National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-12
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
REFINEMENT OF THOSE KILLED
IN FRONT OF WASHINGTON.

INTERESTING EXERCISES AN ADDRESS
AND TPOEM-FLORAL TRIBUTES-MONU-
MENT TO BE ERECTED-SHORT SKETCH
OF AN EXCITING EVENT TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE DISTRICT.
On or about July 5. 1854, Gen. JubaI A, Early
appeared on the Potomac with about %, 900 Con
federate soldiers, and crossing the river burned
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for a consider
able distance, proceeded to Hagerstown, Mary
land. where he levied a contribution Of $4,000,
burned some buildings at Williamsport, and raid
ing up the border OF Pennsylvania, secured the
country far and wide for horses, cattle, proVi-
sions and money. HIS movements spread general
panic, which caused the Government to call ur-
gently on Pennsylvania, New York and Massa-
ehusetts for militia to meet the emergency. Gen.
Couch was commanding in Pennsylvania and
Gen Lew wallace was in Maryland, and sus-
Meeting Early's movements gathered together his
little army, numbering about three thousand
men, until reinforced by Gen. Ricketts,, with a
division Of the Sixth corps On the Sth day eff
July Wallace evacuated Frederick City and
withdrew his scanty forces to the banks Of the
MOnocacy, which afforded tOlerably defensive
On the morning of July skirmishing began,
followed shortly after by hard fighting, which
lasted several hours, and General Wallace, find
ing that he was being overpowered and the three
regiments Of veterans promised not arriving, or
dered retreat by the Baltimore turnpike. The
y
1852 missng-a total of 1859. When reaching
New Market a short distance from the MOnocacy,
the regiments promised wallace Joined him and
covered the retreat. General Early, after brief
halt on the battle field, marched on to Baltimore
and Washington.
REINFoRCFMENTs.
On the evening of the 10th Early's advance
reached Rockville, Nd, where there was slight
sklTmish. In the meantime the other two divi-
siUns Of the Sixth corps, which had been sent for
were en- route, and their arrival, under command
OF General ID. u: wright, was ahGlousIy I tti
Tor by the terrOrstrcken residents OF the National
Capital. AS a means, however, Of immediate
protection all the employees of the Government
in Washington were organized into regiments
and armed. Major General Meigs being in COM
mand Of the division and General d. H. Rucker,
General Elias NJ. Green, Captain ID. q. Thomas
and Colonel ; W. Owens holding the minor pO-
sitiOns. On the morning Of the 18th they were
marched to the scene of action, and occupied the
ritie-yits between Fort SlOcum and Fort Massa-
chusetts the garrison still manning the forts. In
addition to these all the soldiers then in hospital
who were able to carry musket were called
upon ard volunteered 20 90 to the front.
On this sane day, President Lincoln made a
visit to Fort Stevens, and, standing on the para
pet, took a survey Of the surroundings. The next
farms Of MCSSrs Burch, Berry and Wilson, the
Federal skirmiSh line extending as far as the
school-hOuse, few hundred yards north of Mr..
In this skirmish twenty or thirty of the Union
soldiers were killed and wounded by sharp
shooters. During the same day reports came
into the city that brisk diminishing was going on
in the vicinity Of Silver Springs. On the morn
ing Of the 18th the famed First Division Of the
Sixth Army Corps, under command Of General
Wright, reached the city, and promptly marched
to the front At about noon. the same day, the
famous fight took place which resulted IN the de-
feat Of the COnlederates and their backward
march
Yesterdays SERVICES.
The fact that many of those who fell in these
engagements on the Confederate side were resi-
dents OF the District and the adjoining counties,
1ar f,aF hot hafr
were not only unmarked, hut liable at any mo-
ment to be entirely ObiteIated by the steady
progress Of husbandry in that section few of the
young men Of this city and Maryland Induced by
the best Of motives, sacred humanity, concluded
to have them gathered together and placed in
one spot, where 0 monument could be placed to
commemorate their death,
The trustees Of Grace P. Z. church, Mont
ROmery county, Nd, near the scene OF the con-
fiict hearing Of their endeavOrs, rendered them
a lot in front of the church edifce
This offer was gladly accepted, and the atten-
ton Of those interested was turned toward raising
Sufficient funds for the raising Of handsome
monument Subscription papers were put in the
hands Of some Of our prominent citizens, who at
once started on their mission, and soon reports
showed that the work was going braVely on. After
these encouraging results OF the attempt TO give
their comrades a Christian burial it was deter
mined to disnter at once the bodies from their
resting places. Mr.. Q. p. Jones, resident OF
T. ~ the bodies Of the Coniederates aud Tues
day he began his work After several days Of
search he found the bodies Of fifteen soldiers and
sum bed them EesuTTeeted; On the farm Of Mr.
six feet wide, with nothing to indicate that hu-
man beings were there deposited. At Sligo.
short distance below Mr.. Lays farm, body was
found that had been buried by Mr.. Dodge, which
had been carefully marked. Over the grave we're
planks, and frequently flowers were streWn on
the grave, many Of which yet remained This
soldier was from Georgia, and he stated previous
TO his death that he was
ONE OF FIVE BROTHERS.
