Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-31
The Dead who Died for Us.

IL is the least we ought TO think OF doing
once year to drop our business affairs for
half day IN order TO devote that little
time to the decoration Of the graves Of the
men who died for us in the Intellectual
struggle for southern independence.
No allurements o. fortune, no temptings
of ambition, no sordid purpose called them
from their homes. II was pure patriotism
and love of liberty that caused them TO
Sesign the peaceful walks of life and at I'M
told sacrifice Of personal interests and
comfort 10 hurry TO the field. They knew
fhe odds against which they must fight,
But ipasmuch az the colonies had re
oelledp against the mother country under
almost similar circumstances and had at
Aength achieved independence. it did not
eeem incredible that our yalor should
wrench victory from the standards OF our
more numerous foe.
We. however, had not been able TO make
ADEQUATE preparations for a four-years'
war, for that wasting and want which
fasten upon a land and people whose sea-
ports arc closed, whose cities are besieged,
whose able-bodied males are in the army,
and who can repair no loss Of men or ma
teriai.
After the war was considerably adj
vanced when LEE lost man his place re-
mained untitled and there was gap in our
line of defenees. When GRANT lost one
he could, if he wished, call two from
his reserves. field of wheat trodden
under foot by the hoofs of the cavalry or
artillery was so much bread snatched
from our hungry mouths. GRANT had only
70 ask for @ ship-load of -four ana his re-
uuisition was honored in day.
Indeed our opponents had all the world
from which to draw. We were blockaded
by fleets, encompassed by armies;
barsssed by raiding parties. and tied down
10 lines from which we could neither adj
vance nor withdraw in safety.
The mightiness of that struggle and
how dearly it cost US may be realized whom
we remember that at Hollywood and Oak
wood cemeteries in this city 10000 of our
dead are buried. Let it be remembered,
TOO. that greater numbers than these sleep
ON the battle-felds or by roadsides, on
The ground upon which they fell. Let 1T
also be remembered that these were young
rnen. Their ages ranged from eighteen to
forty-fve years. While there were many
beyond and below these ages the figures
we have given compass the years of the
great majority Of those who followed our
flag.
Let IL be further remembered that Rich
mond was the capital of their young re-
public: that il was the standard around
which they rallied and for which they
fought, and alas, for which many of them
died.
If ell the rest Of the world suffered the
Confederate dead to pass out of mind. that
would be no excuse for our so doing. and
A. cannot be that we will ever be SO re-
creant to our duty. Rather let us cherish
with growing fondness the recollections
and traditions of those war days, and with
reverential care preserve every memorial
Of that past linked to US with the blood OF
the slain.
Gratitude 10 those who fell in our cause
smposes upon US some very plain duties
smong them TO care for the surviving vote
rams and to comfort them for the rest OF
their journey in life; to continue to OBJ
serve with unfagging Zeal our Memorial
days; to preserve the history and with 1t
che mementoes of our struggle; to COM
plete the monument in Richmond designed
20 commemorate the sacrifices and valor Of
the private soldiers and sailors of the Con-
federacy; to do our part towards raising
The fund TO erect a monument to the
memory of President DAVIS, no matter
where it is to be located to urge that his
body be buried in this city, and to keep
"the lamps Of chivalry alight IN hearts of
gold" and teach our children what were
the true issues of that momentous contest
In which we were defeated but not dis
graced.
LISA pity that ell the South cannot
have one common Memorial day, as all the
North has. 1t would do much towards &C
complishing the ends we have IN view.
Why should il DO impossible?
II is not yet too late to try to agree upon
n dav