Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-01
Meeting of the Confederate society
Tonight.
IuIv 1870

MEMPHIS. July !. 1869.
EDIroRs LEDGER: | again ask to
transgress on your columns that through
them the bugle-notes may be sounded OF
immediate attention to the cause of the
helpless and afflicted families, as well as
the preservation of the heroic deeds and
graves of the dead Confederates in for
eign and domestic land, and made TO
have effect upon those who bear in their
'heart of all hearts" sympathy for the
condition of those whom this unfortu-
nate and hspless war made destitute and
dead. How heartrending it is to bs.
hold the desecration of the graves of our
dead, and the pauper burial of many Of
our surviving comrades; to hear the
cries of widows and orphans for food and
education, and to witness the destruction
of our country and freedom By the cow
ardly knaves who hail from Northern
cline and are now in office-men who
never inhaled the fumes of burned pow
der nor lent assistance to the decent
burial of brave Federal-snd, yet, find
among us men who would oppose our OBJ
iect under different pleas, and, in man
ner, lend every aid to Cypress their ma
tive-born.
Individually, we are not able to provide
every want or to protect the wronged
And why are we net able ask numbers
Why; because we are not organized,
have no means of ascertaiRing the num-
Der of those most needy, sick or dying,
or headquarters where. information from
the distressed could be lodged. Il is
true an organization was proposed and
will be permanently established tonight,
and that quite number has enlisted in
the good work; yet many refuse to unite
with us for fear of not being able to at
tend meetings or do other duties by rea-
son of business requirements or of resid-
ing in the outskirts of the city. To them,
the Society asks, do not let these causes
retard you from snlisting. If you can
not come, send your name, company,
regiment and brigade; q diary of your
company, regiment or brigade marches,
skirmishes and battles; the names OF
those killed, wounded and imprisoned !;
your knowledge Of all those sRcted I;
and, in fact, everything that will tend to
advance the interest of your living com
rsdes and complete the history of those
who so gallaatly and nobly gave their all
for cause that sank, but as the brightest
star in the nations armament
There are, also, others who refuse to
Join, because the officers (poor excused
would have everything to say, suggest or
do; who wsuld always be conspicuous in
the front ranks Of pleasure or honor I'll
anvil and lacking in the hour Of contribu-
ton and duty; and that the whole thing
would be controlled, done up brown and
suited to the tastes and whims OF every
Tom, Dick and Harry General, Colonel,
Qusrtermaster, Commissary, and other
men Of the petty stripe who did all du-
ring the war in words but nothing in &C.
ton" To those who believe such, we say
'fear not" That hour is passed. This
Society will be opened to all classes Of
ex-soldiers; all will have a voice, and ell
will share alike the duties Of the hour.
As for " sfterthe-wRr and stay-st.
home" patriots, none will fnd room on
the roll TO subscribe their honorable deeds
and virtuous names. Mol comrades,
none but bona fdes viii be enrolled, and
none but sona Jsdes are expected 10 per,
form the nsble work. So, again, dom
let that hold you of. Come and see, and
enlist.
Again, and most sssuredly the least,
comes in the plea of sniyeling and hold
every-dime fellows, who say at will cosl
money" i have other things TO attend
to" the widows and orphans were moi
made so by my actions" and 81 cannot
lose time for the ragged, sick or dying, OF
subscribe TO clothe, feed and educate the
needy and deserving or bury the dead.
These and similar remarks come from
men who were always in the line vher