The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-10
HARRISBURG.

MEMORIAL DAy--DECoRATi0N OF c0NFEDE.
RATE GRAVES IN BLANDfoRD CEMETERY
tARGg CROWD IN ATTENDANCE-No
roeNAI CERAxoNiEs-vIs or RICHMOND
xuuAgy--TuE iLLUMINATED TOWN
cIoCk--TnE WHEAT HARVEST, &C.
,coris,pondenee of the Richmond Dsps,ch.l
JUNE Q, 1880.
Though the weather has been warm and
dusty TODAY il did not deter a large crowd
from assembling In Blandford Cemetery TO
40 honor 10 the memory OF the Confederate
dead whose remains rest quietly aud peace
tuIly there. THE 9th OF June was selected
originally as memorial day here In honor OF
the gallant check given 10 kautz's raiders, IN
their almost successful effort to capture the
city. by our militia and home guards under
command al Colonel 4. III. Archer, and
their subsequent repulse by achievements
from General Lees army, hurried TO the
scene OF conflict from Chesterfield county.
In that memorable conflict a number OF our
c;tizen.soldiery were killed and others were
cqniurcd. This is the sixteenth anniversary
of that day, and each year the occasion is
observed with the same show OF interest,
though not with the same elaborate eeremo-
nv as that manifested on the first memorial
day.
Thousands Of our people went over
10 the cemetery this a'ternoon-old and
Young, male and female as many OF them
as could do 50, carrying flowers to place
upon the graves. The scene was very
beautiful and very impressive one. The
ceremonies were very simple and altogether
without formality. There was no ora
ton, no special services OF any kind. AT
the appointed hour, under the supervision
Of the several committees OF the Ladies
Memorial Association, the laying OF the
floral offerings upon the graves, and OF
decorating the different squares was COM
menced and quietly proceeded with until
flashed. The sections containing the re-
mains of the "unknown dead" are upon
the crest Of what i known as Memorial
Hill" There are Eve or six OF these. and
they always receive special attention at the
hands OF the ladies 10 whose Charge they
are committed There are no mounds In
these sections. q level turf Of green covering
the ground The "unknOwn dead" are
many in number, and their graves lie thick
beneath the level sod. II il designed, at the
proper time, 70 erect plain granite monu-
ment i'm the centre OF each Of these sections.
Two Of these monuments have already been
mt in place, on each OF the four faces Of
which is inscribed the simple but sufficient
words: Confederate Dead, lS6l-'6j.'
As has always been the case on these oc.
ca.ions. the graves Of many OF the dead
elsewhere in the cemetery were also deco
rated with flowers by loving relatives and
friends.
There are ? number Of graves Of Conied.
crate dead in the Catholic cemetery, near
by. which were also beautifully decorated
The ceremonies over, the immense crowd
dispersed to their homes as quietly rs they
assembled.
The Guard Of the Commonwealth, thirty
three rank and file, Captain NJ. l.. Spots
wood commanding. arrived here this morn
Ing from Richmond. They were met at the
depot by committee OF the Petersburg
Grays and taken to the armory OF the latter
where collation. was served. This after
noon = battalion was formed OF the visiting
company aud tie Petersburg Grays and
Artillery, and. commanded by Captain
Spotswood, marched 10 the cemetery and
participated in the ceremonies OF the day.
The remains OF Mr.. 4. r. Marshall, whose
SD death occurred in Richmond on Tues.
day morning. were brought here to-day and
inferred IN Blandf0rd cemetery.
A letter received to-day from the Ansonis
Clock Company, Of New York. states def
ni,eIy that our new illuminated tower-clocb
will be delivered and set up by the 1st day
OF July.
The excitement consequent upon th'
meeting Of the Chicago Convention has en-
tirely subsidized. and the people are now
awaiting the assembling Of the Democratic
Convention.
Our farmers are in the midst Of harvest
The first wheat was sent in yesterday by
Mr.. John McGll, OF Dinwiddie county
While the straw This year is short, the heads
have filed out well, and the grain is believed
TO be OF average quality. ROBIN ADAIR.