Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-10


THE CONFEB 4EgATE DEAD.
The ladies' Of the Memorial Association
have set apart this day Friday, May 10,)
as the occasion Of decorating the graves OF
the fallen-ths little mounds of earth where
our Confederate brave sleep their last sleep.
with flowers and eyergreens. This solemn
and beautiful ceremony win speak as in a
single breath or past struggles, Of present
peace, of sad memories, and Of that heart
felt homage which virtue and truth aIwags
render as tribute % nobility Of character.
Whatever may be the verdict 81 impartial
history as to the purpose or origin of the
war in which these noble lives were offered
up, the muses. Of coming time VIII weave
garlands of roses brighter and more EN-
during than those to-day scattered by fai-
hands over soldiers graves, commemcrat-
ing their deeds and immortsHzing their
names in tho affections of the Southern
people. There is a gratifying pleasure in
the reflection that in the sacred mission of
to-day, there win notmingle any feeling Of
partisan envy or political hatred As our
people gather in the narrow streets Of the
city of the dead, to pay deserved homage
to the lofty beroism which characterized
their lives and embal1ns their memories, there
will be no room for any sentiment but graf
itude and love for those over whose
graves they scatter smiling flowers and
grateful tears. The day, the place, and the
occasion are alike sacred, and viii ever be
so regarded in the hearts of this people.
We should revere the memory of the dead
heroes of the Lost Cause, and the occasion
is fitting to call forth every token of lovefor
those who were near and dear to us. Those
whose hearts have been made desoIate by
the misfortunes of war, will be comforted
with the thought that blessings still BIOS
som like roses over the graves of our dead;
and that the heroic deeds of the mighty fall
len of our own and sister States are still
fresh and green in the memory of us all.
s'The muffied drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattOol
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few;
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac OF the dead.
"No rumor of the foes advance
Now swells upon the wind,
Nor troubled thought at midnight haunts
lnTTnn mas left hafsn md
No vision Of the mOrrow's strife
The warriors dream alarms,
No braying horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms
"Their shivered swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed,
Their naughty banner, trailed in dust,
Is now their martial Stroud
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed,
Are free from anguish now.
"The neighing troop, the flashing blade
The bUgle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannOnade,
The din and shout are past
Nor Wars wild note, nor Glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that never more may feel
The rapture of the fight.
"Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That sweeps his great plateau,
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain
Came down the serried foe
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break DER the field beneath,
Knew well the watchwOrd of that day
Was victory or DEATH"
"Thus, meath their parent turf they rest,
Far from the CORY field,
Borne to a Spartan mothers breast
On many bloody shield.
The sunshine of their native sky
c., s1aplg H. 800 -, a. 4
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by, =
The heroes sepulchre.
crest on, embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood We gave;
No impiOus footsteps here shall tread
The heritage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While Fame her record keeps,
Or Honor points the hallowed spot
Where Yalor proudly sleeps
''Yon marble minstrel's voiceful stone,
In Ceathless song shall tell,
When many vanished year hath flown,
The story how ye fell; .-...
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winters blight,
Nor times renOrseless doom, ~
Gan dim one ray of holy light
That gilds your glorious tomb"
Let us visit their graves to-day, and strew
flowers upon and lingeE tenderly and
mouTnfully around them, and as we turn
away, we shall feel in resigned and subdued
happiness that we have but responded to
a.