The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-06-07
CORRESPONDENTS

WAsHnGroS, d. c., June I'd, 1871.
On Memorial Day, May Both, instead
Of going TO Arlington, Gettysburg or
Richmond, as did ten thousand others.
your subscriber, with few friends.
went up TO Loudon county Vap spent
a part Of two days with Col. Chamber
lin, a son of old Vermont, and attended
the decorative ceremonies at the Ma
tional Ccmetry at Balls Bluff. These
we're very interesting and impressive.
The faithful few IN that vicinity assem-
bled as has been their custom for nine
years past, and gave the day to sacred
work The column filed in slow pro-
cession through the iron gate Of the en-
closure, preceded by band of young
children, who carried baskets Of flowers
with which they strewed the grassy
mounds, where sleep the fallen brave.
With single exception, the names
Of those buried here are Unknown,
and that word is cut deep on each OF
the marble tablets that have been
placed by their untmely graves. One
inscription James Allen, Mass" IS
all that tells us ofthose who went down
TO their terrible deaths on that October
afternoon, 1861. Viewed in the light
Of our subsequent information, it seems
hard to understand how such blunder
could have been permitted as that
which sent 500 brave men to their IN
eyitable deaths, in such unequal strife
The wonder seems greater that SO
r.auy did escape and it would seem
that the merciless ferocity that bay
oneted our wounded soldiers and shot
the struggling iugitives while they
were drowning. was fully equaled by a
military incapacity that could not avail
/ itself Of its opportunities: The num-
Der Of the rebels, their position, their
4 fall knowledge, Of all the circumstances
/ that conspired TO render the Union
hopes so forlorn, afforded ample means
to have rendered their success far more
complete and our disaster the greater.
4 But il was not 10 be. After the graves
Z had been decorated, we had the pleas.
ure Of listening to the orator OF the
day, Hon. Alonzo Bell, Assistant Sec
rotary Of the Interior Department. The
address was every thing that ii should
have been. il would seem. We hope
/ that consent to its publication may be
gained. With great beauty OF diction
and grace Of delivery the orator seem.
"a 10 hold man. woman and child with
anfagging interest from the commence
ment to the close.
Col Chambehin. who acted as mar
shal and general manager OF the ar
engagements Of decoration il native OF
Orange county, Vermont, and most
answering champion Of the right in
the Old Dominion. His house IS and
has been a tallyiug point for the 10y
atty II that part Of Virginia, loyalty,
that, tried ia the ares Of the Rebellion,
grows not dim when 10 addition 70 the
os,rAcism and aversion be has. through
long years. been compelled 70 eneona-
ter ID common with other Union people
who are trying 10 live IN the south, be
haa Is confront the effect Of new eK-
pcnmcnts and politics In the way Of
pacifcAtion and Cancellation
Lei TIC hope be INDUCED that these
may Dot prove entire failures. thai the
sincere eBdcavofs ofpA,riotic men to-
ward establishing a more perfect union
may BE appreciated BY those toward
whom lhey are particularly directed,
and peace order. equality add justice
nav prevail throughout the land
Forfvox