Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-06-09
Outrage at Arlington Cemetery.

Auo eohihStOH correspondent Ol
the New York Herald gives an account
of an outrage which occurred at Ar
lington Cemetery among the dccora
tors of graves. He says /;
A Lieutenant of Marines seeing n
lady throw some flowers on the grave
ola Confederate soldier, few of whom
are buried here, rushed to the spot.
picked up the flowers, and, throwing
them on the ground at his feet, com
menced stamping on them 10 such II
manner as to attract about him a
crowd Of wondering spectators in a
very few minutes Some of the look
ers-on, learning the cause OF the lieu
tenants rage, commenced to murmur
disapprobation, when the lieutenant
shouted out: "D-n you, get away
from here, every one of you, or TN
make you. Guards, come up here and
disperse this crowdw The lieutenant
accompanied these words with angry
gestures, and swinging his arms ABOUT
as If he intended TO pitch generally
into the crowd. His guards answered
his call, but the crowd dispersed with
out waiting to be bayonetted. An
ex- Union volunteer, writing to the
Washington Herald, gives the follow
ing account of what be saw:
While marching with the throng
along the central walk of the ceme-
terry, accompanied by several children
whom l had supplied with flowers. !
noticed a crowd and n squad Of several
marines gathered about a small plat
in the grounds, to the right Of the
walk, just 10 the north OF the little
foot bridge. We walked on across the
bridge, and having given our tribute
TO the dead we returned. The crowd
was still at the little plat -Four ma.
rines and a sergeant, assisted at inter-
walls by two officers, were pacing up
and down, not on the walks or between |
the graves, but literally across the
graves of some thirty soldiers Upon
examination, | found that they we're
Confederate dead Several ladies. evi.
dently not knowing that they were
Confederates, and with no intention
of exhibiting any special feeling, qui-
etly placed their offerings upon the
graves. They were at once accosted
by the guards, who compelled them
to take them up. Several gentlemen
were treated in like manner. saw
one Union soldier who was forced TO
take back the offering he had TO peace
and forgiveness. Anex- Union officer,
well known to me, was ordered to
receive back few roses that be had,
knowledge of the forbidden
ground, strewn upon the grave of one
Of these soldiers. Astonished, mysti-
fed and disguised, asked one of the
guards the source Of the orders. He /,
told me that they came from the
superintendspAsst-sha.eeneter etery, whose
naWc LIDO not know.
The people demand to know from
whence these orders came, that the
may be placed where il
should rest They demand to know
subordinate can shape thus
.he policy ofa government, or whether l
he head of the government and the I
army has sanctioned this act, and thus /
explains and interprets bis oraoular 9
Let MS have peace They demand i
o know for what purpose were these
lead Confederates buried there and n
low lorg they are to remain ? Was b
{ that they should be thus insulted, r
md are they to remain there as long Y
Is our nation lives to be on every an. e
liversary literally trodden under foot b
~ the uniformed representatives of Q
he government, pointed out as an Ii
that we will wreab vengeance v
.ver upon the bodies of dead enemies ? !
The course pursued at Arlington is in C
trong contrast with that which pre-. v
allied in Alexandra yesterday There f
III the graves were honored alike. n
lowers having been strown upon Con- o
ederate and Union dead without dis. a
inotion. a