The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-06-07

a young tady " WINS
trothed.
a fno ,,rre monument of granite
st,ndino near the mansion bears thls
Inscription: "Beneath this stone re-
pose the bones of two thousand, ono
hundred and eleven unknown soldiers
gathered after the war from the nelos
If Rnll Run and the route to the Rap
nahannock. Their remains could not
be identified, but their names ana
deaths are recorded in the arcp1ses
of their country, and its grateful c1tl-
zens honor them as Of their noble army
of martyrs. May they rest IN peace
September, A. D., 1866"
At the entrance to the cemetery Is
= grand arched gateway forty feet IN
height, built of stone, over the top OF
which is inscribed the following stan
"a:
"on fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
| The bivouac of the dead
Upon the apex is large stone bear
ing this inscription
"Here rest 1875 of the Bis, 555
citizens who died that their country
might live"
Dear reader, I would love to give
YOU full description of the ceremon-
les at Arlington yesterday. / know |
can find no more acceptable theme.
This being one of the largest national
cemeteries in the country, and being
located near the Capital Of the Nation
a very great interest is centred here,
and there is scarcely reader of my
letter that will not be anxious to hear
how the day was observed here. But
complete history of the ceremonies
would require a great deal OF space.
The morning of yesterday opened
clear and bright. As early as ten
o'clock the grand cavalcade began to
arrive, and by noon, the hour for the
beginning of the ceremonies, there
were fifteen or twenty thousand per-
sons on the ground. The grounds
were profusely decorated with the
national colors and huge wreaths of
| flowers. The monument to the I'M
known was literally hidden with flow
ers. President Grant, the heads of
departments and large number of
prominent officers of the military and
civil departments of the government
were there. At precisely twelve o clock
battery of thirty-seven guns belched
forth its deafening roar. The Marine
Band, famous the country over, opened
the exercises by executing in faultless
style a choice selection of Music.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. DR..
Q. H. Tiffany, D. D., pastor of the
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
church of this city. The national
hymn, "To thee, Oh, Country" was
then sung by choir Of five hundred
voices. After which an original poem,
Memorial was recited by its au-
thor, DR.. L. a. Duncan. The choir
then sang the hymn 'Pcace on Earth
upon the conclusion of which the Rev.
T. Dewitt Tallmage delivered an ora
ton worthy of publication in every
journal in the land. Twill be excused
II make one brief extract.
In all time to come let the men,
orial day be kept. strew flowers on
all the martyrs graves. strew them
on the heads that ached, and over the
hearts that bled, and over the feet
that blistered on the march. Oh. We
throng of departed heroes! stoop
down and breathe this perfume of a
nations thanks. stoop down and
take this kiss of nations love. stoop
down and hear this shout of a nations
redemption. Speed on the day when
war itself shall be buried-the grim
old breaker of hearts. Garry him out
on an Old rusty shield. Bury his
sword with him. Heap on stones and
broken chariot wheels. Let widows
and orphans clap their hands and
shout, and let the winds howl his re-
QUEEN: This is the second death.,u
A chorus of male voices then sano
that thrilling song, Comrades in
Arms" after which the Marine Rand
played another air, which completed