Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-11
DECORATION Day.
40 rem emhrance


Why dost thou open all my wounds again"
It viii indeed long be remembered that
the ladies OF Lexington, Virginia, who had
known Stonewal jackson strewea flowers
upon bis grave from which sprang into ex-
istence the practice of annually decorating
the graves of Confederate soldiers every
where.
THE GRAVE OF sToNEWALL JACKSON
Is in a small cemetery in Lexington. 1t is
inclosed with plain iron railing. Over the
remains there is only a modest monument,
hut as be was one of those whose works are
universally remembered, he does not need
a greater. The ladies of Lexington still
continue to strew flowers on his grave at
all times. Among some who have never
visited Lexington there is an impression
that the remains of Gen. Lee and StoneWan
jackson are side by side. On the contrary,
THE sEPULCHER OF GEN. LEE,
under the chapel in front of the Washing
ton and Lee University, is some distance
from where the remains of StoneWaH Jack
son are inferred. In fact the two graves
are nearly in opposite extremes OF the
town diagonally. The tomb of Gen. Lee
Is beneath the floor line OF the main
room under the chapel. On enter
ing tits room the visitor beholds a
massive mahogany railing draped In deep
mourning. The area over the vault is COW
cred with a low mahogany dais on which
there are, at all times, heavy wreaths and
crosses of immortelles. The wreaths and
smaller crosses are fiat on the surface
at each corner Of the dais. In
tba center there is large
cross which is one OF the most
beautiful that could be made. ReYeren-
tially passing from the main into another
room, the visitor is ushered into the othce,
under the chapel, that Gen. Lee occupied
for meditation and when writing. The COM
Portable, leather covered arm chair OF ample
dimensions that he used to sit in remains
undisturbed by the side OF large
Snuare table. in the center of the room, that
;s covered with a cloth, and has on it
portfolio and writing materials and other
articles. --------.
THE VISITORS TO THESE TWO GRAVES
are from all quarters of the globe, and nu-
merous at all seasons of the year, paItlcu-
karly SO in summer, when they come down
from the Natural Bridge. The Northerner
and the Southerner alike, standing side by
side, uncover their heads when they meet
at these chieftains' graves.
THE SAD CEREMONY HERE
OF decorating the graves OF Contederates
was performed Yesterday by the large num-
Der who mourn their loss. The City,
Mount Olivet and Calvary Cemeteries were
visited for this purpose. The offerings an
naemOriGm were no less profuse than accom-
panied with intensity of emotion.
ooh! what tender thoughts beneath
Those silent flowers are lying"
Notwithstanding the clustering weather
filling the air with dust, the attendance al
the different Cemeteries was large, but
nothing to compare to the crowds which
assembled on previous occasions, and we
are now satisfied that the Sabbath day is
the most appropriate for the annual tributes
IN the memory of the braves. There are
hut few soldiers graves to be seen now II
the old Cemetery, the remains Of thosI
4armerly inferred there having been re
moved 10 Mount Olivet within the past TIVE
wears. The graves of the lamented Zolli
Golfer and Rains which have never beer
removed were visited yesterday by hun
dress. and were covered with flowers ant
1rr9aths. The largest congregation wa
at Mount Olivet where soldiers from
every Southern State sleep quietly beneath
the grassy mounds. IL will be remembers
that the ladies' of the Memorial Association
purchased a large lot in one portion OF thu
Gemetery which was dedicated to the talie
heroes, and here the great majority OF tn
graves of Southern soldiers are to be found
TINE ladies visited the sacred spot an
strewed flowers in profusion, not singl
crave being neglected. The decoration
commenced at O'Clock and continued unit
z. There was no regular programme, an
visitors were going and coming during IL
hours named.