Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-06-14
Letter from Tennessee.
CHATrANooaA, June 1, 81.

OAAILANDOGAs june l. 1911
EDITOR CHRONICLE The after.
noon Of the 30th Of May was set apari
by the Union people OF the city Oi
Chattanooga, Tenn, for the decOra-
ton Of the graves Of the Union sold.
iers, who fell at the battles Of Chatta.
nOOga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout
Mt. and vicinity, and who are bur
ried in the National Cemetery, al
Chattanooga, Tenn.
The cemetery is located about one
mile to the south Of the city. At
o'clock P. n. arrangements had been
made, and a long railway train ol
eight passenger coaches stood on the
track Of the Atlantic & Georgia rail
way ready to carry passengers to the
cemetery, to take part in the dec0ra-
tiOu ceremonies. First, came march
ing in double file. with necks and
arms ladened with bOquets and cedar,
evergreen and floral Wreathes, the
old cOlOred women and men then,
Immediately following, the cOlOred
middle aged, while at the rear were
the little colored children ranging
from fifteen years downward to four
and five-just large enough TO walk
end carry a bunch Of flowers; and
there were no small number Of them,
for they filled nearly the whole eight
coaches that made up the first train.
1t was q glorious sight 70 see this col
ored delegation and to know that
though they were ignorant and frOWn-
ed upon by their old masters who yet
look upon them as cattle, and who in
all manner Of ways try to instill into
their uneducated minds the idea that
the Yankees $50 called) did not give
them their freedom for freedoms
sake; but that they might use them
as q party measure to keep them in
power. Yet they look through all
these wrongs to the living and the
dead and with their untutOred minds
are not unmindful Of the Union SOL
dier boys who gave them their liberty
for liberty's sake, and that they do not
lack courage enough, amidst the e
adversities 70 speak so loudly, yet in
the modest way Of dropping a flower
pom the graves Of the truly honOred
cad.
After the colored delegation came
{. Chattanooga COrnet Band the
balance of the first train was filed
with white union citizens, and soon
the train was on its way to the garri-
son Of the u. S. troops stationed here,
which is about one hundred rods
from the cemetery. Here the train
halted and unloaded and soon the
grounds in front Of the government
buildings were swarming with hu-
man beings, Of all grades, cOlOrs and
ranks. While thesewere being form
ed in line the train moved back to
the city and brought up those who
were not able to get passage on the
first train. By this time the clouds
that had looked so threatening
began to thicken and settle down
upon the surrounding hills and
soon light mist began to fall (which
continued the remainder Of the day.
Soon the second train drew up and
despite the rain the more anxious
souls got OFF and Joined the process
sion, which now being formed, under
the command Of Capt. Cook, Com
mander Of the post here, moved in a
winding way up to the summit Of
Cemetery Hill the officers on horse
back taking the lead, then came the
band, then the cavalry, next the in
fantry, then the white citizens who
had not private cOnveyances, and at
the rear the eolored citizens. The
procession now was over a mile long,
and as It took its winding way up the
hill, each file holdingan open umbrella
TO shelter them from the gentle fall
ing rain; ana to the behOlder it looked
as though o sable Of mourning had let
fall over that long procession, and in
deed like a procession marching to
the city Of the dead. Having reached
the top Of Cemetery Hill, this con-
course Of friends gathered around the
old flag, which hung high at half
mast. Here an appropriate piece OF
music was given by the band, then
prayer was offered by Rev. Wolf, OF
the northern M. Z. c., after which
an Grafton was delivered by Mai. Mar
shal, of the place. At the conclusion
OF which, appropriate resolutions were
read and adopted, expressing the
hearty thanks Of the citizens present,
to the various railway companies and
men who represented them, for the
facilities they 30 kindly offered on the
occasion free Of charge.
The citizens, numbering over two
then moved miscellaneous
ly down the side of Cemetery Hill to
drop a wreath, a boquet, a flower or a
leaf upon the graves Of thirteen thou
sand Jead soldiers
There was no partiality as is often
shown to the dead who die and are
buried among friends, for these, in
main, were equal strangers to all.
They were known only by their
works, for their flesh had wasted, and
their bones had bleached for seventy
five days upon that fatal field Of Chat
.anOoga before there was any buried,
and after the war were dug up and
brought to this spot, where now the
ground that holds their dust Is mark /.
ed only by q plain unlettered board, I
ave number that only tells how
many inhRbit this city Of the dead.
The National Cemetery here is a I
beautiful location, and is in the shape /
II the frustrum Of a cone, whose base /
covers ovei eighty acres Of land. 1t
5 surrounded by a stone wall about /
i've feet high and two feet thick. On
he inside about two feet from the