Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-16
An Appeal for the Confederate Dead.
STAUNToN, MAY 10TH. 1871.
pile of augusta Coasntu :

To the people of augusta Countu:
At the instance of the Executive Committee of
| the Augusta Memorial Association for the Con-
federate Dead, I appeal to you for aid to enable
view. 1t was organized to take charge of the
graves of our deceased Soldiers, to put and keep
| them in becoming order, and to provide that
suitable honors should be paid on one day in
each year to their memory. The bodies of about
sixteen hundred of our soldiers are inferred in
the Cemetery at this place, and 1t is humilia-
ting fact that their graves neither sodded,
nor marked in any manner but are being over
grown with weeds and brambles, and all trace
of them rapidly obliterated by every storm that
falls upon them. Surely the brave men who
left their homes at the call of their country, and
yielded up their lives at our DOORS in defence of
our hearth-stones, deserve that we should bestow
upon the spot hallowed by their remains every
care which gratitude and affection can suggest
Let US bear In mind, that should we withhold
from them the honor which is their due, we do
most grlevously dishonor ourselves.
am sure, fellow-citzens, that the facts which
L have stated have not heretofore been known to
you, and that now that you have been informed
of them you will readily respond to the call |
make upon you for the means to put this Sol
dier's Cemetery in proper condition. We need
money to turf the graves and TO mark them
with head and foot boards and as there are about
sixteen hundred to be thus provided for. con-
siderable sum will be required but If every man
and woman in the Town and County will
tribute something, the work can be done. Let
those who are able contribute literally of their
abundance, let those whose means are small give
whatever they can afford, though it shall be but
trif1e. Iappeal to each man and woman who
reads these lines to give something. Let every
one ask himself or herself the question, ''f had
father, son, Or brother, lying in one of those
neglected graves, and among strangers, would l
not bless the person who would help to rescue
that grave from oblivion, and bestoW appropri-
ate honors on it?' Let every one answer this
question: and then do as they would be done
by"
In conclusion, will state that Captain Chas
s. Arnall is the Treasurer of the Association,
that he is authorized to receive all contributions
and tn lat he may be found at all times at the Ma
tlonal Valley Bank in this place.
would respectfully urge upon the Commit
tees who were appointed last fall, and whose
names have been twice published, to bestir them
selves in this good work, and make all the col
lections in their power; but few of them have
thus far reported, and up to this time eighty
eight dollars have been collected from the Town,
and only eighty dollars from the entire county.
If persons are willing to give, and are not call
ed on by the Committee, let them send their
contributions by any one coming to Town. to be
handed to Captain Arnall at the National VAL
ley Bank.
Finally, on election day (the Is h of this
month"; two ex-Confederate soldiers will be re-
quested to attend at each place Of voting in the
county to solicit contributions in behalf of the
graves of their deceased comrades, and it is
hoped that their appeals will meet with kind
reception, and as liberal response as each man
means will allow.
Respectfully, Your Fellow Citizen,
JAMES Fl. SKINNER,
Prest Augusta Memorial Association.
In compliance with the above the following
gentlemen are requested to attend the polls on
election day, (25th of this month) and solicit
contributions for the Soldiers Cemetery: