Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-27
The Proposed Memorial to Florida's
Heroic Dead.

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Among the thousands of gallant hearts
that were stilled forever during the ire
mendous struggle wherein the heroes of
the Southland won undying fame by the
grandeur of their endurance and The
splendor of their courage, none wove
greener chaplets than the youth and
flower of Florida. The valor that
wrought such prodigies at Olustee
shone transcendeDt where cleaned the
banners of the grand old army of
Northern Virginia, and wherever brav-
cry was demanded, whether in the
splendor of the charge or the perils of
the retreat, the sons of Florida never
quailed.
The story of the Southland has passed
into history. In its cold, clear light,
whose searching rays give no place to
the fitful play of envy and detraction,
the motives of our heroes and the value
of their deeds will appear as they de-
serve.
A generation has passed and another
has arisen since the volume of Southern
endurance was closed, but the men that
survived the perils and the hardships of
the conflict go up and down among US
and challenge our admiration and re-
gard. But they that come not back, and
who lie meath the turf wherein they
fell, or in sight of the homes they bat
tied to defend, in spirit press
"a greener sod
Than Fancy 8 feet have ever trod."
They are enshrined in our memories,
and the guerdon of their fame is ever
cherished.
But it was fitting that our heroes
should have memorials more lasting than
the fond remembrance of their contem-
poraries, and from the placid shores OF
the Chesapeake to the sunny plains of
Texas fit mementoes rise that shall tell
to coming ages the story of the men that
died for the grand faith they chose. The
fair daughters of Tallahassee have, with
the spontaneity and nobility that have
ever characterized the women of the
South, erected a testimonial to the heroes
that sleep within the precincts of the
capital.
The survivors of Perry's Brigade, how
ever, formed the purpose of procuring a
common monument to the dead of Flori-
da, to be placed at Tallahassee, which by
its character and the record it contained
should testify the feelings of the people
of the plucky little commonwealth for
the men who died in its defense. A
committee was appointed, upon which
each county in the State is represented,
to solicit contributions to the memorial
fund. This committee will report at the
next meeting of the survivors of Perry's
Brigade, to be held in Tallahassee July
14,h. The survivors of Finley's Brigade
will also be present, and it is hoped that
gratifying progress may be reported,
General Perry writes to Colonel W..
d. Ballantine, of this city. formerly
of Florida, whom he has enlisted
in behalf of the memorial project,
that Mrs. Perry. representative lady,
of Florida, has already procured the
promise of over $1,100 from Escam-
bia county alone, where were recruited
the vanguard of Florida's heroes. A
commensurate iberality on the part of
the other counties will assure the success
of the movement. In this noble work
we of Savannah, united as we are with
the people of Florida by so many ties,
should be proud to join. We have raised
to our own heroes a memorial that in
vites the judgment of the critic and com
mands the admiration of the patriot.
Colonel Ballantine will be thankful for
any cooperation he may meet Nth, and
we invite all to join in a generous re-
spouse.
In honoring our dead we have hon
ored Georgia, and reaf1rmed the justice
of the stand she took. In honoring the
dead of a sister State, we perpetuate in
lasting marble the fellow feeling, the
generous rivalry, the community of pur-
pose, and theunity of action that marked
the defenders of the ill-starred but glo-
rious protest made in behalf of the teach
ings and traditions of our fathers