The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-07-16

NEGLECTED DEAD.-Last month, the
writer happened to pass by the Manassas
battle field. The Confederate dead were
buried in spot near the village. Some of
the graves were marked and few enclosed
by an iron railing. ~ wall Of brown stone
once surrounded the whold cemetery. Now
many of the headboards are prone upon the
ground. Grass and weeds grow rank upon
the neglected mounds, where valor sleeps.
Large sections Of the wall have crumbled
down and cattle and hogs prowl unvexed
aud at will in spot that ought to be sacred
soil. Tho luxurious Northern tourists
passing in sight Of this graveyard marvel
at the neglect, the shameful neglect, of
Southerncrs who, while hurrahing over
live ex-Confcdcrates, especially during
political campaign, apparently care nothing
for the memory of slain heroes, who, be-
longing to the sileut majority, have no
votes or influence. We talk prettily and
seutimcutally of the "Thc Cause" We
erect monuments to the Confederate dead
We go wild over Jefferson Davis and
General Gordon. But the men who died
for their cause and but for whom the live
Generals would have no prestige-thc n,cn,
tic martyrs arc sleeping, in many places,
where unclcan animals are permitted to up
root their relics in way that is unspeak-
ably abominable.
oh, shame, where is thy blush!
While on this theme in may be mentioned
that no stone has ever been placed upon
the grave of Gen. A. P. HILL, who, in
several respects, was grandcr soldier than
somo who survived the war and made much
capital out of it. Gen. Il. p. Hill was
model Of manly beauty. We recall him as
he looked in 1862 at Richmond, and never
did Nature fashion more attractive human
being and never did God put bolder spir-
10 in more loyal breast. He, of nll tho
Generals of the Confederacy, was perhaps
the best incarnation Of simple duty. He
was modest, intrepid, staunch, reliable and
virtuous. He needed no trumpeter of his
fame, and sought none. He died at the
post of duty, and will forever be rcmem-
bered in connection with the last hours of
Lee and Jackson. Just before the mighty
spirit Of Stonewall broke from its prison
bars of flesh, tho Marbellus of the Confed-
eracy turned to those who surrounded his
dying bed and said: LET A. p. Hill pre-
pare for action :" When Robert T., Lee
exhalcd his grand soul away, his last words
were Of A. +. Hill, who had proceeded him
to the realm of shadows or the heaven of
heroes. What glorious character was
that which rose vitality before the dying
Jackson, and spiritually before the dying
Lee! True, A. p. Hill needs no monu-
ment. When we, and they who succeed
us, in far ages even, shall read of the
closing hours of Ice and Jackson, the name
of ~. P. ill shall be specially consecrated
and as lasting as the chevaliers of the Lost
Cause. Perhaps it is just as well that one
who has his memory so embalmed in the
solemn translation IF Lee and jackson
should, as became his modesty, slumber in
an humble grave. But it does not speak
well for those who survive that they are
vociferous 10 perpetuating the political
glorification Of adventurous Generals while
hogs deile the burial place of tho slain
heroes of Manassas and neglect broods over
the last resting place Of him who shared
with heavenly aspirations the final words
aud recollection of Robert T.. Lee and
Thomas j. Jackson.-Augusta Chron-
iclc.