Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-19
CONFEDERATE GRAVES.
Decoration Ceremonies at The
City Cemetery.
A Large Crowd Of People Pay Their
Respects to the Memory of the
Boys Who Fell In Battle.


The Decoration Day ceremonies at
the City cemetery this morning were
largely attended by the best people
of the city, all taking an active part
in the program. @. HI. Bailey was
master of ceremonies. The exercises
were opened with prayer by the
chaplain.
Capt. j. j. Crusman was then in
troduced, and spoke feelingly of the
occasion that had brought them to-
gether. The crowd had assembled at
the grave of William III. McCulloch
in the northwest corner OF the ceme-
terry, and it was about this gallant
and patriotic son of GAINESVILLE that
Capt. Crusman spoke principally.
The effort made was to show that the
little incidents in a mans life were
what made the man. William Nc
Culloch was a boy attending school
here when the call to arms was
sounded. He was of an impetuous
gallant, patriotic nature and his soul
longed to take up arms in defense OF
his country. He wanted to join a
regiment, but his father and mother
objected on account of his ex-
treme youth. Notwithstanding this
opposition the boy yearned to
become a soldier. His father at
last told him that he could 60 If he
would get the consent of his mother.
When she was approached by
her son she said: "Will, we need
you here in the Sunday school while
all the men have gone to the war;"
This was the only argument that
had ever brought any halt to his as
pirations. He was member of the
Methodist church, and loved his
church and Sunday school, and for a
moment it seemed that he would re-
main at home. But when the boys
began enlisting in the Fourteenth
Tennessee regiment, Company Fl, he
could stand it no longer, and began
his entreaties again to join. His
father finally agreed, and so Will
Joined the regiment and company
mentioned above.
A delegation was sent to Nash
vile to interview Gov. Harris on
the subject of getting arms. A few
old fiint-lock muskets were all that
could be secured. When the dele
cation returned meeting was held
and the report was received. Some
one remarked that "If a few flint
locks was all that Gov. Harris could
give them they might scratch his
name off," Will McCulloch was the
first one on his feet. Said he:
Comrades, if we can get guns no
other way, let's take them from the
enemy" This fired the audience,
coming from one 80 young, and the
company was soon organized.
The speaker then followed the
gallant youth through many battles
to Gettysburg, where he met his
death in the memorable charge on
Cemetery Hill. A bullet struck
him squarely in the forehead, pierre
ing the brain. He fell with his feet
to the foe and his face to his
God" He left no stain on
his name, or his record as a
soldier. After referring feelingly
to the duty they had come to per-
form, Capt. Crusman closed his re-
marks and the decoration was begun.
Every grave that holds the ashes OF
a Confederate soldier was covered
with flowers.
That mother In Alabama, to whom
Capt. Crusman referred in his speech,
who is mourning for son who
sleeps in some unknown grave, may
rest assured that il his ashes repose
here the mound above them is COW
cred with roses, and silent prayer
has been offered up for her consola-
ton. AT 2 o'clock large crowd left
the city for Greenwood, where SINH
lar ceremonies are on the program
for this afternoon, the details OF
which will be published tomorrow.
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