His four brothers he had seen buried. One no
tiCeable fact about these bodies was that the
bones were perfect, Parts Of clothing were still
hanging to them, the shoes aud stockings were in
as good order as the day they were buried, and
the oilcloths and blankets which soldier always
bore were in many instances in therOu. another
fact was that all OF these bodies had perfect and
beautiful teeth not one Of them being in the least
disturbed.
bodies being buried so shallow nothing could be
found, it being supposed that dogs had carried
them away After a diligent search nothing
more could be found, and what remained OF the
bodies were placed in wooden collins and removed
to Grace church, there to await their refinement
with Christian service.
could be accounted Tor was that of las. b. Bland,
SiXty-secOnd Virginia mounted infantry, limbo
denis brigade, from Highland county, Virginia.
After the gentlemen in charge OF the arrange
ments for the reburial Of their comrades had as
certalEed that all had been disinterred who could
be found, they made arrangements for suitable
Dr.. A. y. p. Garnett, of Washington, was Sc
lCCted TO deliver the address, and Assistant
Bishop Pmckncy invited to deliver poem. Both
Of these gentlemen s!gnite their willingness to
perform the respective work assigned them, and
yesterday was selected as the day for the cere-
mony
AT THE CHTRCH.
At $3.50 9. m. a large number Of persons assem-
BIed at the corner Of Ninth street and PenHsylva-
MIA avenue. where cCnveyances were provided,
and soon they were driven TO Grace church.
al so hrfEgr they proceeded to view
the boxes in which he bones Of the eX-sOIdiers
were encased.
in front OF the church. arranged in row, were
six collins in which all that remained of fifteen OF
Early's soldiers. who died fighting for cause
which they thought was right, was deposited.
over these collins, covering them, was black
pail in he centre Of which was white cross, sur
rounded it'll flowers In the rear OF the remains
was cross about four feet high, made Of the most
exquisite cXOtics, while in the Of this was a
ditch about Is feet long by feet wide, in which
the cCffns were 10 be permanently placed.
Around these wasted fgTms there was no North,
no outh, no East. no West, but the best Of iel-
Iowshlp in the one common cause of humanity
and Christianity.
After short "reminiscences those assembled pro-
ceeded into the church, which was already
crowded with residents Of Washington, virginia
and Maryland and at II O'Clock the services be-
gan. Bishop Pinckney, with Dr. Buck, of Rock
creek church, by his side followed by DR.. Elliott,
Of Ascension church, Washington; Dr.. Averill,
rector Of Grace church where the service was per
formed, and DIR. Williams, Of Christ church,
Georgetown, proceeded from the chancel to the
front door, whence, after looking on the bodies,
they returned TO the chancel, when the burial
service Of Protestant Episcopal Church was read
by Drs. Elliott, AYeTill and Buck.
During the service, the scene In the church was
most solemn. Many mothers who were present
and had lost sons in the Confederate service
sObbed aloud. while in many instances tears
could be seen flowing from the eyes Of men.
On the conclusion Of the reading Of the epistle
the ministers, with the congregation, proceeded
to the grave, when the remaining portion Of the
service was read, and the bodies were lowered
intotbe grave by the following pali-bearers: Col
Robert J. Fleming, Of TIE District Of Columbia
Gems, P. NJ. b. Young and p. l. Cook, Of Georgia
Il Garrett DR.. Young, DR.. Boyle, W. Harmon
W Drew Col. L. q. Lamar, VIM. Stone, Geo
T Howard, Col. A. Herbert.
The cofins were placed side by side, on each o.
which was a wreath; that containing the remain
Of Bland was placed at the north end Of the pit
where If his relatives ever desire to remove il
they will he able to locate il.
Rev. DR.. AVeTCtt next announced that at tn
rectOry, on the opposite side Of the road from tn
church there would be an address delivered b.
Ir Garnett, and poem read by Bishop Pinck
rev. and those assembled formed in line an
projected 10 the parsonage, where DIR. Garnet
was introduced, and made
LENGTHY ADDRESS.
In concluding he read an extract from Genera
Early's report, in which the General stated hl
1T 40.