Litchfield enquirer., 1877-03-08
correspohdenss.
HAMPTON, VA, Feb. 20th. 187'


 I each of which I will take in turn and en- 1 deavof to give you some idea of their beauty, picturesqneness, and celebrity. | HE NATIONAL cEMETERYs F is situated east of the village of Hampton, about quarter of g mile from Virginia Hall, and is bounded on three sides by ] school land, and on the east by neck of water. It is enclosed by wall of square stones pointed with cement, about i've 1 feet high and two feat broad. and em- braces about twelve acres of land. -a s The main entrance is on the north-side through an iron gate. Within the enclos- ure, on the west of the main enterance, stands Bethesda chapel, erected by Gen. Butler in war time. It is now used by the I missionaries as church, and services are held in it at present evsryr Sunday morn ing. It is very roughly built chapel, with wing on the east-side half as large as the main part. Inside it is perfectly plain, with white walls. the whole aspect at once suggesting the idea that we come here to worship God. and not to study out the beauty of the architecture and fresco- ing. or to go into ectacIes over the lore- illness of our new church ,>. trs.s.s
 The services are begun by a chant from the choir. which is composed of the Hampton Singers. Then fellows the do xology Praise God from whom all blessings aow;'' after which, while the congregation is standing, the Lords pray CT is said in concert, and indeed it is it. ting to begin the worship with the Dvxo- logyS end Lords prayer, for they have a tendency to raise the mind above the things which engross it on week days, and allow it to rest upon and seriously ponder things pertaining to the laws of God. After the Lord. prayer, singing by the congregation is followed by prayer, the reading of scripture and another hymn. Then for few seconds perfect silence reigns within this sanctuary, and this si- lence is full of eloquence, for it reminds us that ''the Lord is in His Holy Temple. 7" The minister next announces his text. For the past three months he has selected a text from the Sermon on the mount taking each one of the Beatitudes for discourse Uast Sunday, he preached from the S3d to the 38th verses) ;and it has certainly been an interesting course. At the close of the sermon the congregation bow in silent prayer, during which the choir chants "Our Father. !" Was the Sab. bath ever more holy elsewhere? Shall we ever again realize that true sense of -wor- ship that came over us while listening to the singing of "Our Father at the close of silent prayer? At such moments it seems as if we are drawn nearer heaven and closer to God than ever before. and we go out into the world with hearts strengthened and full of peace.
 On the east-side of the entrance is the house of the cemetery keeper which is a very fine stone cottage. with beautiful foWer-bsds around it. Following up the main avenue we get a good view Of the grounds, which are well laid out, with evergreens, and spruce trees, and here and there flower beds, fig trees, and christmas holly. We first arrive at two cannons set up on end, and, forming q square around them, are four stone pill lars, with pile of cannon-balls on. each. On one of these eannoas is a brass plate on which is inscribed "United States National Military Cemetery-Hampton- Established May 1st. 1s66-Interments 5165; known 4690, unknown 475."
 Proceeding towards the south on the main avenue. We come to a mound about three feet high, and about 15O feet in cir conference, in the centre of which stands a fag-po 40 feet high. Stone steps and a gravel walk lead up to the pole. This mound stands directly in tho line of the main avenue, which is thus beautifully divided into two; one portion curving to the east, and the other to the west. In a direct line with the main entrance and iag-pole, towards the south, is another mound about two feet high and 160 feet in circumference, on the centre of which stands ponderous stone monument 8 feet high-base % by 25 feet-with the following devices and inscriptions: On the southside are swords crossed, under them, 1861; on the east two cannons are erossed-under them. 1862, on the north two muskets with bayonets are crossed under them, 1863; and on the west an eagle with stars and arrows is carved in relief, inside a circle. over which is 'tE Pittri6us Uau0a." and under on each corner. 1894 1865. Lower down on this side is inscrib. ed. ''In memory of Union Soldiers,t who died to maintain the laws" This monu- ment is enclosed by a, picket fence. The posts are spiked cannons, and tlre pickets, 375 in number. .are old guns with bayonets all on and painted black-giving it deci. dedly war-like appearance. '. Walks are beautifully laid out all through this cemetery
 The graves of confederate soldiers, of winch there are qulfe large number at the back of the ground. are simply mark ed with boards set in the ground with in- scriptions in black letters. .. ].
 ThelUnion soldiers are buried in sec- tions. running across the yard from north to south; two tiers of graves in each sec tion; the head of one grave. coming close to the foot of the other. and the tomb stones, which are nearly all alike, about 2 feet high. of white marble, are placed at the head of the first tier of graves. and at the foot of the second tier, with. paths between each section. The atones are set with such regularity that. taking any position you will, almoss will seem standing in exact lines.
 We all thought at home that there were a great many in our, own cemetery who had laid down their lives for their conn.