Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-31
DECOEATEoN OF TIE EEDERAI
GRAVES.
ALnrgc ana nixea Assembly.
Speaking, Etc.


According to previous announcement,
the decoration of the graves of the Federal
soldiers at The National Cemetery, six
miles north OF the city, on the Louisville
and Nashville road was had yesterday.
The affair was gotten up hastily; many of
those formerly taking charge of the matter
having been absent from the city, and the
attendance was nothing like so great as on
former occasions. 1t was q sort of holiday,
the Legislature and the courts having ad-
journed over until to-day, and the Post
Office being closed from 10 o'clock A. N. till
4PM Large quantities of flowers in
bouquets and wfeaths were furnished
the committee at the depot between
the hours of 8 and 10 CLOCK
A. NJ, which were conveyed to
the cemetery Special trains had been
provided, which left the depot at 10 and
at IL clock. Many went in hacks, ex-
press wagons, buggies and other convey
ances. At the appointed hour the depot
and the surroundings were crowded WITH
eolored persons of all ages, sizes aid
sexes, and so great was the scramble FIR
tickets that they could scarce be accomnfo-
dated. There was sprinkle of white PER
SONS in tho tl1rong. The first train that
moved out of the depot was jGmmed aid
packed with mixed crowd, whose appear-
ance and remarks and joyful expressiqps
indicated more that they were going td' a
frolic than to the performance of the sad
and solemn duty of decorating dead meh's
graves.
Before the departure of the IL o'clock
train was announced another immense
crowd of darkies had poured into the de-
pot with very disproportionate number
of whites, and the same scramble for tick
cts and rush for the cars prevailed. Every
car of the train was packed, there being
scarcely standing room. The price gof
tickets for the ''round trip" was twenty-five
cents, On reaching the ground, we foQAd
long and large United States flags sweeping
| gracefully IL the breeze, that had been
stretched across the roadway leading
through the cemetery into the grove be-
yond where the speakers stand was erected
The stand was profusely decorated With
the stars and stripes. The groves and BE
grounds were filed with negroes enjoying
themselves in every variety of form. Apple
starRls, fruit stands and eating stands, were
numerous, and the competition lively for
the trade and traffic of the crowd. Ice
creams, cakes, lemonades, soda waters,
ginger bread, and every thing usually
vended at Fairs and festive occasions, were
profusely abundant. Rope jumping and
Wagons exercises prevailed throughout the
grounds. 1t was estimated by those fa-
miliar with large crowds that there were
near 3, 600 colOred ana about $50 white per-
sons present. e
The Odd Fellows Band afforded the
music for the occasion, and they performed
well, as they always do. Maj. Enos Hop
kins announced from the stand that it was
presumed that the object of the gathering
was generally understood by those present,
and appropriately introduced the exercises
of the day in some timely and brief re-
marks.
Rev. G. H Robinson of Ohio. then led
with prayer, invoking blessings upon the
relatives and friends Of the dead, and upon
the common country.
Rev. Moses johnson (colored) then spoke
at some length upon the causes and motives
which had prompted them to assemble an
nually to decorate the graves of the fallen
Union soldiers. Randall Brown (colored)
also made some remarks that were well re-
ceived by his colored friends Recess of
| about an hour was had, during which the
decoration took place. The occasion was
so hastily improvised that a scarcity Of
flowers was very apparent, when the great
number Of graves TO be decorated were
taken into account. Many of the silent
graves received single pink or flower,
while many others received none at ali.
Yet the process Of decorating was gone
through with quietude and solemnity.
! After the decoration and refreshments
the band played several airs, when Judge
| ii IL Harrison was announced from the
stand as the next speaker He addressed
the crowd for near a half an hour, with
his accustomed eloquence, energy and
earEestness. His remarks were atten-
! lively listened to, and well received The
Jndge was followed by John Cockrell, col
! ored, of whose remarks the least that is
said the better
Rev. Mr.. Bennett and others followed
for the benefit of those who still remained
about the stand.
At near o'clock the crowd began to
dispense and gather along the railroad
track waiting for the arrival of the train
that was to bring them back to the city
Those in carriages and vehicles lett many
of them at an early hour. The day passed
off in a quiet and orderly manner, no dis
turbance of any kind taking place to inter
fere with the ceremonies of the decoration,
and the crowd returned peacefully to their