Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-30

Victoria Gerald, - Enders, Lydia X. White,
Caroline Riley, G.. T. Widstrand, Mary A.
ThayeI, Annie Ethereage, Agnes 1; Myes,
mittee left the headquarters of the decoration
committee on sth street, near ID, at abont half
past eight, in carriages. Most of the decorations
had preceded them, having been sent out ye:-
tsrjay. On their arrival the party repaired TO
the arbor near the center of the cemetery,
which had been covered with large American
flags, evergreens, and other ornamental devices,
where the preliminary exercises took place. A
prayer was offered up Rev. E. G. Merrick,
after which Comrade II. =. Leggett delivered
a brief address appropriate TO the occasion.
The following original ode was then read by
COmrade j. B. DunniDg:
They are Sleeping To-day.
tT MRS. MARIE BARTON GREENE C'DAIsY DELL y
They are slice ping day, the brave and the true,
They are Sleeping beneath the Ocean deep serf,
4 4sez under NJ, h the bloom Of {sIdsn tnI
Our nower-wreaths for victors, they never may
Where the battle was iercest they have fallen
Where birds, winds and waters, their lone v'gils
keep.
They are camping to-day on fields they have won;
Thrice hallowed the ground brave soldier sleeps
he has planted the Flag midst carnage and bloc d,
On mountain in ferest, through fire and throu gh
While ne shouted, "a Farewell companions,-go tell
Oh. comrades, draw near; raise this banner hold.
Though dying, ii cling TO each bright, starry fold
They have fallen wherever wars pathways have
In hospitals, camps, or in prisops-unfsd
ny the roadside alone, IN twilishts deep gloom
Yielded their breath TO the warriors sad doom
1I DYING Oeneath the tall southern pines
ih.y seree ever undsunted-determned and brave
TO conquer or die, their dear country TO save.
But we gather to day mission Of love,
Our grateful remembrance of loved ones to prove;
And To- scatter upon-sll their lowy green mounds
" no slumber within these beautiful grounds
the choicest and sweetest of nature fair flowers
From garden and srotto, and greenwoods wild
We will visit each hero who sleeps in this shade,
And sprinkle our flowers on every lone grave.
Here the roses and lilies, and wild columbine,
NTH snow balls, syIingas and rtle we II irvine,
We'll mingle the fern leaves and blue violet,
And the isurelxwhose language and historic name
IL the emblem Of glOry-the crown " reath of fame
We will scatter to-day among crosses and crowns,
As silently here We shall visit these mounds.
They are .leepins-yOur comrades-these long files
Bear witness to-day that these martyrs and graves
Were the warriors who battled for FREEDoM and
Who rallied-enlIsted-put foemen TO flight
They viii answer no more TO the buglss soft notes
They will rally no more when the drum beats alarms
Nor fall into ranks, with the order, "To Arms!"
All these faces and forms that lie hidden today
Low under the verdure of flowers Jewelled May
Some tidings of them,-waited year after year
And the message at last that their anxious hearts
thrilled,
Was "MortsIly Wounded'-or, "Missing''-or
KILLED -
And they re mourning to-day while the known and
unknown
Sleep sweetly where garlands and Hower-wreatlls
are strewn.
They are sleeping to-day-Chime then sadly We bells
And muffie Your drums to low funeral knels:
Ihey re our Brothers-vour comrades-whuse dear
lives were given
For Freedom on Earth and for Glory in Heaven
Let our battle flags float, and our hearts offer
prayers,
nation il saved and the victory is theirs,
All the Glery and Honor and praises are due
To the heroes who fought in the old Army blue.
Immediately after the reading of the poem
the party was divided into detachments and
proceeded to decorate the graves. being assist
ell by the veterans OF the Old Soldiers Home in
charge of Gen. Thomas G.. Pitcher governor of
the Home. Meanwhile a small party had been
detached to decorate the graves of the Union
dead at Battle cemetery. After the decoration
ceremonies the party repaired to their carriages
ceremonies there.