Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-19
HIGHLAND COURT.
Deserted Soldiers Grnve-PersOnal
and General Notes.

0nu uCmCfuI
MONTERREY. VA. January lS--(Spe-
cial.)-It is a hazardous assertion to say
that our nations great men. living and
dead, are to-day being honored, while
many who aided in lifting them to the
pedestal OF fame, receive no portion of
the honor due them.
In no instance Is this 80 apparent as
In the neglect Of the grave Of the private.
who gave his life TO the cause of the
late war. We delight In the patriotism
that fosters the erection of so many
monuments to the brave and chivalrous
leaders in the late struggle. 1t is only
right that their memory should be per-
petuated, but when We turn to the graves
of their comrades In arms and see them
abandoned and neglected our better feel
ings tell us 1t is not right. The private
shared the same hardships as did his
commander, and both were martyrs to the
same cause. 1t is true that the remains
of some of the subordinates have been
gathered from the battle-felds, where
they fell, and now sleep beneath an APP
propriate monument raised to their memo
ry: but how many hundreds yet lie half
buried in out-of-the-way places, wholly
uncared for and neglected.
Not long since your correspondent,
while strolling through the fields. came
upon a group of graves of this kind. What
may once have been mounds are now
unsightly depress!ons. overgrown with
briars and weeds. from which the field
lark and rabbit start when they are ap-
preached. / thought of the home made
desolate, and the long years of waiting
by friends for the return OF the poor
fellows sleeping at my feet AS l passed
by the long row of graves found
plain marble slab, fallen PROSTATE on
one of them, and, after brushing away
some dead grass found in neatly
chiselled letters, the following inscriptions:
WILLIAM S. MEEKs,f
Born August g. 1899;
Died in the service of his country OCTOBER
3, 1861,
A member OF Captain Reedy's Company,
Third Arkansas Regiment.
IL told story OF real pathos. young
man. in the prime Of life. when, no doubt,
his hopes were the brightest. Is stricken
down by the grim hand of war. and some
friend, as a last tribute OF respect placed
this modest little slab over his grave.
This was years ago, and now no hand
comes to decorate. save that of nature.
when she brings the wild flowers OF sum-
mer and the spotless SHOWS OF winter.
Do not these sleepers deserve kindlier
care? Why have they not been removed
TO place where they can share portion
OF the flowers and tears due them? with
the exception > this one headstone, and.
perhaps. one yther. nothing is left TO
,ell whether tie d.nsrk sleeaefs are
shrouded in gray or blue, but when Me-
morial-Day comes again. let 1t be re-
membered that on little knoll In High
land county, unkept and deserted, are a
score or more of soldiers graves
Mr.. Clarence c. Jones has returned
from the Washington and Lee, at Lexlng-
ton, owing to sickness.
David Hiner made a business trip to
Franklin, W. Va, Thursday and Friday.
J. Pierce Wooddell, of Green Bank, w.
Va. was in Monterey this week, pur-
chasing goods.
The Board OF Supervisors held special
meeting this week for the purpose of
looking after the INDECENT of the county.
The telephone line between Monterey
and Hightown Is now completed, and is
working admirably. Other lines will soon
be erected from here to various sections
OF the county, and, Monterey will be made
the central office.
The number of marriage-licenses Issued
during the year just closed Is one less
than that Of the preceding year.