The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-31
BRAVE DEAD HONORED.
MEMORIAL DAY IN The FEDERAL.
CITY OF THE DEAD.
An Occasion Made Memorable by the
Assistance OF Southern Mothers and
Patriotic Sentiments From the orator
of the Day and @. A. r. Members.

II the Republican politiciansof the coun-
try were on the lookout for campaign ma
terial that might result from yesterdays
decoration orations in the national cities OF
the dead, Il was vain anticipation, so far
as Memphis is concerned. The event was
prolific in features which will serve TO
bury under mountainous weight OF pub
lie sentiment, all sectional feeling, and
render its further service fatal 10 the men
relying upon II as leverage % mike pcrpet-
uation in Office possible.
There were not exceeding 900 people in
attendance upon the sacred ceremony at
the national cemetery. Most Of these were
colored, but OF the class who re.
gard IL as q pleasant privilege, rather
than from motives OF curiosity and
idle pastime. The observance was con-
Quoted by Memphis Post, No. 8, q. A. r.,
under instructions from headquarters.
Owing to the fact that the day thus set
apart was too remote from Sunday TO admit
Of the customary change, it was feared that
the services could not result otherwise than
In failure. This doubt happily proved
groundless, for while tho pomp, ceremony
and crushing attendance may have fallen
behind previous years, in the maiR Il was
far more agreeable and appropriate Trains
were run over the Louisville x Nashville
road at convenient intervals and in proper
length 10 accommodate oil who could Mt
tend, and there was not n murmur OF com
plant from any source or on account OF
tV.
cution.
The ceremonies began Mt $50 O'Clock
pm. Fifteen members OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic were on hand, with Post
Commander DIR. Thad Donohue In charge,
exercises were brief but impressive, con-
sisiing OF short address by Commander
Donohue, setting forth the claims OF the
occasion upon all old soldiers. This was
followed by an observance OF the ritual
ceremonies. Tho Rev. DIR. N. NJ. Long, of
the Strangers church, was 10 have do
liyered tho oration, but was prevented
by illness. This necessitated a sudden
c6angc, and Mr.. John q. Hook, a leading
member OF the post, cheoriully obeycd
orders 10 Oil the vacancy occasioned by
DIR. Longs compulsory absence. Mr.. Hook
Ladies aud Gentlemen and Comfndcs OF Memphis
Post No. 2, q. A. X.
am ordered by the post commander TO
say few words on this occasion. The
eloquent gentleman who was invited 10 de-
liver Q Grafton on this sweoily sad occa-
sion has been unayoidably prevented from
being present However lily armed i am
for tho task, / learned my first lessons of
willing and unquestionod obedience TO my
superior officers, under that elegant gen
tleman and gallant soldier, Thos II. Kruger,
now brigadior-gcncal In tho United States
army, and who WIS formerly colonel OF the
third Wisconsin infantry; therefore, In
obedience 10 the onlcn OF the post com
mander, | will ondcayor 10 say few words
fitting tho occasion:
We are here today, comrades and fellow
citizens, 10 DECORATE the graves OF our
fallen soldiers with the flowers Of memory
and pay tribute Va tho $4,000 heroes Who
sleep In this beautiful city OF the dead.
What grand and heroic characters the war
produced. fini and fopmost, towering
head aud shoulders above all his con.
tempoarics, stands the great, the inn
mortal Abraham Lincoln. Ills greatness.
his Christian character and his intuitiye
statesmanship enabled him % grasp aud
solve the most difficult and delicate prob
lens that arose during the four years OF the
bloodiosi and most gigantic war OF modern
times. lie was tho braycat Of tho brave.
When our cause appeared the most hone.
less hc was the calmest. When foes with.
out and foes within the army sought 10 in
flucncc him against the issuance Of tho
emancipation proclamation he was true 10
himself, and in the face Of tho most throat
ening opposition, an opposition that would
have appalled, any man less brave than he,
lac performed the noblost act OF his great
career and forever abolished slavery under
our loved flag. Father Abraham" the
greatest Of the great, thou hast left the i'm.
prcs Of thy greatness upon our country,
upon the world, as no other character has
done since our blessed Lord aud Savior left
the imprint Of Ills hallowed foot upon the
sands OF Galliloe.
Tho war produced other great statesmen
and soldiers; men who werc our comrades
and Who finally led MS 10 victory and bacl,
&c civil liic-Grant, Hancock, Hooker,
Custer, with his wavy, yellow hair
Reno, Scdgcwick, Mcpherson, Meade,
kcarney, and 100 other choice spirits,
who gathered fame and glory and laurel.
10 bc entertained In a doaihloss wreath
upon the brow Of the American soldier.
II II said the late war tried mems souls:
but Il Il tried mems souls, how did Il try
the hearts Of the mothers Of the land.
Noble womonl How they suffered. Both
armies almost robbed the cradle and the
grave 10 keep the ranks full, and the
mothers received the ncwu Of tho soldier
boys death, ore the echoes Of his depart
Ing cheer a. lac turned his face southwark
had died away among the hills On
bright May morning in 1854, at Rcsaca
after advancing our line, young Conied
crate soldier, upon whose mouth and girl
ish lace there was no trace OF hifsut,
growth, fell within twenty yards OF oui
line. boy In blue, about his own age
helped 90 carry the boy 10 the rear of on
line, and administered 90 him, while teau
dinmod the eyes u the boy In blue. 1
was just ten days after that that the hoy /,
blue died a soldiers death under alno,
similar circumsiancosat New Hope church
One was the darling Of a southern mother
the other the darling and only son Of
northern mother, who still dwclls mon IN
banks Of the beautiful Wisconsin, mourn
ing her unreiuning brave. These. twD
young heroes sleep Ia graves markell
marked az all-unknown. Although un
known, they were heroes, died the deatl
Of heroes, and fell In the midst Of their re
sPcctiye enemies, neither OF them bein,
scarcely old enough 10 realize why th,
other was his enemy.
rs We entered this Enclosure bcautihn
design in flowers, bearing the followin,