The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-08
ON tho yiS!tsburG Cemetery

A very pretty speech was that mad'
by General Chalmers in the house
when appealing for an opportunity t.
repair the road to the Vicksburg GENE
tery--so pretty, in fact, that we ar
tempted to reproduce it. Said Genera
Chalmers
"The completion OF this road is nee
essary to secure easy access to this
cemetery, and We may therefore say i
is essential to the completion OF the
cemetery itself. Que of the most en-
nobling feelings in man is veneration
for the dead, and one of the most beau
tiful customs of civilization is the cree
ton of monuments in honor of those
we loved in life. The erection of ma
tional cemeteries by grateful govern
ment in honor of those who fell in its
defense is recognized by all as but a
fitting tribute to immortal valor. The
Federal soldier recognizes it as but an
act of justice to his comrades in arms;
the Confederate, while with the pride
of Robert Emmett he asks, 'let there
be no inscription on my tomb, feels
melancholy pleasure in beholding the
honors paid to fallen "foemen worthy
of his steel" In every age, in every
cline, in every civilization, the bitter
hates of life are htshcd at the portal.
of the tomb, and each returning spring
now finds the gray and the blue ming
ling their floral offerings on the sol
dier's grave. The cemetery at Vicks-
burg is one of the most beautiful i'll the
whole Union. Situated on high bluff
on the banks of the Mississippi river,
it commands view imposing alike in
nature and historic recollections.
Standing by the monument which
commentaries Pemberton's surrender
on til 4th of July, 1864, we see before
us, stretching for miles above and
below, the mighty river for the control
OF which we fought. To the left extends
the crescent range of hills where the
two armies met and grappled with each
other day and night, in the struggle of
death. Below stands the city of Vicks-
burg, where tue sons and daughters of
the South endured not only the fierce
bombardment of seigc-guns, but all
the pangs of hunger and starvation.
Along the crest of hills overhanging
5he river are the remains of earthworks,
rom which the Confederate artillery
making Vicksburg the Glib
altar of the South and locking the
gateway to the Gulf. On the opposite
ide of the river can be seen the spot
where Grants grand army was en-
amped. As we stand on this bivouac
+ the dead and gaze down the hillsides,
terraeed and interspersed
nth serpentine walks and drives,
raded with scientific skill, we behold
he headstones of sixteen thousand |
raves amid the green grass and luxu- f
liant forest, arranged with the regulari- c
= Of tented field. A poetic vision {
hight bring back the shadowy forms OF l
ne dead and people the hills and |
alleys once more with the living, NOV I
lg masses Of contending armies, and !,
light recall the days when the eyes of q
orld were turned on that spot, and "
hen the hearts of the North and
outh beat with alternate hope and f
,ar as they looked on that struggle, Ii
pom which seemed to hang the fate OF
lie Union and the Confederacy. Ii
ere is one spot more than another
ound which in after years will cling
,roic memories of the late war, it is
c cemetery at Yicksburg. We have e.
ven millions in pensions to the living; p
t us not deny the pittance necessary W
honor the dead" ~