Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-05-18
MEMORIAL EXEECISE.
DccorRtion eff The Graves of coElfcslerafe
Soldiers.
Eloquent Grafton OF Capt. Washington.
-.rlA-E Z -. -. r.o.nru -

SClOfCTs
Eloquent Grafton of Capt. washington
IT = FLOWERS AND FRIESBsHIP,f gEl,1
Yesterday the gardens in and around The city
were stripped of their faifest and sweetest flow
ers-te decorate the graves of the Wearers OF ths
grey who now sleep in Bethel Cemetery. TThest
floral tributes were sent to the ladies appontef
to receive them by the Memorial Association,by
persons of all shades of political opinion. In
deed it was remarked that the-'lady relatives
pr onounced Union men seemed to vie with
the sympathizers of the fallen in paying thi:
tribute of respect, and was hailed as a harbingeI
of the return ofthe kindly feeling which should
animate as as apeople.a - >algEh9
.,-.-,-,---t- OK THE. ROAD.
In the afternoon, a large number Of the busi-
ness honses closed in order to afford those who
desired to participate in the ceremonies an op-
portunity Of doing SO. 5,.r1 = Goo,s .F0
The livery stables were taxed to their utniest
capacity TO furnish horses and vehicles for those
going, and many were disappointed in obtain
ing conveyariees who had not made their garL
rangements in time. 1t has bcen generally
believed that an omnibus can alwaysfake in
'onc more" but the rule did sst hold good
yesterday. There wore several Suuipgs and
alFwere @crowaedk une6mfSrtably while many
were forced to take '.deck passage" on top or
al Ptod. as they preferred o ~ ,y-sss-r,a,-2
An hour before the appointed time, there was
an almost ,unbroken line of vehicles of an de
scriptions going to the cemetery, iAterspersed
with geedly number of unfortunates on foot,
wlse. however, resolved to be present. szs-rE
! is-NUaBER Err FREs sENT-INIE oDUCTIoN. 4 VI
Shortly after four o'clock, upwards Of two
thousand persons had assembled in the ceme-
terry, and the exercises were connlerced by the
Mechanics Comet Band playing n solemn
dirge,
w. x. Henderson Esq, then introduc cd
Rev. G. w. Charlton, who invoked the approx
al of Heaven upon those assembfedrin tlregcity y
of the dead to mingle their tears with the flow
ers that decked the tombs of defeated hereism.
The prayer was a most feeling petition to the
Throne of Grace, heartfelt and touching.
The band then played q Welsh piece from
the Memorial Selection, "On the Plains of
Rithlan," after which Mr. Henderson intro
duced the ~t'1
~ ! = as ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Capt. George Washington, who delivered a
most eloquent oration repletewith glowshgihi ]
agery and classical allusions.
Capt. Washington said that he appreciated the
high honor conferred on him by The ladies of
the Memorial Association, and more especially
as he had but recently made this his home, but
distrusted his ability to do justice to the exalt-
ed theme, which was worthy of the effort of d
Prentice or q Haskell. Like the fable Peri of
the East the spirits Of those who had gone
before hoYered eyer those now sleeping in YER
dure~coyerod, graves who fell in defense, of
Southland.frazZ oata tzEI llk-srs /
The heroism of the Confederate soldier had
become historical, as attested on the bloody
fields of Manassas, Seven Pines and Shiloh,
while the shouts of charging sqaadrons re-
sounded from the heights-of Gettysburg, and
echoed from banks OF the James and Shenan+
doah across the Father of Waters to the Rio
Grande.
The speaker paid a glowing tribute to the
leaders of the Southern armies-Gen: Lee, the
Christian soldier, whose reputation was ss-spot-
less us that of Chevalier Bayard;Y Gen. Albert
Sidney johnson, who fell On the plainsi of
Shiloh Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, who was
note, but whose fame would live in the memory
of future generations
. The Spanish cavalier who went forth to bat lie
clad in the glittering panoply of warfare, was
inspired by the love of glory or the greed of
gain, but the Christian soldier of the South was
animated by more nobling sentiment The
bills and valleys where he had played in his
boyhood were Threatened, with the invaders
tread. The scle was exchanged for the sword,
and each became as a McGregor ON his native
heather, fighting for their homes and Inherited
rights 80, =, nn.nre.
Deeds Of valor rivaling the warriors of old
had been displayed on hundred fields by the
soldiers Of both armies, and in the Gnlep sol
diers the Southerners had found foemen worthy
of their steel They had met in the shock Of
deadly conflict but now they met on halioWed
ground, made immortal by the. blood of those
once toes, now friends, and over all hoeered,
IKE tutelary diyinties, the. spirits lice,
10ackson, and others whose names are registered
| onthe tablets of fame 8 R. vfiul5s.rs
q IL was The custom Of ancient Greece to gather
tne asnes OF the dead and place them in fitting
sepulture, where at regular intervals there
mains We're visited, and the recollection OF their
services and death kept forever green There
was mo holier ground than where defeated
valorfies by loving beauty crowned.
The speaker alluded mostitly to the Union
soldiers who sleep the sleep that, knows no
waking in the National Cemetery. we Civ,
his remarks entire on this point :s8.5q 81