The New York herald., 1868-05-31
Decoration of the Graves of Soldiers
at the Cemeteries.
MUSTER OF THE VETERANS OF THE WAR.
Patriotic Addresses and Affect
ing Ceremonies.



soldiers grave, What a thousand scenes and
associations do those simple words conf ure up.
Only soldiers grave paltry little mound Of earth,
the bare six feet Of land which constitutes mans
Hast inheritance in this wOrld-bat the words con-
ceal story which 1t takes history to tell and the
annals Of nation to perpetuate toposterity. One
rs reminded IN a mement of the booe carnage and
glory of Fancy seems to hear the hoarse cannon
booming across the battle field; sees the troops Of
bue-coaed veterans hurrying into the Tight and the
sound OF ,clashing steel and shock of opposing
sauadrons shake the air. the ground, the sky while
above the blue smoke curls IN varying lines OF color
ing hanging like pail over the picture below The
shrek OF the wounded the grosn Of the dying, the
faces ofthe dead all. all are egain recalled. with
the bitter memories still of the vacant chair
the deserted HEARTH the widow, the fatherless
the desolate who weep for those who will never
return again. Peace, however, has succeeded war.
The sword has been beaten into the ploughshare and
we who sent our warriors to the battle can now
mourn their loss while recoliecting their gallant
deeds. Twne the laurel wreath for the vctors; but
vG uictts to the conquered Only q soldiers
grave 1t tells Its own tale; is lesson for lfe it
is the history of the world the progress Of national
ity.
Yesterday was day OF peculiar solemnity to the
majority of our citizens throughout the entire
yn, for 1t marked the first real celebration which has
been held in honor of the brave soldiers who died
the war for the defence Of the nation and preservation
ton OF the Union In every town and hamlet through
the States the day YVES held sacred and pilgrmages
made to the last resting places of the dead where
services were offered up and the graves decorated
with wreaths and flowers and immorteles like those
to be at Pere la Chase, in Paris. II happy
thought 10 think that the dead are remembered.
that1u uhovo thatv
be trodden once, is not entirely forgotten; haiti
one recalls the image of the past and pictures
him who has gone with fond recollection partly Of
sorrow partly Of JOY and pride in his deeds his love-
his loss and his memory. A happy thought to think
which detracts from his character is forgotten, and
only the good rememberedr for it is beautiful old
6onun-"Only think Wen of the dead'
Such is the mere individual remembrance
dfparfa when Saa the how woa masa
nation meet together in one day we might say, and
out the length and breadth of the land in enOrfa,n
the battle cry leads forth thousands to strew the
graves Of fallen heroes with lowers in gratitude for
their bravery, in recollection OF their fate. From
east to west from north TO south, yesterday
celebrated in this manner and every cemetery in the
country, every spot in the empire which contained
the relics Of OF those who fell the cause of his
country was visited by troops Of friends and sympa
thzing citizens. The Old veterans OF New York and
Brooklyn began to muster at early hour and various
committees were formed for the purpose OF visiting
Evergreen and the Holy Cross Cemetery, at Flatbush
were each in turn attended and the soldiers graves
strewn with flowers and the burial service read at
each, besides the burial ground in the Navy Yard,
parade OF the marines. The chief ceremony OF the
day, however, took place az
THE CYPRESS HILL CEMETERY.
Here more than three thousand soldiers graves
to be found IN nearly cump a short distance
from the entrance, and here yesterday some thou
day itself was in Keeping with the occasion. The The
sky overcast and the trailing branches OF the |
weeping willows and cypress surged to and fro in
shine to tell OF smiles after tears of the future
perhaps after the grave The committee appointed TO
arrange the celebration at the cemetery consisted OF
hessrs. McLeer Thomas ID. Mosscrop, J. W. Fox d. |
j. Gllen and f. b. Spooner. large number of |
persons assembled at an early hour at Cypress Hill,
but IT was not until half-past three O'Clock that |
the committee and veterans, headed by the |
Fourteenth regiment band, reached the gate |
OF the cemetery. Every one carried a basket or |
bouquet or pot OF flowers TO deposit the grave OF
some one dear to memory and recollection, and be-
hind the battalion OF veterans who looked strange In
all sorts of molly civilian dresses, came large wag
on of the Soldiers Despatch Company drawn by
six horses, aud loaded with all sorts OF specimens OF
horticulture. Az quarter to four, the procession
having been formed, the band began playing the
solemn strains Of a dead march, and the company
proceeded at funereal pace through the winding lanes
of the cemetery TO the soldiers ground Hundreds OF
ladies and others had assembled here, and when the
mourners reached the spot o square was formed,
when the Rev. Mr.. Bass read the burial service and
Coone hemstreet made eulogium the memory
OF the departed and the celebration Of the day. lie
quiet and unostentation with which this days great
event has been inaugurated no day In American his
tory its equal az an attestaton OF the living
sentiment OF American patriotism. To-day this
mighty nation turns aside for q moment In the pur-
suit Of its material prosperity TO come to the quiet
graves OF Its martyred saviours and freshcn their
memory before the world To woman Is committed
the immediate office OF strewiDg their graves with
those ever-touchng floral embems OF her own faith
ful heart and her nature with which she has in all
and which she has always planted upon that little
mound which should cover the soldiers breast when
dead: There Is something more romantic In that
or cayernous vaults for the soldier.
he loved the field. an. and they should he his cover.
Who called MIN her lover,
where the winds may sign upon IL
Where The rain may rain upon Il
And the bee may dine upon Il.
Three years have clled on since the last shot was
1red by 'State rights" against the power OF the
Uniona shot which made the last greatest and best
martyr 10 our natopalty-he who was the great
friend OF soldiers, OF soldiers widows and orphans
and OF soldiers graves three years have rolled on
which surround and cover up the poetry OF the
nobest things In the present, the nation seemed for
time to have forgotten its immense debt. But
time is perhaps now beginning 10 ift people to
an altitude whence the proportions OF the crisis
through which we have passed snd the grand SER
vices OF each humble actor In the front line OF events
can be measured. Comrades, this day is substan-
tial omen to the living. This day is a significant
sign OF the neradcable love in our peoples hearts
OF na,ionaly for, though these ceremonies were
peguh oy comrades, 1t has been taken up and syppa
tnized IN by the people. We. comrades, are Of |
tue people, and from the people at large viii |
catch the spirit and perpetuate It. This act |
viii engender patriotism in the young and re- |
new the oo fires in all others. As those truths |
wcn are draped IN song and poetry live longest, 80
VII lhose poetic offerings to the dead shine In our
History with lustre unequalled by that OF those
i, oe "nediaely substantial acts u charity 10 the
nsing' All over this broad land az this hour, a.
s,ano mere within hearing OF the surge under which
ver soe o. our comrades the loyal church bells Of
every nainlet and village are chiping and the ci- |
zens nave turned aside from ,her yoeaton and loyal
wnathsr arr tner now bending over those graves
Atiantics coast or the dark forests of Tsnnessee.
whether tney be on the gorsDus fields of virginia
NJ M s ressnsyvana' savanna where their sleeping occupants
1e amid glory, or on the shores OF the great rortb
lakes where the wild song OF breakers ia nurrnuring
NJ symphony OF tle roar OF battie--as II we're n |
lullaby TO the soldiers rest whether thoea urayos
dot the hover covered praires Of the West or the