Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-06-09
Sbspherastown iaesis.rr.


Decoration bay 0St saturday,
June I'd, was observed as memorial day in
Shepherdstown, and the annual custom
OF strewing with flowers the graves of tho
Confederate soldiers who are buried in
Elmwood Cemetery was again commcni-
Grated. Although nearly twenty years
has elapsed since they fought the battles
in which they yielded up their lives, yet
their memory lives as fresh and is held Ia
as much honor as ever. Notwithstanding
the fact that there was not advertised any
display of military or other attractions OF
the kind To draw the sightseeing public,
the town was crowded with persons from
the neighborhood and strangers, showing
that decoration day has lost none Of its
interest. At two o'clock the limo OF
march, headed by Capt. CriswclPs Cornet
Baud, was taken up for the cemetery, the
Shepherd Fire Department, in uniform,
being in the procession. Upon the arrival
at the cemetery tho crowd gathered
around the speakers stand, and Col. w.
A. Morgan, Chief Marshal, announced
the programme. After prayer by Rev.
w. q. EgsleSton and music by Captain
Criswell's Band and the choir of the Lu-
theran Church, Rev. john Landstreet, OF
Baltimore, but now pastor OF the NJ. Il.
Church South OF Martinsburg, was intro
duceG as tho orator OF the day, and he
made an excellent address culOglstic OF
the character of the men who fought the
fight OF the Confederacy.
Speaking OF the annual custom OF dec
Grating soldiers graves, he said that
while the Grand Army OF the Republic
were nov decorating the graves Of their
fallen comrades, yet he gloricd III being
permitted to take part In services in honor
of the memory OF the men of the GrGnder
Army of Northern Virginia. lie then
alluded to their charlottesville large pro-
portion Of them being Christian men OF
Intelligence and standing; merchants,
lawyers, doctors, theological students,
and even ministers OF the Gospel being
found in the rankS-all acting under the
conscientious conviction of right. Their
memories arc and always should be held
sacred.
Mr.. Landstreet served rs chaplain Of
the First Virginia Regiment throughout
the war, and having been Intimately asso-
ciated with tho soldiers, he knew them us
well as any one. His address was listened
to with marked attention. Col. Morgan
then announced that owing to business
engagements of Importance, Col. Henry
Kyd Douglass, who was to have spoken,
could not be present, but that Col. a. H.
Boteler, one Of Nirginia's first orators,
had kindly consented to I'LL his place.
Colonel Boteler responded in Ill I'M
studied but eloquent speech, saying that
he would always be ready to speak word
to the honor OF our heroic dead. lie also
paid tribute 20 their bravery and Teadi-
ness TO battle 10 the death Tor the cause
they at least thought to be right. Refer
ring to our own immediate community,
he said that from her earliest days SheI-
heIdstown had been first to send her
brave sons To defend the rights Of the
common country. When the sayages
were maSsacreiiig the early settlers on
our frontiers, she sent her handful OF men
to the aid of the helpless. Later, in our
victorious struggle for independence with
great Britain, ohephcrdstown, among the
first, sent across the Potomac Morgan q
famous company on their "bee-line for
Boston," In 1872 Shephcrdstown man
was first TO enter Fort George, on the
Canada line, and tear down the British
flag, shouting as he waved il around his
head, ''Hurrah for old Shepherdstown!'
She was not dcrolct when our war with
Mexico needed men, one OF her citizens,
Colonel Hamtrameh, commanding tho
Virginia Regiment there. And, then,
when that awful struggle between the
States begun, she hesitated not, but the
best and bravest went forth to yield their
lives if necessary in defending their pin
ciples. Company b, as part Of the Stone
wall Brigade, left Such record behind 1t
as to eflectually silence any thought that
they were lighting for aught else than
honest conviction Of right.
After the addresses and music by the
choir and band the benedictiGn was pro-
nounced by Rev. ID. N. Moser. The
strcwing of the graves with flowers was
then proceeded with. The floral offerings
were numerous and beautiful, some Of
the designs being magnificent. The large
crowd then slowly dispersed, though the
town was well filled with people until
after nigh,-fall. The day was lovely
one, being cool and fair, and nothing oc-
Cured to mar tho pleasure of the occa-
sion. The best of order prevailed, and
altogether the celebration was success
fui one, long to be remembered by those
who participated III IT.
The Wheat Crop Rnjurcd.-We
have been Informed by Il gentleman liv-
ing near this town that the growing crop
of wheat, which few weeks ago gave
promise of such an excellent yield, has
been greatly damaged by the IIessian fly.
lie says that one field which had been es-
timated to yield thirty bushels per acre
will not amount to over six bushels, while
the whole crop of some farmers will Only
Weld from one third to two-thirtis of what
they would had not the fly damaged
them. Some farms arc entirely free from
the pest, but they are comparatively few.
We notice that reports from adjoining
counties also state the same facts, and the
wheat crop in this section Of the State