The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-08
For the Anderson MtcWgcnccr.
A Visit to a Confederate Cemetery
DALTON, GA, April 8, 1875.


Mr.. EDITOR Some days ago. having little
leisure, concluded to take stroll around this
beautiful little "City of the Valley" and 1
soon found myself near the Confederate Gene
terry, which is situated just outside the city to
the west. I at once determined to devote a
half hour or so to the inspection of this sacred
spot. 1t is neatly enclosed with white plank
fence, and each grave is marked with head and
foot boards, on which are inscribed, so far as is
known, the names of the fallen soldiers, to-
eether with the command to which they be-
longcd.
Nearly every State in the Confederacy has a
silent representative in this little square acre.
Yes, they are sient-they are resting; but
''The soul of Jackson stalks abroad
TO watch their camp at night"
Instinctively 1 removed my hat as there re-
mained looking around, for felt that the place
whereon I stood was holy ground I seemed
to be lost in a trance, and the things that are
recorded only in memory appeared to pass
again before my vision. could recall instan-
ces of loved ones-some father, brother, near
relative or friend-tearing themselves from all
that was dear on earth, and marching to the
front with "the boys that wore the grey"
Somebody's loving father, somebody's hopeful
son, somebody's doting brother, somebody's
dearest friend, is lying peacefully here await
ing the reunion hereafter What comfort it
would be if all could know and feel that the
graves of their dear departed are honored and
protected. Will the people of the South con-
tinue to protect and cherish the resting places
of their fellow heroes? Or will they, in the
cares and perplexities of business and the
never ending trials of life, allow them to be
forgotten and neglected so that, in time to
come, when other generations have risen up, a
child shall ask his father "Where are the sol
diers buried that were killed in the great war
read about?" and he shall answer him, 81 do
not know" Shall this ever be the case? God
forbid
As I look around notice that number oi
the graves, yea, great proportion of them, are
marked "Unknown." What! Are these proud
patriots, that lie each in his marrow house,
these brave soldiers that defended "our own
are they really unknown? Do we not all
know them? If they could come forth from
the tomb to life and vigor again, we could take
each by the hand and feel in his warm grasp
the token of brother, and see in the bright
flash of his eye the mark of a FRIEND, fol
greater love hath no man than that he layeth
down his life for his friends" 1t seems un
grateful, it appears almost sacreligious, to say
of them that they are unknown. "a CoNFED
ERATE SOLDIER" would be far preferable, more
appropriate, more beautiful and more touching
and would be an epitaph in which we could
read more than could be recorded in vast vol
umes
Let us hope that on the 10th of May each
of these our friends, and not only these here
but the Others too, that lie buried all over oul
sunny land, from the Potomac to the Rie
Grande will receive a token of remembrance
from the fair daughters of the South, and that
ever hereafter as often as the beautiful spring
time shall come round so often will the Confed
crate Cemeteries be decorated and beautified
by the floral offerings of an ever-grateful peo
pie.
REAIMIJS