve our earnest sympathy ! Could
We noun, upon the wings Of the passing
breeze and be borne along over the whole
exten, Of our despoied country, and had
we eyes with which TO perceive in its en-
,ireness, the guant form Of desolaion.
grief and dest,ution, that overshadows
the whole Southland had we ears with
which TO hear the whisperinRs Of the
heart. and the anguished groans Of the
stricken soul-then indeed, would our
spirits shrink back in unuitersbe and
deepened gloom,in view of the wild, surg.
ing. dashlng. raging pillows OF intensesi
grief and bi,ierest agony, tina, seeihe and
boil, around and within the broken, crush
ed, and bleeding hearts Of our oppressed
people, who mourns their "loved and
LOST with sorrow that NAV be felt and
borne. but Fever. never told, except IN
spiri, brea,hings to the spirit world.
The Benediction was then pronounced
by Rev. G. w. Andrews. and the ladies
Quietly proceeded TO s,rew the graves
with flowers and well did they perform
this sacred duty to those who fell in de-
fence of their homes and hresides.
Wrea,hs and garlsnds Of rare beauty were
suspended from the head-boards and rest,
cd upon the graves Of the sleeping he.
roes. No grave, however humble, was
peglecied BY the grateful women. who
moved. like angels Of love and tender.
ness among the mounds Of this "ciiy OF
the Dead" which contain, representatives,
from every State from the Potomac 10 the
Rio Grande. And.
''Well may they come, countless thFong,
With eager hands TO spread
Fresh flowers upon the hoDored graves
OF the Confederate dead.
For in that crowd there is not one
Who would not say with pride
Ofia,her, husband, or of son,