The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-30
ORIGIN OF MEMoRIAL DAY.
How tho Custom Was Pnaugurated
I'm the South by the Widow of q
Confederate Soldier.

How tho Custom Was 9naugurated
In the South by the Widow OF q
Confederate Soldier.
| The Atlanta Journal gives the
following information touching the
origin of Memorial Day:
| During the early part of 1862, ,
! says Avery's History of Georgia, "twC
very valuable Georgians died-Colonel
q: ), Williams, of Columbus, of the
First Georgia Regulars, and Colonel
Walter Ector, OF the 18th Georgia
Infantry, both gentlemen dying from
disease Incurred in the service i'm
Virginia. Colonel Williams stood
very high in the State, and had boon
prominent in our politics. He had
| been Speaker of the House of Repre-
| sentatives. He had in q high degree
the confidence and esteem OF Governor
Brown. His widow, Mrs. Mary a.
Williams, originated tho beautiful
decoration day that has become an
established custom of the couatry,
North and South, since the war. And
she also conceived and started into
actual operation, from Georgia to Vir-
ginia, the beneficent system of way
side homes for soldiers, that did so
much good during the war. She was
the daughter OF Major John III. Howard.
noted politician and railroad pre-
sldent. In 1916 sho presented u flag to
the lst Georgia Regiment commanded
by Colonel Henry II. Jackson, her pros
pcctive husband, G. j. Williams.
being major, whom she married after
the Mexican war.
"She died in Columbus at the house
OF her son on the 18th of April, 1874
and was buried with military honors
Her grave is decorated every memorial
day. She sent her only son to war at
fourteen years of age"
In appendix "C"of Avery's history
Is the original communication of Mrs.
Mary Ann Williams, to the Columbus,
Ga, Times, suggesting tho memorial
day custom. The letter is as follows !:
COLUMBUS, Ga, March IL, 1865.
Messrs. Editors-The ladies are now
and have been for several days engaged
In the sad, but pleasant duty of orna-
menting and improving aoiiat portion
OF the city cemetery sacred to o<,..1a7
memory OF our gallant ConfedeH S
dead, but we feel it is an unfinished
work unless u day be set apart au.
nually for its special attention. We
cannot raise monumental shafts and
lnscribe thereon their many deeds of
hcroism, but we can keep alive the
memory of the debt wc owe them bv
dedicatlng at least one day I'm each
year to embellish their humble graves
with nowors. Therefore we beg tho
assistance OF tho press and the ladies
throughout tho South to aid us in the
eltort to set part certain day to be
observed, from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande, and be handed down
through time as a religious custom OF
the South, to wreath the graves of or
martyred dead with flowers: and we
propose the 10Th day of April AS the
day. Let every city, town and village
Join in tho pleasant duty. Let all
alike be remembered, from the heroes
of Manassas to those who expired
amid the death throes of our hallowed
cause. Well crown alike the honored
resting place OF the immortol Jack.
son in Virginia, johnson ut Shiloh,
Cloburne In Tennessee, and the hosts
of gallant privates that adorned our
ranks. All did their duty, and TO ali
we owe our gratitude. Let the soldiers
graves, for that day at least, be the
Southern Mecca to whose shrine her
sorrowing women, like pilgrims. NAV
bring their grateful hearts
and iloral offerings. And when we
remember the thousands who are
buried with their martial cloaks
around theln," without Christian
ceremony or intcrment, VIC would
invoke the aid OF the most thrilling
eloqucnce throughout the land to in.
augurate this custom by delivering on
the appointed day this year o culogy
on the unburicd dead OF our glorious
Southern army. They died for their
Whether their country had
o. had not tho right to demand the |
sacrifice is no longer question for dis |
eussion. We leave that for nations to |
decide hereafter, but that these men
laid their lives upon their couutrys
altar, and are entitled to their conn- |
Irys gratitude, none will deny.
The proud banner under which thew |
rallied in dcfonse of the holicst and |
noblcst cause for which the heroes
fought, or trusting women prayed, has
been 'furled forever. The country for
which they suffered and died has now
no name or place among tho nations OF
the earth. Legislative cnactments
may not be made to do honor to their
but the veriest radical that
ever t....>-'1 his genealogy back to the
deck of the May Flower, could not
refuse us the simple privilege of paying
honor Io those who died defending the
NE, honor and happiness of the
Southern women.