Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-17
ProFusion of Flowers.

Pursuant to announcement the memorial
exercises Of decorating the graves of the
Confederate dead at Mount Olivet and the
City Cemetery were had on Sunday The
day and the proceedings were every way
worthy the place and the occasion. The
weather could not have been more propi-
tious, clear, blue sky, and gentle south
breeze prevailing all day. Soon after din
ner thousands of persons commenced
vending their way to the sacred precincts
of the dead. Carriages, hacks, buggies,
rockaways, barouches and every conceiv-
able species of vehicle filed with families
and visitants lined the streets and roads
leading to the cemetery, and the street
cars and omnibuses were crowded and
jammed to excess. Baskets of flowers and
wreaths of evergreens, boquets of rich
perfume and tastefully wrought, were con-
veyed to the ground in great abundance.
Large numbers stopped at the City
Cemetery, where the graves of relatives
and loved ones in family grounds and
vaults were suitably decorated, but by
far the greater number proceeded to Mount
Olvet, the general metropolis Of these
fIllen heroes,
Reaching Mt Olivet, we found the in
GAOouAO AAAAtN WIN HAACt, IGuu6u anu AnbC1-
ligent persons Hundreds of carriages and
vehicles entered the inclosure. Those visit
ing were walking over the beautiful
grounds, viewing the many fine and ele.
gantly sculptUred marble monuments, or
were grouped in pleasant converse, while
others were walking around the soldiers
graves, dwelling in thought, doubtless,
upon the time when the boom of the thun-
dar rrr1r, chnnIr ho xroI1c ,of he 81
the tearing shell and death-shot rattle we're
heard in the ranks of brave men.
''Some sleep in valleys far away.
Some by the dark lsgOOn;
Some where the ripping waters play
Beneath the silent moon,
Some on the craggy mountains crest
Or fields with carnage spread,
Where not tuft their forms have pressed,
Those brave Confederate dead.
''Some lie in lonely, nameless graves,
By all the world forgot,
Unknown heroes-nOt the slaves
By place or office bought
They gave their all for our dear land
Fought n bly-suffered- bled ~
The world has never known band
Like the brave Confederate dead
The process OF decoration was continued
between the hours of four and seven
O'Clock, during which hundreds brought
their floral offerings and laid them tender
" upon the graves. The ladies' of the Me-
moral Association have done nobly. The
burying ground of the Confederates is an
admirable one. Almost in the center of
the cemetery, on a beautiful grassy eleva-
ton that overlooks the city and many
miles of adjacent country, it is surrounded
by the grand old primeval trees, and re-
ceives the first beams of the morning sun
in his coming, while the last of his setting
rays linger around it. Fit place for brave
men to repose There let them sleep,
where the whistling of the ''tameless winds,
the chirp of tho wild bird and the murmur-
ing breezes, and all that speaks of human
liberty shall chant their eternal lullaby"
The spot of ground where rest these war
riors in the stiffness of death is circular and
well laid off. The outer edge circle is
composed of graves extending all around.
The ground within is divided into sections,
allotted to each of the Southern States
whose sons there mingle with dust.
Nearly all of these States were represented
From the wide rolling prairies of the Lone
Star State to the classic Wales of Virginia;
from the breezy palms of the Carolinas to
the broad sweeping Mississippi mingle
together in kindred dust, patriots who fell
in kindred cause.
The entire outer circle was enclosed in
one immense wreath of evergreen, which
the ladies had wound around the sacred
spot. This wreath must have been near
500 or a 1000 feet long Each of the
sections was appropriately marked with
the State to which it was allotted.
In the center of the circle were wreaths
and evergreens and were filed with flowers.
The graves of the steamers were decorated
silently, quietly and profusely, In the
evening the exercises being over the vast
crowds returned to the city marked
feature of the occasion was the absence
of all display and ostentation. There were
no bands of music, no OratoTical display or
any sort of parade whatever. Silently and
impressively the flowers were strewn upon
the graves, after which the people turned
sadly away from that spot where
"Glory guards with solemn round