Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-05-12
dNilu}tngtolr Journal
Ieir;O rial Day.

;po manner Not since the 10th
May has been set apart on which e
necially to honor the names of Il es
heroes, have the people of Wii,ningto
assembled around the Memoirs
monpd with SO much unani'uity, an
in such large numbers, AS they did 0
Yesterday. to engage III the sacre
Office.
The weather was never more beau
+ful for such an occasion. The SIX
cloulless; the winds were cam
ond the air Wa fresh from a delight
t,i rain which had fallen Oh the da,
all night previous. Nature seemed
70 assist in the pious ceremony which
tho thousands of loving hearts ant
lander hands were eager to perform
ond tae evening zephrs whispered
..Rest soldier, rest, thy labor is done
Tjfe's battle Is fought, L1ftS work Ii
done"
Az two o'clock the diff rent organl-
cations began to assemble at their sew
eraI pieces Of rendCrorS preparatory
to taking the positions which would
be assigned them III the procession.
While this was being done the Cape
Fear Light Artillery with two brass
field pieces which Lad been KIND y
loaned them for the occasion by the
Raleigh Light Artillery. fired salute
at the foot of Orange street. Soon
Market street was crowded with clti-
yAns in vehicles and on fOOt-a1l places
of business being closed and many
of the handsome stores on Mar
ket being draped in mourning.
The procession was formed at 3
o'clock P. M. The first division
in charge of Assistant; Marshals G. l..
Dudley, NJ. 4. Curtis, and J. B. Hug
gins, consisted of the Cape Fear Ar
tillery, the Wilmington Cornet Com
cert CLUB. the Wilmington Light In
fAntry, the Chaplain, the Ladies Mem
orial Association, the Misses Kennedy
and HATS school, with its teachers,
the Misses James and Burr's school
with its teachers, and the st. James
Mis- ion School and its teachers, hav-
ing its right resting on -Four street.
The second division was in charge Of
Assistant Marshals William Calder,
Mursden Bellamy and J. W. Perdew,
aud consisted of the Association Of
s. ii
Infantry, members of the 18th Regi-
ment. members of the. Old Cape Fear
Light Artillery, and members of South
erlands Battery. The third division
was in charge OF Assistant Marshals
Robert Rankin and Norwood Giles and
consisted of disabled Confederate Off
GERS, soldiers and sailors, and citizens
on foot. Everything was arranged
with military exactness by the Chief
Marshal, Col. Cantwell, and when the
command forward" was given at ten
minutes past three o'clock, the long
and imposing procession promptly took
up the line OF march towards the Gem
etery.
The scene was we'll calculated to
call forth all the better emotions of the
heart. There were the veterans of a
hundred battles, some of them again
wearing the habiliments of war; others,
who had borne up in the serried line
of battle against the enemy's sternest
charge, pretentiously swelling the
column and wearing the simplest garb
of the citizen. There were matrons in
carriages, and maidens and children
on football bearing banners. wreaths
and flowers which were to decorate the
sod that covers the head of the fallen
Confederate soldier. The banner, in
the form of a shield, with white ground |
and the inscription $40 the Unknown !
Dead, borne by two young ladies, |
was bat the echo of thousand hearts !
This was the design of the ladies of |
the Memorial Association, and was to |
show that none we're forgotten The |
young ladies' of Misses Kennedy and |
Harris school carried i. banner, like |
wise in the form of a shield. which |
wa surn ounted by a miniature Con
iederate flag that was furIed. The |
banner was bordered with wreath Of
laure and on its front was the inscrip- |
ton, The flag is stainless still" On |
the reverse side was neatly wrought |
design of a broken sabre, beneath |
which was transcription, "The broken |
sword is bright" st. James Mission |
school carried banner, on one side |
OF which was the sentiment, "Hhe |
private soldier-the bone and sinew of |
the army" and on the other side the
couplet:
Theirs-not to reason why.
Theirs-to do or die ,
All tie streets leading to the ceme-
terry were thronged with citizens who
did not take places III the procession,
making their way to the city of the
dead" and long ere the head of the
column reached the cemetery gate,
Nearly all the available spaces around
the Confederate enclosure were al
ready occupied by eager spectators.
PRESENTLY one standing within the en-
Closure around the Confederate mound
Could see the procession as it slowly
made Its way into and down the avenue
70 the main entrance. Here the artil-
'efy halted, but the rest of the line
passed through the arched gate and
up the McAdamized carriage way,
0e'Ween the evergreen hedges of
euohymus t. the Confederate lot, the
niii'afy opening ranks and presenting
atns as the different organizations.
"H'eh were composed of ladies, passed
up Tue granite steps into the enclosure.
Two elevated rostsums were ready, the
oHe Tor the Chaplain and Orator aud
s"7 '''7', - which was placed an organ
'u'il'hed by Mr. Heinsoereer, for the
choir.