American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-22
OUR SOUTHERN WOMEN.

If there is one feature of South
ern character more prominent and
honorable than another, and which
betrays more strikingly the true
nobility of the Soathern heart, it is
that exhibited in the reverence
which clings to the memory OF the
immortal heroes who yielded up
their lives in blaze Of glory a.
willing Sacrificiai offerings upon the
altar of freedom. Especially is this
the case with our noble Southern
women. This reverence for the
memories of our dead patriots has
led TO the formation of associations
whose object is the gathering to-
gether of their remains. W hrresoever
scattered, tirat they may have fit
ting and appropriate sepul'ure in
the land of their birth. and the
home OF their Adoption. 1t is aScer.
tanned that there. are at Gettysburg
alone the remains of some Thousand
or more soldiers. from almost every
Southern State, many of which are.
being plOnshrd up by the husband
man and left to bleach and moulder
in that inhOspitable cline. To co.'s
lcct the bones of these brave war
riors. and place them where the das-
tard tread of an inhuman enemy
can no longer insult them, is the
purpose of these humane and be-
nevolent organizations.
The ladies, God bless them are
foremost in this holy enterprise, as
they are in all works of benevolence
and charity, and. indeed, in all else
that pertains to the noble, the good,
and the true. By their energy. III
dustry and perseverance, burial
places have been enlarged and i'm
proved, and new ones projected for
the reception of the remains of our
hOnore.l dead, while their hands Will
scatter flowers and their eyes weep
hallowed tears over the graves pre-
pared for their final repOse.
The respect which these noble
minded women cherish for the mem
oIies Of those gallant heroes who
fell in the cause of right, is only
equalled by the sympathy felt tor
them while living. When the Grim
son banner OF war f1oated ous upon
the Southern breeze, and the peal
ing trump summoned the plumcd
warriors to the field of combat,
woman was foremost in preparing
them for the conflict, and in intus-
ing hope and confidence into their
dauntless spirits. In whatever
sphere Of action she could move;
wherever duty demanded her ser
vices, or prOpriety justified her pres
encc, there she was found, cheering
with her smiles the buOyant heart,
and arOusing by her enthusiasm the
sublimest valor of the warriors
sOul. In camp and in hospital,
wherever a Southern soldier needed
attention, either from the ravaeeS
OF disease or the fiery bolts of wal.
there she Was seen, like AN angel of
mercy, lowering over the sick aud
the manned; ministering to their
necessities; wiping the hot blood
from the gaping wound; binding
up the shattered limb, and whisper
ing words OF sweetest comfort to
the tort ure'i spirit. Naturally tim
i'll, inclined to shrink from scenes of
blood and carnage; fraught with
compassion weak, gentle and ten
der, whose attuned soul could i'll
bear the discord of the dying groan:
yet when her cOunrry'S sons were
wasting with disease and writing
In mortal agony, she nerved herself
with more than Spartan courage,
and with IA moral herOism which the
sex has oft displayed when circum-
stances called forth their latent
energies, moved among the sick
and wounded, where disease and
war had made their dire havoc
where the death knrlI vibrated in
the ear-whrre the siifed grOan, the.
half suppressed sigh - the long,
heavy suspIration interrupted. at
intervals, the death like silence of
the mOurniul scene, impartIng con
ISOLATION to the spirit of the uN ing
watching, with unceasiug vigilance,
every change of disease and condi
ton of wound, ever exhibiting that
noble feeling Of sympathy with mis-
fortune, of SORROW at calamity, and
and by her inspiring presence eleva
ting fallen humanity to an appreci
alton and enjoyment OF the sublime
truths of yiItuOus existence.
Through such scenes, and more,
did OuI noble Southern women pass,
and when the death struggle was
OveSy and the spirits of the dead
soldiers scared far beyond the
"mIlky baldric of the skies" 20 "a
Il