Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-06-13

4
STEAMER GRAND TOWER, June 5,
1s-3 We passed to-day Island No. 10,
Fort Pillow, and are now drawing near
CoIun,bus. Kentucky. How many con-
ficting thoughts these places recall.
Island No 10 has almost washed away,
buf Immediately in its rear new forma-
Iion has accumulated since 1861, which
j. now covered with a vigorous growth
of Young timber-a type of the Confede-
rscv and Of reconstruction. Fort Pill
low, too, IS shorn OF It's once pfeelpltous
bluffs, and where the Confederate bat
teries awaited the fleet of the enemy,
tbe sullen waters of the Mississippi roll
on in their remOrseleSs course TO the sea,
still Jealous of the banks which they
abrade, and ever and anon make less
aud less. Columbus is yelled in dark
ness IS we pass, the moon having MD
her face as if in mourning for the gal
liant dead who sleep in unvlsited graves
anon her hills, once white with the tents
OF A noble army and resonant with the
inspiring sounds of
The neighing st5ed, the shrin trump, -.
lie suiTiuDg staring drum, the ear-piercing
The L5,,,I hammer. and an the pride, pomp and
Circumstance, OF glorious " ar
% Glorious warln destructive, cruel,
71ncl,ristisn harsh and dreadful war.
Heaven snare our country such another.
Still, the army once camped az
At Columbus, Kentucky, was COM
ntf-f2u lT aS brave anu = EeAAAeAAN
IS ever drew sword in the cause OF ma
tive land. The battle-fields of Virginia
and of the southwest attest the truth OF
his. The graves Of these men are the
aIoouent monuments of their patriotism,
and il a still Tevengeiul government
deny the simple tribute OF scattering
handful of flowers, annually, on these
Graves let Us, who suffered with themj
7nI5 I'M raye-ential love the motives that
inspired them to take the sword, ana
tbe bravery of the heart that enabled
them to WELD it without dlshonof. Inc
moon is shining on Belmont Just across
fbe river from Columbus, the first victo-
rjous field of the southwest vouehsafed
ia the army under the bishOp-general,
the pure and lamented Polk. Here the
theI. obscure Colonel Grant, now fresi-
dent of the United states, taseed 1he
bftternez of defeat, and led his men,
with alacTiJy, 10 their transports unaef
eover of federal gunbOats. II vas a
briIlfaut affair for the "rebels, but
proved barren of important results ike
many other of our dear-bOught VIctO-
ries Still It was victory, ana shoWed
fhe metal OF which our troops We're
made But the past has no charms for
rs It's folly, its violence, and It's hopes,
are alike buried in their own ruins. We
p~efer to let it sleep in silence like that
which night and moonlight wrap around
the battlefield Of Belmont, remember
lug it only through the palhee anu sClt-
ened fancy Of christian charity, forglv-
ing It's WRONGS, and learning wisdom
from the lesson Of experience which II
taught. But we cannot forget the men
WHO fought and died in that past Inc
very graves in which they sleep may be
yyasSsd away by the floods or perish BY
the earthquake, but the memory OF their
leeds shall live, and mankind viii re-
we're lie cause ia whose defense they fell
until 49,, -
.--D-iug shall revisit the Wondering urn
Az 80 NODOC.