The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-03
LOCAL NJ ALTERS.

first place in the. country to inauaurate the
beautiful custe IN Of decorating with howers
and cvereref.ns the graves Of the soldiers
who fell In the tNlc war. While, OF course,
most attent ion has been paid the graves OF
Coniedera'.es buried at Oakwood and Holly
wood. the. Federal graves have not been neg.
lectcd. At the very first memorill-day at
Hollyw ood the graves Of some Federal dead
within the enclosure were treated with the
same respect rs The host OF Contederates.
FROM that time to this, in defiance of the Oft
repeated prediction that the memorial Gus
tom would soon cease to be observed. one
day OF each year In the spring, generally in
hsy, there has been total cessation OF busl-
ness in Richmond, AID nearly all The people
have gone 10 Hollywood and testified their
affection and love for the dead by adornipg
the mounds that cover their remlins.
The preparations for decorating the graves
yesterday, though made without united ac-
tiop, were quite extensive. Great advantage
had been gained 10 the postponement OF the
day, for had the decoration been on the 26ih,
as first designed, there would have been
fewer flowers. The weather yesterday was,
however, tantaliZing in the extreme. Rain
seemed to be impending from O'Clock in the
morning until sundown, and though the few
showers that we're actually had were of no
great consequence, and could have done no
serious BARN, the effect was bad. Thousands OF
people who had arranged to go, after waiting
hour after hour, and seeing no prospect of
clearing-up. finally reliDqrished their pur-
nose. However, there were many ladies and
gentlemen who we're undaunted by the un-
promising weather, and who went 10 Holly
wood early in the day and labored contlnu-
ouSly in the decoration OF the graves.
There was great abundance Of flowers.
The Southern Cross Brotherhood were able
to decorate the graves on Gettysburg Hill
unusually well. Ali the other soldiers sec
| tions received like attention from the ladies
| of the Memorial Association. from other lady
, friends, and from those who had stood
| shoulder to shoulder with them in battle.
The Capitol and City Hall offices were
closed throughout the day. After 3 O'Clock
there was general suspension Of business
on Broad, Nam, and Cary streets. On
number of houses were embems OF
mourning, but the attentions Of thesieope
in this respect were less manifest than on
former occasions. AT $3.50 O'Clock the process
sion was formed in front Ofthe City Hall. The
Petersburg Grays. for some reason not ex.
pained. did not come over. The procession
comprised the First Regiment Band, the Old
FIRST Regiment Association and members of
the old Fifteenth regiment, under General
| Z. T. Moore, and the First Regiment OF Fol-
| unteers. under Leutcnant-Co White.
head. The members of the Old First regi-
meut wore a very pretty badge and carried
small bouquets, and by their numbers and
appearance made favorable impression. The
comp mics of the First regiment did not seem
| to have their ranks very full. Tue process
tsir n
| Ninth to Grace, up Grace 10 Fourth, up
Fourth to Franklin. up Franklin to Laurel,
| down Laurel to Holly wood. They entered
the cemetery at the eastern gate, and marched
| directly TO the soldiers part'Of the cemetery,
| where they halted and stocked arms.
| The Blues, Grays, and Company + visited
the graves OF fallen comrades and handsomely
! decorated them. The grave of General A.
| Z. HUI, which is in well-kept section, but
not marked by q monument, was covered
with flowers. General j. r. B. Stuart's grave
| was as well cared for. At the head of Gem.
| modore Maury's grave was massive anchor
and at the foot 4 cross. both made of choice
flowers. President Monroe's tomb, which
| in former years Las been some what neglected,
" IS yesterday encirclcd with Il line of bo-
quets fixed on the iron framework. The lit
tie boys and girls placed their usual tribute
upon the grave Of the little son Of President
| Davis. who met his death by accident here
during the war. The decorations of many Of
| the vaults and private sections were admira-
| be. In fact, such was the prOfuSiOn OF h)w-
| ers and evergrecns there was scarcely grave
OF any sort overlooked. The vines and
crecpers around the Confederate monument
have now goue some twelve or fifteen feet
up the monument, and in few years will
greer.
Visitors who approached Hollywood by
| the canal front-and there were many who
came in row. boats and boats drawn by
horses iorciby struck with the good
| taste displayed in draping the steam pump
house.
At the City Hall, when the procession was
being formed, and when the Old FIRST Regi.
ment Association moved forward 10 occupy
their place of honor on the right, they were
conpimcnted by the First regiment pre-.
sentlng arms. At Hollywood gate, just as
the procession was moving IN, the Old First
reciprorated the courtesy, and the veterans
took eff their hats to those gallant young
fellows who now compose the First regl.
ment.
The Howitzers did not join their military
brethren in the ceremonies of the day be-
cause Of the accident which happened 10
! them when returning from Charlotte, by
which their guns were dismounted.
At 6 O'Clock the line Of the procession was
| reformed. Then You'll Remember Me"
was played by one or two members Of the
baud with such effect as to bring viyidly 20
the minds of many faces and voices of rela-
tives and friends who had long slept with
the army of tue dead. The regiment was
marched to Gettysburg Hill under command
of Captain Bass, and on the hill Lieutenant
Colonel Whitehead resumed charge and had
dress-parade, which concluded the pro-
gramme for the day, and the people dis
pcrseu.