Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-02
DEC0RA TON DAY.
StreWing the Graves of the Dead
Interesting Exercises.
An Eloquent and Appropriate Address
for the Occasion.
Zion the paily ChronicIe May % ]


As usual, Decoration Day was rec
ognized as holiday by large class
Of our citizens; and people came toy
cars, by wagons, on horseback aud on
foot to participate in the annual exer-
cises Of stiewing flowers on the three
thousand graves of the Union dead in
the National Cemetery.
The usual formal procession headed
by music was missing, as agreed upon
previously 10y the Committee of Ar
rangrments, but from Market Square
where the flowers had been collected
quite number of carriages and omui-
buses with the little misses to strue
the graves, proceeded in order to the
cemetery.
THE CEMETERY.
Each year grows in beauty. The trees
are now large enough to afford CONS
| Portable shade. Mr.. Harvey Clark
Chairman of the Committee on
Grounds, had that part of the work
we'll done. An abundant supply of
good ice water was furnished. The
stand was tastefulIy decorated and
every thing done for the comfort of
those participating in the exercises.
An abundance of flowers was secured,
and each grave was well decorated.
Promptly at the appointed time
Judge Andrews, President of the AS
sOciation, announced the exercises in
the following order:
Music by Glee CIub-"Our Sleep.
ing Heroes
Weep Daughter Of Liberty vail for the dead.
And steep their lone graves with the tear.drop Of
love-
The singers We're Messrs. Alvin Bar
ton, w. p. Chamberlain, Prof. Mar
shall, O. b. Smith, Andrew Humes,
c. =. King aud y. A. Barnes. Mr..
| Charles Krutch presided at the organ.
The music was exceedingly good and
was very much enjoyed by all present.
An eloquent and appropriate PRAYER
followed by Rev. j. f. b. Mays, d. D.,
of the First Baptist Church.
! 3. Music by Glee Club" Colum.
bias Dead -
They are sleeping where flowers of the ade
and the hill
In a mantle oflove have arrayed them"
The orator Ken. Wheeler, Esq, was
introduced by Judge Andrews. Mr..
| Wheeler was a gallant soldier during
the late war and but "A few years
ago had a bullet extracted from his
! hip, which before that had proven a
| painful am troublesome wound. He
| il one of go leading lawyers of Chat
tannoga. a,i interested in the Boane
| Trou Cnmi,ny and other solid indus
. fri. of GiGtar sitN He
address. " hich was very well delivered
and proved very acceptable to all pres.
ent was a , lows:
MR.. WHEELER's ADDRESS.
am sure it is with no uncharitabIe feel
ings toward, late opponents that we assem-
bic to honor the memories of the bravo
men who sleep their last sleep upon this
beautiful hillside. If these annually re-
curing ceremonies were to be made occa-
siOns for reviving old animosties and
strifes FOR keeping alive old heart-burnings,
and tanning into new life ancient tres-now
haply burning low--of jealousy and hate,
then would it be well to discontinue them
and to cherish our reCollectlOns Of the dead
in some manner more fitting to promote the
cause for iChich they died-the union of
these States, the union Of the people. 1t
| is assuredy our duty, as it is our interest to
| forget the excitements and passions of our
| late civil war. Time, with its healing intlu-
fences, is rapidly closing the wounds of that
| most unhappy, yet most glorious contest.
Patriotism and interest unite to forbid us
to impede natures treatment The spirits
| of these dead forbid any interference with
! the kindly influences fast bringing US, as a
people, to the sweet paths of charity and
peace.
We have assembled 10 discuss none Of the
questions that divided our people from 1861
! to 1863 Those questions have been forever
settled, and have passed into history. For
4 ten years has peace, with its priceless bless
| ings, reigned over the land-torn by dis
cords and shaken by the tread of armed
bsttelions. This section which, so
short time since, was the theater
of contending armies, and noisy
arms, has relapsed into quietude and rest,
The hills and plains 50 recently alive with
myriads Of men in arms have been return>
I ed to the busy labors of the peaceful hus-
bandman, and the blessed rains and dews
! of Heaven have fallen alike upon the grave
of the Federal and Confederate, and have
given to each its covering Of green, and
have hjddeH the CHASTITY features of grim
visaged war
Far be it from me, on this day and on
this occasion, to revive memories bitter but
now fast fading into forgetfulness
But unqrateflA should we be if we failed
to remember those through whose sacrifices
peace was made possible. The National
Government has recognized its obligations
to the dead, and at vast cost has purchased
the most beautiful spots for its cemeteries,
and has gathered into them, from far
and wide, the ashes of its heroes
those who have fallen amid the fierce tu-
multi of battle-and those who far from
comrades and kindred breathed their last
in hospital, prison and stockade. With
tenderest care it has sought to make attrac-
tive and pleasing their last resting places,
and hiss reared lofty monuments TO trans
nit to posterity the story of their heroic
lives. But their real monument is the trib,
ute all hearts give to high thoughts told in
deeds.
The life they gave
is not shut in the grave
The valOrous spirits freed
Live in the vital decd
Marble shall eumble 10 dust,
Plinth of bronze and Of stoue,
Carved escuteheon and crest
Silently one by one,
The seulptOred lilies fall,
Softly the tooth of the rust
GaaWs hTOugh the brazeu shield;
Broken and covered with stains.
The crossed stone swords must yield;
Mined nv the frost and the drOuth