Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-05-05
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
The Movement to Improve the Gem
etery at Springfield. Mo.
An Appeal to the Public by the Ex.
Confederate A~ssociatIon.

Gen. John S. Marmaduke, president OF thu
Ex-C confederate Association of Missouri, ant
a number of other gentlemen interested in tn,
organization, recently visited Springfield
Mo. 1t Is the intention Of the association t,
improve and beautify the confederate GENE
ter. there and dedicate 1t to the confederate
dead of Missouri. In pursuance of this re
solve the following appeal is made to the peo
pie OF Missouri by the association:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 25. 1889.
When the late war came to a close the re.
mains of the confederate soldiers killed In
battle, or who had died in hospitals in Mis-.
souri,, were scattered throughout the state,
especially in Southwest Missouri, which was
the chief battle ground of the state. The
soldier-dead of the Union were gathered in
cemeteries at Jefferson Barracks, Jefferson
City and Springfield. each of which cemrte.
ries have been carefully kept and beautitied
by the federal government in a manner
worthy of the cause for which these heroes
died. The confederate dead have had no
such protector to guard and honor their re-
mains, and for years their bones rested in
widely separated and uncared for graves. In
ls6s, however, the good people of Springfield.
prompted by humane rs we'll as patriotic
motives, took steps to RENTER the bones ofthe
scattered dead OF the fields of Wilson Creek.
Springfield, Carthage, Dug Springs and the
various skirmishes in the southwest.
~. 'oluntary contributions from friends
and former foes, a cemetery was secured near
In which their remains have been re-interred,
and have since been CARED for by a local
organization. These dead belong to Missouri,
Their courage and devotion to their conyic-
of duty hallow their memories and cause
them to he revered by men OF all shades of po-
lttical opinion.
Every consideration of humanity admonish-
that they be taken care OF by the people of
the entire state. and more especially by their
surviving comrades and their friends, In this
cemetery there are now COL graves. Most of
!hese are OF unidentified men, but al are
Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas,
who were under Price. Mccullough aud other
confederate chieftains. Among these are
numbered the graves of Col. Benz. Brown,
Col. John n. Foster, Lieut.-Col. r. III.
Meightman, Lieut:-Col. Austin, Col. j. L..
Layton, Capt. Haze Farris, William
hughes, John Newton, Of Morehouse parish
La, and ". J. Grigson. The remains Of
COL. JOHN S. BOWEN
Lie in an a%ncared-for grave in a field in Mis-
'issippi. His comrades hope to see them marx.
q and honored in this cemetery. as they do
hose of other heroes whose bones are now
ying In neglected spots.
The cemetery at Springfield consists of
hree and . half acres, beautifully situated,
easily susceptible of high Improvement
is enclosed by a wooden paiing fence, Which
. already going to decay: the graves are each
marked by q headboard of cedar wood painted
White and numbered with reference to the
which states all that is known of the |
A few trees a been planted and |
re growing; bluegrass has this wear been
own. The local society having done ali in
Is power, and the idea being very properly
.eld that the cemetery should be the care of
II ex-confederate soldiers In Missouri, it was
endered to the "Ex-Confedrate Association of
lissouri." at its annual meeting last year,
by that society adopted US the confeder.
to cemetery of the state, There is no other.
A meeting ofthe council Of the association
to executive committee) was held Mt SPRING
old, Monday, April %, when the cemetery
rs inspected, and the president was instruct
l to prepare this address. 1t is deemed nee
by the council that ut least $40. 600
,all be raised in order that the grounds shall
e: LIST, permanently fenced; End, have
nall headstones for each grave; Sd, be
formed with a suitable monument commend
'atlve Of the virtues of the fallen brave:
be provided with a small sum for annual
ire and necessary repairs. The sum asked
ems to be the least with which the purpose
n be properly accomplished.
Inc National cemetery, but q few feet
has cost beside maintenance, simply
r permanent improvements, over s65, 0O6.
does not contain as many graves as does
ana not nearly so many as will ours, if
e do'our duty by it.
WITH TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
he confederate cemetery can be so improved
I'd 6eautified that no confederate soldier or
s descendants, in contemplating it hereaf-
r, will need to blush when he steps Il few
ct north to look upon the monument which
we Deen erected to the memory of the gai-
federal dead. We do not solicit, nor do {
Q expect go eminent aid. We can only eIv
ION me generous patriotism of the living (
confederate soldier, and upon the liberaii- d
OF all men who revere bravery and con.
,n'lous oeVotlon to principle, even though
may not approve the cause for which the /
ia!er Yielded up his life. Especially do we
upon our W comrades aud solemnly As
le tlem maj could they view this halloWed
\ 1t a bounden and an imperative duty to
ior tLls cause his part. Could each one be
preached the required sum would uuickJyj
d certainly be raised. The difficulty lies in !
;urlnS Tor the purpose the necessary organ 4
'tion. 1t is the object Of this address tv set !,
"a .ne iacts, " urge, particularly upon the 1
;e-presldents of the assoc alton in the var ;
IL districts, u speedy and comprehensive u
sanlzalion In every county in the 8 ate, and ii
ash OF ex-confederates especially, and of u
lers who may feel disposed 10 aid us, u
on,Pt ana generous response. With active
er.,on tie s2t,Ooo should be secured during
; X two months, and before the meeting
me association at Jefferson City, August,
ana ~. Some of the ex~-confederates not
lhs able To assist in any Considerable sum,
some OF them being inaccessible to hi,
call, 1t will be seen that those who can
80 must contribute as literally as possible.
cause could more forcibly appeal to our
IRIS. Let us see that it docs not fail Of sue
-. Very respectfully. 4
JOHN S. MARMADUKE,
Priest. Ex.- Conlede rate Assn. of Ma.