Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-23
SACRED TO THE MEMORY
OF THE CONFEDERATE DEAD
OF PORTSMOUTH. w.

Post, u. a. X, of Portsmouth, Pick
ett-Buchanan Camp G. ". Of Norto h.
Va, Fourth Regiment Virginia state
Troops and the CITIZENS az Large by
James Barron Hope, Past Commands
Pickett Buchanan Camp.
NORFOLK. VA. May 32.-pespite the
rain which fell all Gay. tae memorial ser
vices at Portsmouth this afternoon were
attended by an immense thrcng. The
weather prevented the military and civic
nrocessions which had been arranged for
on an elaborate scale, but the graves OF
tue Confederate and Federal dead in the
various cemeteries were profusely deco
rated with flowers. A feature OF the oc-
casi0n vas the memorial poem reclted by
james Barron Hope, editor OF the Norfolk
L0HdmQrk, az Oxf0rd Hall, before a large
assembly OF ladies. military representa-
tives. members Of the Grand Army of the
Republic and citizens generally. The fol-
lowing Is the poem:
Your window 10 Memorlam years ago was
taken down.
above the town;
These marx two separate eras; but the LOFTY
Shaft 70 me,
bound in from the sea,
with his course shaped for the haven, under
broad expanded san.
And the oill0Ws leit behind MN ~ tle leesel
O. the gale.
Peace and Spring are here together; Blue ami
GRAY together blend.
Many man who tonight agslnsi us is mere
standing a- a frleue.
And to-day You've MT forgotten any graves
Of those who Eet.
MID the stubborn Ranks OF Men he Blue upon
the other SIDE.
Our rnstr9nsaud our rnaidens have decked
their graves wiki f9Ecrs,
And the laurel and The cEpress are the same
Ana il presence Of our graves I say: The
south would never lax
Should ne pet call the People 10 uphold
tie ancient Tag.
when she window with its blazon went from
uler sacred fame
> Our eyes we're fun Of bitter tears. your souls
Eerr sub % pain
Twas the IS Iuter u your flscOnlenb' your
Bat poBe e re Ie3 dear friends, did you pay
honor 70 your dead!
on. vel it IS. ny brethren. that the loftest
REGARDLESS q tie summers sun, regardless Of
TIE Snow.
RsSsrdlsss Of the smile Of power, regardless
Tbev ar 81 mus strong. for GoD HIMSELF i'm
planted Them 10 man!
Tn pure sentiment you cherish is above my
ioftiest rhyme;
&
But when I would embody it in fitting form of
speech, /
Like tie shadow OF the Broken II IL 1ar be-
The doquenoe FOR such day, to me full well
appears.
Is the eloquence Of woman, and her eoquence
Is tears.
Not the herd-wrung tears of anguish but of
love, and hope, and pride,
O'er the graves OF our dead heroes who for
Old Virginia died.
Nor need the bearded man feel shame to ind
the generous showers
Run down his rugged cheeks to fall on conse-
Grated flowers.
War reused your town from sumber; and you
saw the midnight sky
Lit by the flaming ships and 7 ard to lurid
crimson dye.
A second time, in noon day, you saw another
flame
You saw the Gray battalions march forth to
death ana fame.
But none like Vlrgifs hero could start with
child, and wife,
And venerated father, still they went forth to
the strife
With minds bent on their duty, and high in
air each head
All honor to those we see again! All honor to
the dead!
Then heart-strings cracked and living death
was died by many man,
And what the women felt, oh GOD, let HIM
But ali tried 10 do their duty-tried as only
brave souls try,
And adhesion TO our duty Oft Is harder than
TO die.
Men who look on mere externals and who
never search the heart,
May conceive that man from duty may con.
trive to live apart,
But those who take this method never wear a
ana the solder who attempts it is-a soldier
in disgrace.
Oh, the women OF Old Portsmouth IN their pa
thence were sublime,
As in working and in praying they abided
GOD's own time
Marble saints IN a stately Minister in some
land across the sea,
Ina Hood Of Winter moonlight were not half
80 pure to me!
And your men in Gray were faithful they
were counted with the best
And where theyfought no shadow fell on Old
NiTgl MAS crest.
rigs III cold, bare feet in marches never turn
your children back;
in retreat they loved the rearguard, in adj
vance they loved attack!
Oh, my brothers see figures which all hlt
athwart my brain,
Like The torches lit by lightning in some
tempest driven rain.
And above the rushing vision, in my soul ]
Those who fell for Home and Duty left us
names that cannot die"
IIHAs itloIt Ant hltepUR WdfTlOfh, comes
gentle wOman's face
Every mark Time made upon K seemed to add
aChrsuan grace.
SlsteE Of The soldiers widow, mother OF his
orphan child,
To us she seemed, indeed, as one on whom
her GOD had smiled
Passed from our sight sustained by CHRIST
she went upon her way,
And be you sure, as ! am, that her soul is
here to-day!
Other names pow blaze upon me, and they
start out one by one
AS the rays dart out glitter FROM a shield
hung 100 the sun.
fiske, and White and brave Nermillion, fell
on Malyern'a bloody SLOPE
Whom the cause that they defended was
aglOw with life and hope.
Gallant Butt, and two keImyers you may
b0ast In mood OF pride,
Types were they % valiant soldiers, and Ike
soldiers true they died!
And Cry mee, at bloody sharusburg, went
down prone upon the Held,
And Hodges. undcr Pickett, took his last sleep
on his shield.
And C9wo y. aud Forrest and Wilson, and
Cooke or your window stll blaze
Wnefr ite blaZ0n IA sunshine rs glowing ia "a
eiurhed purple haze,
litM rdale, ami beaton. and Bennett. and
hinRley. and Armi-tead, and Gayle,
Ana Williams. the brave Color Sergeant, and
owens ure men 10 bewull.
Last, not least. there comes Che Seaman. vail