Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
THE LADIES or RICHMOND.
A Graceful Poem Written In Their
Honor In 1868.

Hor the Dispatch)
While waiting in the third-story front
room OF the Virginia Historical Society
last Monday / was quite entertained with
glances at interesting historical books
and papers. one OF them especially
claimed my attention-"The Record OF
News. History, and Literature" printed
in 1868, every Monday morning, at the
book store OF West q Johnston, l45 Main
street, Richmond. Va. Price. $40 per
annum: Sc for six months.
My object in making this statement is
TO ask that you publish In the Confederate
page of the Sundays paper the following
poem:
Richmond. va. July. ls. 1863.
The Ladies' of Richmond.
a correspondent OF the Charleston
Courier, who writes with equal grace
and facility in verse and prose, thus refers
10 the ladies Of Richmond, who, to do
them Justice have fully come up 10 the
measure OF his poetic praise in their
ministrations TO the sick and wounded
soldiers during the war:
Fold away all your brlght-tinted dresses.
Turn the key on your jewels to-day,
And the wealth Of your tendril-like tresses
Braid back I'm a serious way;
| No more delicate gloves, no more laces,
| y
But come with your souls In your faces
To meet the stern wants Of the hour.
/ Look around. BY the torchlight unsteady,
The dead and the dying seem one
What trembling and paling already,
Before your dear missions begun?
These wounds are more precious than
ghastly-
Time presses her lips to each scar.
H., abr. Mt of "a oil
vastly
Transcends all the horrors OF war.
Pause here by this bedside. How~mellow
The light showers down on that brow,
Such brave, brawny visage, poor fellows
Some homestead IS missing him now;
Some wife shades her eyes In the clearing.
Some mother sits mourning distressed.
While the loved one lies faint, but I'M
fearing,
With the enemy's ball in his breast
Here's another-a lad-a mere STRIPPING,
Picked I'D in the field almost dead.
With the blood through his sunny hair
ripping
From a horrible cash in the head.
They say he was first in the action
Gay-hearted. quick-headed. and witty;
He fought till he dropped with exhaustion
At the gates Of our fair southern city.
Fought and fen meath the guns OF that
city,
With a spirit transcending his years
Lift him up in your large-hearted pity.
And wet his pale lips with your tears;
Touch him gently; most sacred the duty
or dressing that poor. shattered hand;
God spare him TO rise In his beauty.
And battle once more for his landl
Pass on, II Is useless TO linger,
While others are calling your care;
There Is need for your delicate finger,
For your womanly sympathy there:
There are sick ones athirst for caressing;
There are dying ones raving for home;
There are wounds to be bound up with a
blessing,
And shrouds to make ready for some.
They have gathered about you the harvest
OF death in it's ghastliest view;
The nearest, as we'll AZ the farthest,
Is there with the traitor and true.
And. crowned with your beautiful pa
tience.
Made sunny with love at the heart,
You must balsam the wounds OF nation,
Nor falter nor shrink from your part.
And the lips OF the mother win bless you,
And angels. sweet-visaged and pale
And the little ones run to caress you,
And the wives and sisters cry hail!
But cen IL you drop down unheaded,
What matter? Gods ways are the best:
You have poured out your life where
twas needed.
And He will take care Of the rest
Mrs. j. TAYLOR ELLYSON.
Richmond. January .. 1896.
In the Record OF June 49, 1858, SUM-
mary OF Foreign News appears this:
The Empress Of France has a riding
horse called "Stonewall Jackson"
The Record, December TO- 1850:
SUMMARY OF NEWS"
IAN Irishman had his left hand shot
of in the engagement OF the 18th near
Chattanooga. but. grasping Il with his