The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10

"Iltten ID behalf Of the dear nj,
soldiers who have long since nassa,
over the river. Recently the rsn,ai,'
o. all the Southern soldiers who ,ell -
the battle Of Murfreesboro and the dit
teren6 skirmishes in aud around In
lo"h nave been removed from fhI
dreary, desolate fold lii which The,
I a'I".s iepased, 90 r. alLIuL s,yf i,
on" own city cemetery. There SIRE M.
tween fifteen hundred aud two thou
Nand of them. They had beer
gathered up and buried soon
after the close of the wa,
by the good people of MufreesborC
and Rutherford county, but the lor,.
ton was so isolated and remote That
1t was hard for the graves to he prom.
erly cared for. So again we all Went
TO work and raised money sufficient
to move them, each body being piaced
In q new cedar casket. We have
them now where the graves will ha
attended 10, and are using all opr en-
ergies and efforts to raise money snf.
ficlent to erect a substantial NOM.
menu TO their memory. There are
Iexas rangers and Texas soldiers who
are sleeping their sleep in this beauti-
iul, quiet spot. L myself ministered
10 many who were wounded in battles
or left behind sick after the fights
were over. Mr.. Monk, one of the
noble rangers, was wounded when
Forrest came in and aptured the place:
was nursed by be until he died
and is now laid away in the cemetery
Pfess Baker, another ranger was
crippled by ball and stayed at my
mouse Tor two months. before he was
able to enter the service again. NY
mouse was home for all the dear old
rangers whenever they were in this
part OF the country. Jesse Sparks,
who was then my soldier sweetheart,
had sworn many of these boys into
the Confederate service and of course
this endeared me more closely to
them. Now you know / make an
appeal to you all, not from the lips
merely, but away down from the
deepest depths of my heart, so I want
this letter read at your coming
reunion and | hope every one present
will contribute something to assist us
in erecting this monument. We are
going to each of the southern
states, for there are SOL
diers here from every portion
Of the south, and all alike should help
us in this noble work. With the very
best love and wishes of Mr.. Sparks
and myself, I am sincerely your
friend, Mrs. JOE B. SPARKS.
COmrade II. U. Lubbock suggested
that as the Rangers were now trying
to raise money to erect a monument
to the Rangers here in Texas it would
not be eXpedient to contribute to the
monument referred to by Mr.. Sparks.
His suggestion was adopted and Mr..
Giles was requested to reply to the
letter.
Mr.. w. ID. Cleveland then called at
tention to a battered bugle on the
presidents table, saying it was the
bugle Ben Polk first used in
the regiment. On battle
near Newman, Ga, Polk captured a
better one and left the old bugle on
the field. 1t was picked up by Chap
lain Bunting, who left it with Rev.
James Stacy Of Georgia for safe keep
ing after the battle, which was fought
July 3Oth, 1864. DR.. Stacy sent the
bugle to Mr.. Cleveland, to be turned
over to the regiment. Upon sugges
ton of Mr.. Cleveland comrade Clai
borne in behalf of the regiment receiv
ed it, making brief but neat speecl
in which he referred to the history O
the old war trumpet, the sound o
which had so often called the boys t.
arms.
Comrade Booth moved that the bu
gle be turned over to Treasurer Cleve
land to be kept for the regiment and
it was carried.
Comrade Claiborne stated he had
preserved part of the old battle flag
and he suggested that it be placed il
the hands of Mr.. Cleveland for preser
walton and the suggestion was adopt
ed.
The association then adjourned un
til $3.50.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Comrade L. B. Giles, for the com
mittee on history, reported reviewing
the work of the committee, and recon-
mending that the matter be dropped
and the funds be used for the erection
of a monument to commemorate I'M
deeds of the regiment.
Comrade g. q. Caldwell moved
he adoption of the report and it car
ried. .-, $50.
The report of the monumental com
mittee handed in during the mornln!
hours was read again.
some discussion followed and tn
matter was referred back to the monu
mental committee for further con
sideration, with request that the!
report Immediately and the committe
retired. ...
During the absence of the commit
tee Mr.. i. B. Giles presented the ioi
lowing letter, which was read AM
ordered to be spread upon the MN
utes: n.y. on 100,
NV Dear Comrades-I very mucI
recret that it will not be possible TO
me- 10 attend the reunion of this veal
and once again to renew those warn
and fraternal relations which wer
horn of and cemented by close CON
panionship during the dangers Ir ,EI
and sufferings of our civil war. IN
friendships of those days and for mos OF
: with whom | was then associated VII
never be forgotten. nor will they eve
grow weaker. They will contlnV
So" II +Loir freshness an