Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-06-11

those who manfully and beroically die in
defence of sacred principles and sac'Ihce
their lives upon The sl,srs Of their own
beloved homes and country. Far oack
in The history Of past ages we can 'eao
the record OF "noble deeds" upon Monu-
men,s Of bronze and marble and note Inc
, ,ombs of The heroic dead wreslhed win
qarIands. The sacred writer informs US
that the Patriarch Of Israel purchased the
field of Mschpelsh as burying place Tor
his beloved Sarah and the rest OF his lam
ily, when they should be "gaiheIed TO
thei, (a;hers;" and from the sands Of
Eeypl tower up pyramids and obelisks
in honor of departed worth. which have
stood for centuries as mute senlInels over
the "silent cities Of The dead" while not
far of rises the Colossal Sph lynx fixing
its stony gaze on the distant horizon as
if warning of inlruders. The wild sons
of the American woods carry with them
as they journey from place to place, the
bones of their warrior fathers. while the
ashes of Englsnd's Kings repose under
castles. large. and sIorled urn and ANNA
ted bust make us familiar with her il.
luslrous dead. Greece, TOO. had her
Mausoeums and Rome her calacoubs,
and in every age and cline the poets lay
and the orators tongue have proclaimed
the virtues Of The "noble esd"-and who
SO worthy OF ,hs. title as our Confederate
dead who fell. like loving and obedient
sons. defending The very lives Of their
mothers, the States, who cherish them
as Jewels more precious than those OF
Cornelia, the mother Of the Gracchi; and
though they need no sculptured pile 10
perpelua,e the memory of their heroic
sacrifices, it is fitting that the spo, Of
earth tina, holds their ashes should be
marked for poserily and to tell strangers
that heroes and patriots lie hire
And if there be. on this earthly sphere,
A boon. an offering heaven holds dear,
'ris the last baton liberty draws
From the hean that breaks and beeds in
her cause.
We are told tina, a, tie Pass Of Their
mopyle, where Leonidas and his .hree
hundred Spsrlans fell before the Persian
| hosts rather than surrender the liberty Of
their country; there stands The figure OF
lion carved IN marble and upon The pedes.
tai are traced these words, go stranger
and tell The Sparisns we obey ed the laws
Of our country and lie here!' So we,
The surviving comrades Of these Confed-
ers,e dead, erect and dedicate this Monu.
ment to tell strangers that these soldiers
obeyed The commands Of their sovereign
States and lie here-patrlols in life and
in death. martyrs. Their government
and their States are like ,hem-desd, and
il is because they have no government 10
cree, over them splendid iombs. and no
States that could, with material pride,
gather up the records OF their glorious
live, and sublime deaths, that we erect
This Monument 10 commemorate both
their deeds and the virtues OF those States
,hs, gave their lives TO the cause for
which their cons died.
This Monumen. is The first Of The kind
in this Valley, and i, is right that it
should be,ss i, stands on the South bank of
the Classic Potomac, so long the dividing
line between con,ending armies. as
way mark 10 inform travellers tina, they
are entering the Sou,h-land-,he great
Shenandoah Valley, The field of 60 many
fierce conflicts and the victim Of 80 many
ou,rsges, and made forever famous by the
glorious achievements OF The Confederate
soldiers and their immortal leader, who
sleeps quietly al the other end Of The Val
ley he loved so well.
We dedicate i, in The spirit Of peace
end entwined the Olive branch with the
cypress and hope the day is no. distant
when all will take up The sad refrain
elbow sleep the brave who sink to rest,
BY all their country's wishes blest."
And now comrades of there dead, and
you, oh! friends, who cheered US as we
departed, prayed as we fought, welcomed
Us when we returned, and have done so
much to aid US in rearing this pile, lie, US
never forget the cause for which these
soldiers died and proclaim It's justice with
no falleTiDg tongue. trembling accent or
doubtful language, and never cease 10
speak we'll Of the Confederate Soldier;
and IS we this dedicate this Monument,
let US resolve snew TO continue to honor
the Confederate dead during our lives
and al our death hand down The priceless
heritage OF their deeds to those that shall
come alter us. and The loving charge OF
caring for their graves, and may the fra
grsnce OF the flowers that deck their
graves, as it is exhsled, be waited by the
breezes Of heaven, to The hears OF their
enemies, as soothing balm. until COM
mon government and a united people
shall lrea, all The dead alike, and look for
guidance and protection TO Him who is
the God bo,h Of the living aud the dead.
and who knoweih the secrets and motives
of all hearts; who layeth the beams Of
his chambers in the waters. max Nh the
clouds his chariot and vslketh upon the
wings Of The wind.
After This the Choir Gang
Once more The spot, with solemn awe we
hesd.
Where sleep the relics OF our kindred
dead.
Chant we our requiem mournfuily sut
slow,
While our sad tears above Their ashes
flow.
Mem ries, bright m'ries OF each hal.
lowed name.