Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-09-29
Manassas Cemetery,

| I"'Iilh seven NilicS from Inc good ola
town OF Alexandria, and very near the
llourlshing village Of Manassas the traveller
on the Midland road is saddened to see a
dcsulalc cemetery, the arches over the gate
ways bearing the inscription, Confederate
Dead" One.gatc is PROSTATE, the fencing
tottern@. and the rough headboartls fallen
and scattered, while no flower. nor tree.
keeps tender watch over the gallant men
who passed from earth in the rose-Hush of
hope. honor and achievement
What Keats terms "A keen and ullvcrine
scnsc OF tears" is eylored by this humilia-
ting sight, for humiliatng it undoubtedly is
to the stricken Sonthron, who has not vet
removed the dark cypress from his home
walls. and whose heart still thrills with the
pressure OF hands that have long since
| crumbled into grave dust.
'',stormcd at Lv shot and she'll
HravcIy they fought aud well.
And surely they whose knightly deeds of
daring are imperishable, merit Il resting place
meet for heroes.
Winchester, Front Royal and Warrcnton
have gathered the sacred dust ofthc South's
manyrcd sons into their beautiful ccmcter-
les, whilra spotless marble shaft in each
place cncllains the eye Of the heholdcr and
fires the soul with emotions of profounde.t
love and loyalty.
! Tenderness for the departed is lovely
feature III amy nation, and words OF up.
braiding invOluntarily arise when We find a
community neglected. of its dead. Such
| thoughts as these lately surgcd through our
mind. and with some bitterness Of speech
we gave them utterance, rejecting in strong
terms upon the lack Of .vcnnration ami
patriotism exhibited by the Munassusilc$.
Then was revealed touching version of
the case which we give the public as Il
simple act of justice 10 the good citizens of
Manassas and vicinity.
just two years after The unsuccessful
struggle of the Southern people in the late
war, the Ladies' Memorial Association Of
Manassas was organized by Il noble band of
SpartanS who, after securing the gift of an
acre OF ground Us Il receptacle for the bones
OF their heroic dead, succeeded in enclosing
it, and re-interred within lis halowcd pre-.
cincts more than two hundred gallant
| soldiers, the majority Of whom yielded up
their lives i'll the two great battles fought at
this place.
When we reflect that this section WAS for
tour Sangninary years the great theatre of n
mighty conflict, we look with wonder and
|
Southern matrons and maidens, who, though
| pcnnllcss and almost homeless infused inio
their undertaking the arlor of dauntless
| purpose, and accomplished Il work which
however regarded by the carping criticism
OF man, brought JOY 10 the angels.
by means OF tahleauX, festivals, etc. they
conlnved TO keep the sacred spot in a presen-
table condition Tor years, but the structure
ALI ol Woou--in process of time sllccumcd
to the ravages of the great DESTROYER, and
with sorrowng hearts they were compelled
to relax their efforts. June 25th of the prc
sent year they rcorSanizcd their Association
and July 2lst. the twenty first anniversary
OF the great initiatory battle of the war
with the cooperation of the Prince William
cavalry: they gave Il successful dinner. and
with nucleus Of S400 they speedily DESIGN
commencing their consecratcd work of en-
closing with either stone or iron, something
that will resist the innovations of time
erecting fitting monument for their warrior
braves, and decorating the grounds with
those sweetest memorials to the dead. "thc
rose of love and the lily Of peace" blended
with tadcleSS evergrccns.
me amount collected is totally nadeouate
to detray the heavy expense.
| Every southern State, from our own "Old Linz"
10 the Lone Star of the far of Southwest i
represented IN this rural cemetery, and we should
| esteem II privilege 10 cast golden sunbeams of
tangible aid into this sacred treasury.
our American nature is too apathctic to that
hnnmcrahlc caravan" that has preceded ms to
tue IoiccleSs realm; so wholly absorbed by the
problem OF living as to he lacking in tenderness
and reverence for the denartcd
'S nation we have come forth in frnshened
spirndor from the consuming glow of that fierce
orueal oil strife, ana peace and mutual forgiveness
are 10" nroodingwih doye-likc wings where two
decades III the past gory-handcd war reipncd s,,.
rreme. win hearts thrilling with gratitude for
,he ihahlloid blessings of the present we reycreut
y east our mmortelcs upon the tombs of omr
ueathIesS dead in their last long bivouac. For rs
.ney aied--ior them we mourn, showerng unon
l,sm n the tendcres offerings Of loving hearts
EST OCKET YSPEpsIAC CURE